Problems of stigmatization and selfstigmatization among internally displaced persons during post-traumatic process of life continuity recovery
Abstract
The article is dedicated to the socio-psychological problems that have recently risen in Ukrainian society with the beginning of military operations on the territory of Ukraine, namely problems of social stigmatization and self-stigmatization among internally displaced persons (IDPs). It is shown that social stigmatization provokes secondary traumatization of IDPs, and also leads to social disability and selfstigmatization. It is underlined that the main task of a person after experiencing traumatic events is restoration of vital continuity as experiencing of integrity of one’s own existence, accompanied by clear understanding of logic of events, clear ideas about oneself, feeling of sequence of emotional reactions and ability to support vital functions effectively both on personal and interpersonal levels. Following types of vital continuity are distinguished: emotional, functional, cognitive, interpersonal, personal. The phenomenon of self-stigmatization is analyzed as a result of social environment influences on the one hand, and personal coping strategies during social interactions on the other; the latter usually is accompanied by self-limitations of social activity. The proposed idea implies that decline of the level of social stigmatization among IDPs is possible via the development and implementation of a multi-level psychosocial support project, operating on mass, specialized, personalized and individualized levels. It was discovered that participants of psychological support groups usually underestimate the cognitive and creative components of human personality. Art therapy is regarded as the most accessible dimension of psychological help; art methodology, named "Compliments to myself", is offered to prevent IDPs self-stigmatization both in a group and individual setting. The conclusion is drawn that prevention of social stigmatization among internally displaced persons needs complex approach at national-wide scale
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