PILOT STUDY OF UKRAINIAN HISTORICAL COLLECTIVE TRAUMA DURING RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/psy-2025-5-11Keywords:
collective trauma, historical trauma, ongoing war, pilot researchAbstract
The article examines the role of collective historical trauma in Ukrainian society within the context of the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine. Historical memory forms the foundation of national identity, and for Ukraine, this identity is deeply rooted in traumatic experiences, including the losses during the Soviet era, the Holodomor, deportations, and repressions. The article explores how these historical traumas may be reactivated by new distressing events, such as war, and resurface in societal consciousness. Collective trauma, arising from genocides, political repressions, and other tragedies, leaves a profound imprint on the collective memory of the nation. Traumatic memories may be repressed from the collective consciousness but can resurface in response to new stress-inducing situations. A pilot study showed that historical trauma remains unprocessed in Ukrainian society, as there is a high level of social pain and a desire for compensation for past injustices. Additionally, the study revealed variations in the perception of historical trauma across different regions of Ukraine, shaped by differing historical experiences and memories. The results obtained could serve as a basis for further research and the search for more effective methods for healing historical trauma.
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