Thesis presents the theoretical generalization and new approaches to solving the scientific problem, which is manifested in the disclosure of the features of experiencing different types of guilt by the employees of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
The thesis covers the main fields of the study of the phenomenon of guilt and proves the need to distinguish between the state of guilt (guilt-state) and guilt as a personal trait (guilt-trait). The guilt-state is considered to be a temporary, situational emotional phase, while guilt-trait is a stable personal characteristic, expressed in a tendency to constantly experience guilt.
Study of the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of different types of guilt in rescuers revealed significant differences.
Studying of the cognitive components of the guilt-state showed that at the time of experiencing this emotion, the thoughts of the subjects are aimed at condemning their actions, at the need to resolve the situation. Their thoughts are loaded with fears of loss of love and respect of others. The study of the emotional component showed that guilt is most associated with inner anxiety and shame. Removal of guilt is usually carried out or is planned to be carried out, both by means of verbal means (by receiving forgiveness) and by means of substantive actions (compensating for the damage and correcting the situation).
Actualization of the guilt emotion contributes to the turning on of such protective mechanisms of the psyche as: compensation, substitution, regression, projection and repression, which we took into account when creating the psychocorrection program for this category of rescuers.
For firefighter-rescuers with a predominance of guilt-trait, the indicators of guilt of the survivor and guilt of hyper-responsibility are the most pronounced ones; the least outstanding indicator is the guilt of separation.
The results of the questionnaire indicate that guilt-trait is a long, painful, generalized, often irrational moral experience that negatively affects self-attitude, relationships, and self-realization. It contributes to the formation of compensatory behavior, prompted by the need for justification and correction of errors. It can also form a "self-sacrifice syndrome" – a neurotic desire to save everyone.
The most commonly used psychological defense mechanisms in this group of subjects are the following: repression, compensation, denial; the least commonly used - projection, reactive formations and substitution.
Based on the results of psychodiagnostics, we created psycho-corrective programs for firefighter-rescuers with a predominance of guilt-state and guilt-trait. After post-psychocorrection psychodiagnostics were repeated, it became clear that both in case of guilt-state and guilt-trait the psycho-corrective programs were very effective.
