THEORETICAL JUSTIFICATION OF THE «SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL INVALIDATION OF PERSONALITY» CONCEPT

Abstract

For the first time, the article provides a comprehensive theoretical and methodological substantiation of the concept of "socio-psychological invalidation of the personality." This phenomenon is presented as a novel scientific construct aimed at a detailed explanation of the specific mechanisms that restrict personal and social functioning under the conditions of destructive interaction between individual-psychological and macro-social factors. The relevance of the study is driven by the need to overcome the theoretical deficit in understanding maladaptation processes. Specifically, the paper analyzes and outlines the limitations of existing classical scientific approaches, such as stigmatization theories, concepts of social labeling, the theory of learned helplessness, and the concept of secondary gain from illness or destructive behavior. It is proved that none of these approaches, when applied in isolation, can fully explain the processes of stable fixation of destructive behavioral models in modern society. The methodological framework of the study is based on an integrative approach, which allowed for determining the precise place of the proposed concept within the system of contemporary socio-psychological categories. The phenomenon is interpreted as a complex integrative structure that dynamically combines external traumatizing influences of the social environment with internal deep-seated psychological mechanisms of personality defense and adaptation. Based on the conducted analysis, a comprehensive author's definition of socio-psychological invalidation is formulated, and its three-component structure, which includes external (socio-environmental), internal (personality-meaningful), and motivational-volitional components, is disclosed in detail. The key dynamic mechanisms of this state's formation are described, among which the leading roles are played by the interiorization of negative social roles imposed by society, the chronic fixation of cognitive limiting beliefs, and the unconscious formation of secondary gain from one's own incapacity. Special theoretical attention is paid to isolating and systematizing the primary empirical signs of this phenomenon at three levels: cognitive (distortion of self-perception), emotional (destructive experiences and apathy), and behavioral (passivity, avoidance). This allows for viewing socio-psychological invalidation as an independent, holistic object for further psychological analysis and empirical research. The scientific novelty and practical significance of the findings lie in substantiating the effectiveness of the proposed construct for psychological counseling and psychocorrection practices. Specifically, the developed propositions open up new perspectives in working with clients who exhibit a stable propensity for destructive or auto-aggressive behavior, and establish a reliable theoretical foundation for designing tailored programs for their successful resocialization and return to full-fledged functioning in society.