Implementation of positive psychology to surmount demoralization caused by a cataclysm in select works of Svetlana Alexievich

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cataclysm refers to a large-scale and violent event involving disaster, catastrophe, calamity, and tragedy. The recent surge of a pandemic (coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)), humanitarian crisis in Sudan, civil unrest, and war, such as the attacks in Syria and Ukraine, reiterate the need to address the trauma attached to such catastrophes. This study focuses on adapting positive psychology, one of the newest branches of psychology to emerge, to help human beings prosper and lead healthy, happy lives. It also explores post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and means to overcome traumatizing psychological dejection caused by such mishaps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demoralization is the immediate effect caused on victims and survivors of such devastations. A comprehensive study of cataclysm and demoralization is concomitant with the suffering produced by various factors pertaining to mass annihilation. A deductive methodology is incorporated into the qualitative data to analyze the oral testimonies of war and disaster survivors in Svetlana Alexievich’s works titled Zinky Boys: Soviet Voices from the Afghanistan War, Second Hand Time, The Unwomanly Face of War and Chernobyl Prayer. RESULTS: Interpretation of the polyphonic voices in the oral sagas of interviewees in Alexievich’s works reveals an increased level of anxiety, stress, and trauma post-catastrophic events. CONCLUSION: The implementation of positive psychology has been identified as an appropriate psychological intervention to address the issues related to psychological devastation.