Victim personality traits in old age

In the scientific literature, when studying old age, special attention is paid to the phenomenon of victimization, but the psychological content of this phenomenon has not been studied. This makes it difficult to provide effective psychological assistance to older people, although they are recognized as specific victims due to their particular vulnerability to adverse factors in the social environment. In an empirical study, the methods of inverse and biographical interviews, as well as meaningful content analysis, were applied. Participants of the study in the amount of 120 people are elderly people in the status of pre-pensioner (40 people); working pensioner (40 people) and non-working pensioner (40 people). It was found that the victim's properties of an elderly person can be considered a victim's life position and victim attitudes, which form the content of moral and social harm. Social harm in relation to the elderly can be interpreted as a public position in relation to the elderly, which in the public mind does not qualify as defamation, but actually puts the elderly in a disadvantageous, humiliating social position of a burden, insignificant members of society. As a component of moral harm, a specific superiority complex specific to old age was identified. The identified affective personality complexes in older people of different status manifested themselves in specific markers that allow them to be effectively diagnosed and further provide psychological assistance.

person, victim, retirement stress, victim personality traits, old age, pre-pensioners, working pensioners, non-working pensioners, personality complexes, victim complex