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3. The use of emerging perspectives and understanding to develop
an action plan aimed at
transforming stressful circumstances favorable homework in order to apply the acquired skills
and discussion of the results (the fifth, sixth and seventh session).
The existential component of resilience
Existential psychology views human life as a series of varied in type and importance of
the election. Do people think about it or not, but all his life he chooses and rejection of the
decision – it is also a choice.
All choices are either committed to the choice of immutability, permanence, past, repetition,
that is something familiar, usual, or to the choice of the unknown, of the future, something new,
unusual, unfamiliar.
The choice of the past,
the immutability of safer, less risky, but it means giving up the potential
enclosed in an unknown and therefore entails the emergence of the so-called existential guilt
over missed opportunities. Regular choice invariably leads to the accumulation of existential
guilt, which, accumulating, leading to increases the feeling of meaninglessness and emptiness
of life.
The choice of the future, the unknown, on the other hand, is less secure, can lead to failure,
it is contrary to the desire for stability, but that it contains opportunities for growth and
personal development.
Regular choice of the future, according to existential psychology, is
more desirable because it leads to the incessant development of personality and a sense of
fullness of life. However, the choice of the future is always accompanied by existential anxiety
due to the lower predictability of possible consequences.
In contrast to the fear of having a particular item, it does not have an alarm. Fear, anxiety
and the existential anxiety (angst) associated with the anticipation of unpleasant events, but
the fear and anxiety are situational, whereas existential anxiety associated with being-in-the-
world to the absolute impossibility of accurate predictions of the consequences of their actions,
it’s terrible in the face of uncertainty, which is riddled with all of life. Existential anxiety
inseparable from life is associated with awareness of the inevitability of a limb of his existence.
Thus, each person experiences existential anxiety, the difference is only in relation to it.
Attempts to deal with existential anxiety lead to escalation in its pathological form. For the
same, to take existential
anxiety and live with it, it takes a special courage, existential courage.
S. Muddy believes the key to the viability of sustainability in the existential anxiety,
operationalization of existential courage.
Attitudes to suicide in different cultures
In today’s culture, suicide is a global problem of humanity, affecting all sectors of public life.
There are many different organizations and services, which are aimed to preventing suicide and
providing individual psychological, medical and material assistance to individuals who show
suicidal tendencies. Many countries conduct suicide statistics and reducing the number of
suicides is included in the policy of the state, along with the economic development policies,
the protection of borders and other areas. However, it was not always. The ratio of suicide
varied according to cultural traditions and geographical location,
socio-economic situation in
the country and many other factors. Sometimes and somewhere suicide was not a serious social
problem and in some cases perceived as a way of the revenge or willpower sign.
Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome
In ancient times suicide was considered as the supreme manifestation of the will of man
and was not condemned. Also endorses suicide in the name of a higher purpose, for example,
the well-being of society. Many cases of suicide in history became a legendary, and were an
example of self-sacrifice for the common good. In the time of Greco-Persian wars, many ancient
Greek warriors were to die, to prevent the Persians to conquer their homeland. As an example,
a well-known 300 Spartans, who were kept the defense in the narrow gorge of Thermopylae,
and almost all were killed. Only one soldier
can alive in this battle, but he was banished by the
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society. Hoplite, who was sent to inform residents of Athens victory in Marathon battle, covered
more than 40 kilometers and fell dead, having only to convey the good news to citizens. Also,
suicide could be imposed as a punishment for anti-social behavior. The greatest philosopher of
the time, Socrates was convicted of “corrupting the minds of young people” by decision of the
court, and drank poison hemlock, actually committed suicide.
In ancient Rome, suicide also wasn’t carried a negative connotation and was acceptable. For
instance, the Roman philosopher Seneca cut his wrists by the decree of Emperor Nero.
Medieval Europe
In medieval Europe was dominated the ideas of Christianity, from the point of view that
suicide is a mortal sin. It was impossible to repent, and therefore suicide was doomed to eternal
torment in Hell. Suicide victims are not serviced in
the church and funeral bureau, they were
forbidden to be buried at the general cemetery. Family of self-killer also provided covered with
shame and could not lead a normal life.
However, at the same time we know many examples of suicide in the Middle Ages, which
were not condemned by society and not the contrary have been the subject of admiration. Joan
of Arc was burned at the stake for the attempted mass uprising and has been recognized as a
heretic. She could avoid such a fate, acknowledging his guilt, but did not give up her beliefs, for
which she was subjected to penalty. The well-known scientist Giordano Bruno was also burned
at the stake for his beliefs. He is one of the first who suggested that the stars are the likes of
Sun, and space is not limited to our solar system. Soon, the scientist was in the hands of the
Inquisition, and was sentenced to death. Saint Sebastian, the Christian martyr, was beheaded
by Roman legionnaires for his religious beliefs. He was accused of
preaching Christianity and
was sentenced to death. Roman warriors tied him to a tree in the woods and shot from a bow,
but Sebastian was able to survive. He was able to escape, but instead went to the emperor
with new evidences of his faith. Holy was immediately arrested and executed again, this time
permanently.
East
In the eastern culture suicide was considered as an acceptable way to solve problems, and
also used in various religious rituals. According to ancient Indian tradition, wife which lost
her husband must be burned at the stake, to accompany her husband in the afterlife. In China,
suicide is considered as a one of the best ways of revenge. Suicide Spirit, committed suicide at
the threshold of the offender at home, could take revenge on the enemy for many years.
In Japan, suicide is an integral part of culture and society is not condemned. One of the
oldest Japanese traditions of suicide is seppuku. It was practiced by ancient Japanese warriors –
samurai. Warriors had strict
notions of duty and honor, which often led to commit suicide.
Samurai could commit seppuku to avoid the shame, or, on the contrary, to prove loyalty to
his master. If Master died, the samurai were supposed to follow him. Also samurai could be
sentenced to suicide for especially grave crimes. Seppuku is practiced in Japan to this day.
For example, the famous Japanese writer of 20th century, Yukio Mishima, made an attempt to
“theatrical coup”, capturing army general and committing seppuku.
The topic of suicide is very often appears in Japanese culture, becoming a leading leitmotif of
many literary works, films, paintings and other works of art. Also one of the places of suicide in
Japan is Aokigahara forest. Located at the foot of Mount Fuji, the forest is a favorite destination
for those who want to commit suicide. Every year in the forest
are about one hundred bodies
of suicide victims and residents of neighboring villages are obliged to notify the police about
the appearance of strangers in the vicinity of the forest. Despite the efforts of the authorities,
Aokigahara forest is still on the most popular suicide places, on a par with the Golden Gate
Bridge in California and others.
The above examples confirm the fact that suicide is not always perceived as a negative
phenomenon, and not always be condemned by society. In many cultures, suicide is considered