INIS Series, INIS Series, 2022, Special Edition
Title:
Theopsychological Interpretation of Stress
Autor(s):
Ivan Valkov, Kiev Theological Seminary, BIC GCB, Kiev, Ukraine, i.i.valkov@abv.bg
Abstact:
The article argues that any study of stress only on a mental and physical level is complete. Recent research in medicine and psychology complements the analysis, but is not sufficient to formulate workable solutions. There are five directions in the study of stress reactions: biological, medical, psychological, socio-psychological, to which in this text we add theo-psychological. Stress has deep psychophysiological and psycho-spiritual roots, although only in the last century its influence, causes and results have been talked about by psychologists, physicians and educators. The author examines the history of stress from a theological perspective, focusing on its spiritual dimension. Based on the available psycho-spiritual external and internal stressors, stress is defined as a complex human response to external and internal stimuli that cause tension and shock in the human mind, soul and body. From the moment of the severance of the relationship with God, on a subconscious level in man there is a constant feeling of guilt, fear of unexpected and unknown danger. This psycho-spiritual fixation is triggered in extreme situations caused by external stimuli, the reason being lack of support, confidence on a spiritual, mental and physical level. The Bible describes this pattern as follows: "The wicked flees when no one pursues him; but the righteous is bold as a lion" (Proverbs 28: 1).
The object of the theopsychological study of stress in the article is the reaction of the human spirit and soul to the historical changes of the spiritual and moral atmosphere and of man himself, from Creation, through knowledge of the law of sin and death to the present day. The set natural defense mechanisms as a response to stress are: rationalization, projection, repression, identification, compensation, hypercompensation, fantasizing, dominant ideas. They have advantages and disadvantages, which is why in our study we seek to focus on conscious psycho-spiritual defense mechanisms, shown in personalities described in the Bible.
The object of the theopsychological study of stress in the article is the reaction of the human spirit and soul to the historical changes of the spiritual and moral atmosphere and of man himself, from Creation, through knowledge of the law of sin and death to the present day. The set natural defense mechanisms as a response to stress are: rationalization, projection, repression, identification, compensation, hypercompensation, fantasizing, dominant ideas. They have advantages and disadvantages, which is why in our study we seek to focus on conscious psycho-spiritual defense mechanisms, shown in personalities described in the Bible.
Keywords:
Stress, Teo-Psychology,
PDF file address:
http://www.math.bas.bg/vt/inis/series/book/2022.se/inis.2022.se11.pdf
Cite (APA style):
Valkov, I. (2022). Theopsychological Interpretation of Stress, INIS Series, 2022, Special Edition, ISSN 2815-4231, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 182-196.