Journal of Danubian Studies and Research, Vol 6, No 1 (2016)

Abstract

The article deals with the psychological paradigm of survival, based on the author’s personal traumatic experience at the territory of the so-called Democratic Republic of Lugansk (Ukraine), which is still temporarily occupied by the separatists. It corresponds with the following conclusions: l. The first reaction of personality in paradigm “I and the World Destroyed” differs from panic and unreal perception of events to the unshakable confidence “It soon will be solved by the competent authorities”. Soon most people lose the illusion of power, order and law. 2. Self-awareness in the paradigm “I and the World Hostile” shapes the complex of intellectual and emotional manifestations in the difficult circumstances of activities. The logical solution is to escape to the stable world. The links with the “World Hostile” induce the person to make a choice: to have a risk returning there or to stay safe without necessary things. The first position forms leadership skills, the second one makes losers and provides the pessimistic world view. 3. The accepted challenge person appears in another paradigm of the world model, based on the principle “I am the Creator of my World”. It generates desire to survive; awakes the power of the spirit; makes do things that were atypical before.