PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS: THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM

Abstract

The relevance of studying the psychological characteristics of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine arises due to the scale of this phenomenon and its significant impact on the life of Ukrainian society. As of the beginning of 2024, 4.9 million IDPs were officially registered in Ukraine, which emphasizes the urgency of studying the psychological problems of this population category. The study aims to provide a thorough review and synthesis of existing theoretical approaches, concepts and empirical data on psychological problems, challenges and specific features inherent in IDPs who have been internally displaced as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The study used a set of theoretical methods, including theoretical analysis of scientific literature, systematization, SWOT analysis, generalization, comparative analysis and synthesis. These methods made it possible to comprehensively study the psychological characteristics of IDPs, organize them into different areas of personality, identify strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats. For the first time, a comprehensive analysis of the psychological characteristics of IDPs using SWOT analysis was carried out, which allowed to systematize and summarize the available data. A structured table of psychological characteristics of IDPs was developed, which covers the motivational, cognitive, emotional and behavioral spheres of personality. The study found that forced displacement has a complex impact on the personality of IDPs, who face a number of psychological problems, including lowered self-esteem, cognitive impairment, emotional instability and difficulties in social adaptation, which can lead to an identity crisis. At the same time, IDPs demonstrate certain strengths, including the ability to adapt to new conditions and the potential for personal growth. The SWOT analysis revealed not only weaknesses and threats, but also opportunities for IDPs’ development and adaptation. Understanding these psychological characteristics is critical for the development of effective IDP support strategies, which should take into account the complex nature of the impact of forced displacement on the individual when planning and implementing psychological assistance and social adaptation programs.