Ongoing Projects
Project duration: 01.04.2023 – 31.12.2024
Team:
Project leader and coordinator – Irina Bondarevska, associated researcher in NCCR – on the move, visiting fellow in Global Migration Center, Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
Scientific supervisor – Eva Green, Prof., Laboratory of Social Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne
Senior researchers:
Maria Dangubic – Laboratory of Social Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne
Jessica Gale – Laboratory of Social Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne
Emanuele Politi – Center for Social and Cultural Psychology, KU Leuven
Collaborators in Ukraine:
Oles Honchar Dnipro National University – agreement of cooperation with University of Lausanne
Coordinator – Zoya Bondarenko, PhD, Associate Prof., Dean of Department of Psychology and Special Education
Alfred Nobel University – agreement of cooperation with University of Lausanne
Coordinator – Alina Yudina, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Innovative Technologies in
Pedagogy, Psychology and Social Work.
This survey extends the SNSF-funded NCCR – on the move sub-project (205605) “Attitudes towards migration and democracy in times of crises” to Ukrainian context.
A quantitative survey was conducted in Ukrainian language among a sample of students specializing in Psychology, Law and Economics at O. Honchar Dnipro National University and Alfred Nobel University. Data was collected using an online questionnaire (Qualtrics) with approval of Ethics Commission of University of Lausanne.
In this research we explore students’ views on current timely topics of debate in Ukrainian society focusing on democracy related attitudes and solidarity. More specifically, the research aims to examine how attitudes and solidarity relate to national identity, values, institutional trust, different facets of patriotism, civil liberties, religiosity, contacts with and perception of difficulties of externally displaced migrants. Moreover, we will elaborate theoretical and empirical explanations of identity and affect (compassion, anger, shame, fear, disgust, indifference) to explain contextual factors which emerge in conditions of intertwined crises. We measure attitudes towards 1) Ukrainians who left Ukraine due to the war, 2) Ukrainians who left Ukraine and returned, 3) internally displaced Ukrainians.
Besides collecting data, we invite our research participants to open lectures, seminars and workshops provided by the research team. Our aim is to offer theoretical and practical insights on social psychology concepts and topics which are not enough present in Ukrainian academic curriculum. Moreover, participants will be able to ask questions about the ongoing research and other topics of their interest. Thus, participation in open lectures, seminars and workshops is expected to enrich participants’ knowledge in Social Psychology and Democracy related topics.
In 2022 to contribute to psychological support of Ukrainian highly qualified migrants NGO Center for Personal and Social Transformations launched an online project “World Roads” with online meetings on Sundays. Art-development sessions last for 1,5 – 2 hours and consist of drawing algorithms and modeling a solution of request (resource or goal) with baking foil or colored plasticine. In general, art-development sessions help migrants to containerize intense emotions and find solutions to problems in complicated life situations. Participants of art-development sessions come through art-development transformations.
Highly qualified migrants experience a range of psychological challenges due to professional downshifting and necessity to acquire new skills very quickly. Difficulties in finding a job corresponding to the level of qualifications can lead to depressive states of different degrees. Those highly qualified migrants who were forced to change place of living due to war risks can also experience temporary decrease of cognitive abilities and emotional disadaptation. Groups of psychological support can prevent deep depressive states before their occurrence and enhance emotional adaptation. Consequently, highly qualified migrants can contribute much more effectively to accepting communities by realizing their skills to the full (Bondarevskaya, 2022).
Art-development techniques, elaborated by me, mostly concern resources and identity, and consequently solution to request comes out from subconscious as an insight. Art-development techniques through awareness of feelings, emotions, states help adults to see changes from the point of opening perspectives for development (Bondarevskaya, 2020).
Moving to safe regions from war is accompanied by negative emotional states which are caused by high level of uncertainty, necessity to change profession, low income, etc. besides war trauma. Many forced migrants pass through the state when they are emotionally not able to feel “taste of life” even when they have everything for that. Art-development techniques can serve for prevention of depressive states development among forced migrants.
Most adult people do not use or minimize fine motor skills which are effective for stabilization of emotional state in any age. Quite often emotions effect decision-making. Awareness of emotions through drawing psychological algorithms, usage of coloured pencils, markers, coloured plasticine and baking foil modeling engage fine motor skills of arms, promote expression of emotions in creativity, their transformations through creativity and consequently enable to look at the situation from new side, see situation in integrity, in the context, from the point of opening perspectives and opportunities (Bondarevskaya, 2022).