Existential Foundations of the Clinical and Psychological Picture of Our Time Tragedy

The study presents a model of the clinical and psychological picture of our contemporaries' experience of tragic events related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is shown that the deformation of everyday life under the influence of threatening circumstances sharpened the features of the clinical and psychological picture of everyday life of our contemporaries. As the most significant features, the authors note experiences of the type of traumatic stress (fear of losing a job, experience of limited movement, concern about the problems of the near and distant future, in connection with the transition to remote work, fear of the lack of clear prospects for the future), as well as experiences that create a risk of reducing social interest (a decrease in the level of direct interpersonal contacts, boredom due to a decrease in social and intellectual activity, feelings of helplessness and impotence, fear of loss of autonomy and independence). It is shown that the psychological characteristics of modern people, especially young people and adolescents (representatives of Y and Z generations), create obstacles to the application of the experience of coping with the difficulties of previous generations due to the widespread postmodern worldview with its characteristic features. The tendency of modern existential psychotherapy and positive psychology to accept suffering as an experience necessary for personal growth is shown. As a metaphor for the spiritual life of a contemporary and the inability to help people in need of help, the authors cite the images of the film "Mirror for the Hero" (1987) because of their special relevance in our time. The directions of psychological assistance that allows to release the resources of coping with the situation are revealed. The prospects of studying the clinical and psychological picture of the mental life of people during the COVID-19 pandemic are considered.

1. Antonii, mitropolit Surozhskii. Radi chego? [For what?]. Moscow: “Dukhovnoe nasledie mitropolita Antoniya Surozhskogo” Foundation Publ., 2015. 24 p. (In Russ.).
2. Vachkov I.V. Metafora v sotsial'no-psikhologicheskoi praktike [Metaphor in socio-psychological practice]. In Sotsial'naya psikhologiya i obshchestvo: istoriya
   i sovremennost'. Materialy Vserossiiskoi nauchno-prakticheskoi konferentsii s mezhdunarodnym uchastiem pamyati akademika RAO A.V. Petrovskogo=Social Psychology and Society: History and Modernity. Materials of the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation in Memory of Academician A.V. Petrovsky, 2019, pp. 117–119. (In Russ.).
3. Voiskunskii A.E., Soldatova G.U. Epidemiya odinochestva v tsifrovom obshchestve: khikikomori kak kul'turno-psikhologicheskii fenomen [The epidemic of loneliness in a digital society: hikikomori as a cultural and psychological phenomenon]. Konsul'tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya=Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy, 2019, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 22–43. DOI: 10.17759/cpp.2019270303 (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.).
4. Gayazova L.A., Vikhristyuk O.V. Osobennosti zaprosov na distantsionnuyu psikhologicheskuyu pomoshch' v period samoizolyatsii (COVID-19) [Features of requests for remote psychological assistance during self-isolation (COVID-19)]. In V.V. Rubtsov et al. (eds.), Vyzovy pandemii COVID-19: psikhicheskoe zdorov'e, distantsionnoe obrazovanie, internet-bezopasnost'. Sbornik materialov, tom 1=Challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic: mental health, distance education, Internet security: collection of materials, vol. 1. Moscow: Publ. of MSUPE, 2020, pp. 403–419. (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.).
5. Gerasimova A.A. Analiz obrashchaemosti na telefon neotlozhnoi psikhologicheskoi pomoshchi v period pandemii i do nee [Analysis of the number of calls to the psychological emergency telephone during the pandemic and before it]. In V.V. Rubtsov et al. (eds.), Vyzovy pandemii COVID-19: psikhicheskoe zdorov'e, distantsionnoe obrazovanie, internet-bezopasnost'. Sbornik materialov, tom 1=Challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic: mental health, distance education, Internet security: collection of materials, vol. 1. Moscow: Publ. of MSUPE, 2020, pp. 420–429. (In Russ.).
6. Delez Zh. Logika smysla [Logic of meaning]. Moscow: Akademicheskii proekt, 2015. 472 p. (In Russ.).
7. Delez Zh. Marsel' Prust i znaki [Marcel Proust and the signs]. Moscow: Aleteiya, 2014. 192 p. (In Russ.).
8. Dmitrieva N.A. V poiskakh garmonii: Iskusstvovedcheskie raboty raznykh let
   [In search of harmony: art Criticism works from different years]. Moscow: Progress-Traditsiya, 2009. 520 p. (In Russ.).
9. Ermolaeva M.V., Lubovskii D.V. O znachenii iskusstva v kontekste razvitiya vzroslogo cheloveka [On the meaning of art in the context of adult development] Kul'turno-istoricheskaya psikhologiya=Cultural-Historical Psychology, 2013, no. 3. pp. 38–46. (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.).
10. Ermolaeva M.V., Lubovskii D.V. Ponyatie vstrechi v psikhoterapii i psikhologii razvitiya [The concept of encounter in psychotherapy and developmental psychology] Konsul'tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya=Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy, 2015, no. 3, pp. 105–116. (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.).
11. Ermolaeva M.V., Lubovskii D.V. Kul’turno-psikhologicheskie modeli perezhivaniya lichnost’yu vstrechi s proizvedeniem iskusstva [Cultural and psychological models of personal experience of encounter with an artwork] Konsul’tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya=Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy, 2017, no. 2, pp. 159–174. DOI: 10.17759/cpp.2017250210 (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.).
12. Ermolaeva M.V., Lubovsky D.V. The Psychotherapeutic Value of Tragic Catharsis. Konsul'tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya=Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy, 2018, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 29–44. DOI: 10.17759/cpp.2018260103. (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.).
13. Yermolayeva M.V., Lubovsky D.V. Types of Catharsis in the Perception of Paintings. Кul'turno-istoricheskaya psikhologiya=Cultural-Historical Psychology, 2019, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 125–132. (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.). DOI: 10.17759/chp.201915031 (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.).
14. Leont'ev D.A., Ovchinnikova E.Yu., Rasskazova E.I. et al. Psikhologiya vybora [Psychology of Choice]. Moscow: Smysl, 2015. 464 p. (In Russ.).
15. Melyukhin I.S. Informatsionnoe obshchestvo: istoki, problemy, tendentsii razvitiya [Information society: origins, problems, development trends]. Moscow: publ. of MSU, 1999. 308 p. (In Russ.).
16. Moiseev N.N. Universum. Informatsiya. Obshchestvo [Universe. Information. Society]. Moscow: Ustoichivyi mir, 2001. 200 p. (In Russ.).
17. Petrikov S.S., Kholmogorova A.B., Suroegina A.Yu. et al. Professional'noe vygoranie, simptomy emotsional'nogo neblagopoluchiya i distressa u meditsinskikh rabotnikov vo vremya epidemii COVID-19 [Professional burnout, symptoms of emotional distress and distress in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 epidemic]. In V.V. Rubtsov et al (eds.), Vyzovy pandemii COVID-19: psikhicheskoe zdorov'e, distantsionnoe obrazovanie, internet-bezopasnost'. Sbornik materialov, tom 1=Challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic: mental health, distance education, Internet security: collection of materials, vol. 1. Moscow:  Publ. of MSUPE, 2020, pp. 7–45. (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.).
18. Signaevskaya O.R. Mir cheloveka: smysly i tsennosti epokhi postmoderna [World of man: meanings and values of the postmodern era]. Vestnik Chelyabinskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Filosofiya. Sotsiologiya. Kul'turologiya=Bulletin of the Chelyabinsk state University. Philosophy. Sociology. Culturology, 2012, no. 4 (258), issue 23, pp. 11–16. (In Russ.).
19. Frankl V. Chelovek v poiskakh smysla [Man in search of meaning]. Moscow: Progress, 1990. 368 p. (In Russ.).
20. Fromm E. Dusha cheloveka. Revolyutsiya nadezhdy [Soul of man. Revolution of hope]. Moscow: AST, 2016. 352 p. (In Russ.).
21. Fundamental'naya sotsiologiya. Chelovek. Individ. Lichnost' [Fundamental Sociology: Man. Individual. Personality], vol. 7. Moscow: INFRA-M, 2005. 960 p. (In Russ.).
22. Chiker V.A., Svirikhina D.A. Sotsial'no-psikhologicheskie osobennosti zhenshchin, sostoyashchikh v antifeministskikh internet-soobshchestvakh [Socio-psychological characteristics of women in anti-feminist online communities]. Sotsial’naia psikhologiia i obshchestvo=Social Psychology and Society, 2019, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 143–159. DOI: 10.17759/sps.2019100410 (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)
23. Shneyder L.B., Surgucheva N.V. Ego-vospriyatie i tanatos-tsentratsiya kak istochniki suitsida v podrostkovom vozraste [Ego-perception and thanatos-centration as sources of suicide in adolescence]. Klinicheskaia i spetsial'naia psikhologiia=Clinical Psychology and Special Education, 2019, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 189–214. DOI: 10.17759/psycljn. 2019080112 (In Russ., abstr. In Engl.).
24. Shnirel'man V.A. Postmodernizm i istoricheskie mify v sovremennoi Rossii [Postmodernism and historical myths in modern Russia]. Vestnik Omskogo universiteta=Bulletin of Omsk University, 1998, no. 1, pp. 15–28. (In Russ.).
25. Yalom I. Ekzistentsial'naya psikhoterapiya [Existential psychotherapy]. Moscow: Klass, 2014. 574 p. (In Russ.).
26. Adams W.W. COVID-19’s fierce subversion of our supposed separateness: Cultivating life with and for all others. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 2020, vol. 60, no. 5, pp. 690–701. DOI: 10.1177/0022167820938910
27. Blustein D.L., Guarino P.A. Work and unemployment in the time of COVID-19: The existential experience of loss and fear. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 2020, vol. 60, no. 5, pp. 702–709. DOI: 10.1177/0022167820934229
28. Calder A.J., Novak L.F., Lane A. We’re all going crazy now: How the COVID-19 pandemic can promote more compassionate clinical perspective. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 2020, vol. 60, no. 5, pp. 639–646. DOI: 10.1177/002216782093861529.
29. Cheng M. 8 characteristics of millennials that support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 2019. URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/margueritacheng/2019/06/19/8-characteristics-of-millennials-that-support-sustainable-development-goals-sdgs/#618 ea7b029b7 (Assessed 10.01.2021).
30. Cheuk-Man Li A. Living through COVID-19: A perspective from Hong Kong. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 2020, vol. 60, no. 5, pp. 672–681. DOI: 10.1177/00221678 20938487
31. Kim G.S., Shah T.N. When perceptions are fragile but also enduring: An Asian American reflection on COVID-19. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 2020, vol. 60, no. 5, pp. 604–610. DOI: 10.1177/002216782093748532.
32. Ling Lee G. The quest for meaning in life in six patients living with advanced cancer: A qualitative longitudinal study. In International Journal of Existential Psychology & Psychotherapy. Proceedings of the 2016 Meaning Conference. Special Issue. 2016, pp. 1–13.
33. Luiggi-Hernández J.G., Rivera-Amador A.I. Reconceptualizing social distancing: Teletherapy and social inequality during the COVID-19 and loneliness pandemics. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 2020, vol. 60, no. 5, pp. 672–681. DOI: 10.1177/0022167820937503
34. Russo-Netzer P. Healing the divide through wholeness: Holding on to what makes us human. In International Journal of Existential Psychology & Psychotherapy. Proceedings of the 2016 Meaning Conference. Special Issue, 2016, pp. 1–17.
35. Serena J. Personality traits of a gen Z you can probably relate to. 2018. URL: https://eduadvisor.my/articles/personality-traits-of-a-gen-z-you-can-probably-relate-to/ (Assessed 10.01.2021).
36. Wong P.T.P. Editorial: New Vistas for Second Wave Positive Psychology. In International Journal of Existential Psychology & Psychotherapy. Proceedings of the 2016 Meaning Conference. Special Issue, 2016, pp. 1–4.