PSYCHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE FORMATION OF THE NATIONAL IDENTITY OF UKRAINIANS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR

Abstract

The purpose of the article is a generalized analysis of the psychological features of the formation of the national identity of Ukrainians and the conditions of the current Russian-Ukrainian war. The formation of the national identity unites all citizens of the country, consolidates them into a single whole, united within the boundaries of a large community of like-minded people (groups) regarding fundamental issues of national existence. Democratic countries often consist of different population groups, which concerns Ukraine as a multi-ethnic state, which is characterized by pluralism and uncertainty on many levels of national identity (regarding language, religion, geopolitical vectors, unity of symbols, reception of the historical past, etc.). An important step in achieving unity among different citizens is the definition of common goals that all members of the community want to achieve (it is about positive interdependence of goals). This vector targets the future prospects of the nation as a group. This aspect is also touched on in the article. Another important step is the formation of a national identity that unites all citizens into one nation. National identity is conceived as a consistent set of attitudes that define who a person is as a citizen of their country. National identity unites and creates bonds between all members of society. This factor is rooted both in the nation's past, the foundation for unification based on historical commonality, and in the present. In addition, during the war, the actual stage of national identity formation is extremely intensive and accelerated compared to peacetime. The catalysis of the national identity formation process is determined by the very psychological paradigm of the war in the name of preserving the country's sovereignty. A fundamentally important role is played by the presence of a common enemy, the long-term tolerance of which became the main psychological background that contributed to the brewing of war. Ukrainians understand more and more clearly that national indifference is often equivalent to playing along with the enemy. This stimulates the appeal to those markers of nationality that fundamentally distinguish a Ukrainian from a Russian or even a Ukrainian from a representative of any other nation. The article presents only generalized theses regarding the psychological features of the formation of national identity during the war. Each of these theses should be specified in further research in accordance with how the war and post-war reconstruction will affect the psychology of the formation of national unity of Ukrainians in the future.