Sovremennye Issledovaniâ Socialʹnyh Problem (Jun 2017)
FEATURES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SPACE SOVEREIGNTY MAINTAINED BY PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT ATTITUDE TO SOLITUDE
Abstract
Living in a big city is imbued with anthropogenic and stress-producing factors. It generates an increased load to inward personality mechanisms with the help of which a citizen eases mental tension emerging as a response to stressors impact. The possibility for a person to be alone is one of the resources for stress coping. In addition, having one’s own territory is important for the development of mature and mentally sound personality. Under communication and information overload integral to living in a megapolis a person can preserve his uniqueness and psychological wellbeing on the condition of retaining personal boundaries. All this allows us to indicate that issues relating to personal space sovereignty and modern townsfolk’s’ attitude to solitude are highly relevant. Besides, it should be noted that the ability to find potential in spending time in solitude differs from person to person and is purely individual. The study was conducted to explore characteristics of personal boundaries sovereignty and solitude ability in modern megapolis inhabitants. The techniques used in the study include differential solitude scale (E.N. Osin, D.A. Leont’ev), projective drawing of personal space in the family, a questionnaire. The results obtained can be used for designing psychocorrection sessions, trainings. In the course of the study statistically significant distinctions in males and females groups and in the respondents with different solitude ability were revealed. Purpose. The study is aimed at identifying features of psychological space maintained by people with different attitude to solitude. Methodology. The methods used in the study include subject-being and subject-environment approaches to personality, eco-psychological approach and psychology of sovereignty principles. Results. In the course of the study by the example of megapolis residents statistically significant distinctions in groups with different attitude to solitude and solitude ability were found. The higher the solitude ability, the lower the rate of deprivation and space over-sovereignty, and the respondents with high ability to solitude lack over-sovereignty with regard to parameters of physical body, personal belongings, habits and values. Practical implications. The results can be useful for developing psychocorrection sessions and trainings. The data can be helpful for specialists of Family Psychological Support centers and for instructors of “Ecological Psychology”, “Family Relations Psychology” disciplines. The study carried out is likely to be highly educational since many respondents participating in the survey admitted that they had never considered personal boundaries violation to be the reason for marital conflicts. They also lacked information concerning psychological space, how to regulate personal space boundaries and how to respond to other family members behavior in an adequate manner.
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