THE MEANING OF LOVE AS A MORAL VIRTUE OF A MEDICAL PSYCHOLOGIST IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SPIRITUAL PARADIGM OF ORTHODOXY

Abstract

Abstract. Formulation of the problem. In modern conditions of information and technological progress there is a decline in public morality and the decline of universal values, the violation of the traditional institution of the family, which exacerbates the problem of moral education of the younger generation and, as a result, increases the risk of personal crises. Therefore, it is important to determine the moral guidelines on which the psychologist should be based in the process of his professional activity, first of all the question of love of neighbor. Formulation of the purpose of the article. The aim is to determine the peculiarities of understanding “love” as a moral and ethical basis for the professional activity of a psychologist, from the standpoint of canonical Orthodoxy. Analysis of recent research and publications. The theme of love has been and is relevant for all times. Many scientists and scholars have thought about this topic, among them: Confucius, Plato and Seneca, famous teachers - J. Herbert, J. Comenius, J. Locke, J. Pestalozzi, J. J. Rousseau, as well as K. Helvetius, A. Makarenko, F. Prokopovich, G. Skovoroda, K. Ushinsky, V. Sukhomlinsky and others. Particular attention should be paid to the work of the church fathers: John Chrysostom, St. Augustine, Basil the Great and others. Among modern scientists, love as a psychological category was studied by: I. Bekh, O. Gai, O. Jura, O. Sukhomlynska, K. Chorna, L. Babenko, U. Uvarova, O. Yakovenko, and others. Materials and methods of research. The methodology of this article was based on the axiological doctrine of spiritual, moral, aesthetic values. The following research methods were used: analytical, comparative, and theological, which allowed to comprehend the sacred texts of Christianity. Presenting main material. The concept of “love” in the Orthodox interpretation appears both as a gift of God and as a special state of mind. In contrast to the philosophical concepts of love – eros, or carnal love – there is a special Christian love, where the authority is God, in whom the foundations of love, kindness, compassion and peace are laid. Unfortunately, in our time, the departure from God, from the understanding of love as a divine gift, enrichment not with spiritual but with material values cause huge problems on a global scale, which are reflected in the growth of mental health disorders, aggression, conflict, depression. Conclusions and prospects for further research. The mission of a psychologist is seen, first of all, in the return of the client’s personality to the system of true values, among which the greatest, according to the famous words of the Apostle Paul, is love. Humanity, mercy, compassion, love for people - this is the area of feelings and moral principles, opened by Christianity, is the basis for the construction of a new culture, which must be the basis of the paradigm of professional activity of a psychologist.