In contemporary western society, the terms “risk” and “at risk” are commonly used by both experts and laypeople alike. A body of work has been developed regarding this topic which includes its analysis, evaluation, and management. One area of study involves situations in which there is an unawareness of risk factors, thus resulting in inaction. Another area of study concerns scenarios, such as catastrophic events, in which awareness is present, but responses to them may be either “appropriate” or “inappropriate”. Reactions to such occurences may manifest in the following ways: refusal to accept the situation; a sense of powerlessness (paralysis); resignation; retreating from the world; a sense of losing one’s identity; a change of internal; distorted view of reality. Catastrophic phenomena can trigger a transformation in subjectivity of one’s self-experience and is unique to each individual. It may bring about a feeling of suspension and discontinuation of existential flow which is the result of the suddenness and unexpected nature of the event. The scope of this article is to present an analysis of the literature comparing changes in self-identity and coping mechanisms in “at risk” subjects to victims of actual catastrophic events.[:]
Category: No 4 - December - 2011
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