TRANSFORMATION OF NATIONAL IDENTITY AND MECHANISMS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE: THE EXAMPLE OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS' MEMOIRS

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon of cultural and psychological resilience in the context of war and traumatic social transformations through the prism of the individual experiences of Holocaust survivors. The relevance of the study is determined by the current challenges facing Ukrainian society in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which require a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of adaptation, survival, and preservation of national identity in situations of existential threat. The purpose of the article is to identify the factors that shape cultural and psychological resilience at the individual level and to analyze their impact on the construction and transformation of national identity in wartime. The source base consists of memoirs of Holocaust survivors, in particular their experiences of being in concentration camps, ghettos, and living in forced hiding. Particular attention is paid to the dynamics of worldview changes in the pre-war, war, and post-war periods. The article outlines the key components of resilience: value orientations, action as a form of active response, meaning-making thinking, emotional regulation, and social connections. It is shown that it is the individual level of resilience that is the foundation for the formation of broader institutional and national mechanisms of resistance to crises. It is proven that war acts as a catalyst for complex and often contradictory identification processes, causing both temporary denial and further strengthening of national self-awareness. It is concluded that the experience of Holocaust victims demonstrates a high potential for psychological and cultural resilience even in conditions of radical disintegration of the social environment. The results obtained have theoretical and practical value for understanding contemporary war trauma and can be used in developing strategies to support national resilience and work with collective memory in the post-crisis period.