Personal exceptionality of an individual’s existential experience

Abstract

The article analyses theoretically the philosophical trends and psychological concepts examining the problem of an individual’s alienation. The article notes an existing parallel between formed alienation and denial or ignorance of such existential constructs as life meanings, human existence, an individual’s links with the world, attitudes to death, completeness of human life. The factors are analyzed that influence alienation with the world and self-alienation as well as the consequences of such interaction with the world. The processes of self-cognition and reflection are considered as the leading processes in elderly people’s cognitive sphere. Elderly people are characterized by acute age and existential crises, which are caused by both external and internal factors. The article substantiates that these crises can be overcame adequately by accepting one’s individuality and exclusivity as one of the ways of living happily at the old age.
 The article examines life meanings as they understood in different psychological schools, through goals, assessments, motivation, freedom, introspection, reflection. A social situation is changed at the old age because activities become less, access to many activities or to work duties is restricted (due to objective or subjective reasons), that affect an individual’s life. Active and passive forms of life at the old age are analyzed, which influence in various ways on negative emotions, self-acceptance, acceptance of others, a general psychological state.
 The article emphasizes that the cognitive construct “personal exceptionality of an individual’s existential experience” should be formed at the old age. The content of this cognitive construct is revealed, which is understood as an individual’s conviction in the uniqueness of his/her life path. This cognitive construct acts as a constructive defense mechanism, a strategy, and it opposes to the anxiety of non-being. For further research, “personal exceptionality of an individual’s existential experience” is proposed to study empirically in connection with elderly people’s hardiness.