На підставі результатів опитування 162 респондентів описано афективно-когнітивні складові
переживання почуття провини у просторі колективної свідомості українців. Установлено, що цей
простір є складним, але слабко структурованим, піддатливим до виникнення й поширення малоусвідомлюваних захисних оцінок і ставлень. На схильність і здатність українців визнавати спільні історичні провини впливає рівень їхньої української ідентичності (нарцистичної, згідливої, гуманістичної)
та вибір емоційно-ціннісної позиції (заперечно-захисної, уникливо-захисної, самозвинувачувальної).
According to the results of 162 respondents survey, the affective and cognitive components of feelings
of guilt in the space of Ukrainians’ collective consciousness were described. This space is complex,
but poorly structured, capable of appearing and spreading little understood defensive assessments and
attitudes.
The content of relevant processes recorded the following trends: undifferentiated feelings of guilt, general
self-accusations, accusations of Ukrainians themselves for historical failures, shame for Ukrainians’
violence, readiness to recognize or not to recognize Ukrainians’ guilties, accusations of Ukrainian powers of
different periods, denunciation of Soviet power, Ukrainians’ feelings to be innocent victims of Russia, the
avoidance of political guilt.
In defining of the perpetrators of Ukrainian historical miseries the agents of Russian-Soviet influences
and the Ukrainian authorities of various times unconditionally dominate. Psychologically more problematic
is the sphere of recognition / non-recognition by Ukrainians of their own faults. One can speak of the presence
of a basic affective background – the experience of undifferentiated feelings of guilt.
The Ukrainians’ consciousness is characterized by two main emotional-value positions: denialdefensive
(we are not guilty of anyone) and avoiding-defensive (we are only guilty of ourselves). The
opposite self-accusatory position (we are guilty of others and should ask them for forgiveness) has a
relatively small share.
The denial-defensive position essentially correlates with the narcissistic Ukrainian identity. The
avoiding-defensive position reflects the conciliatory Ukrainian identity. Recognizing the historical
blames of Ukrainians and a need to apologize concerns the representatives of humanistic Ukrainian
identity. It means understanding the real state of affairs without illusory idealization, the ability to profoundly
experience one’s involvement in the Ukrainian world, and the willingness to assume moral
responsibility for the sins of the past.
