Social Representation of stigmatizing seeking psychological support in the military

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Published: Dec 15, 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/psy_hps.23005
Keywords:
social representation psychological support military environment self-stigma public stigma
Βάσια Ιγνατίου-Καραμανώλη
Abstract
The aim of the present study is to investigate content and structure of social representation concerning the institution of psychological support in the military. Research is focused on stigma’s representation and on searching possible differences depending on military personnel’s status and education. The main obstacle on seeking psychological support in the military seems to be stigma, self or public. Even though adjustment to military environment and handling warfare provoke several difficulties on thought, emotions or behavior, avoiding psychological support seems to be common place among military personnel globally. Educating military personnel (Ν=143) participated to a research about social representation’s structure analysis with Vergès’ (1994) free association method. Content analysis was used for data coding and representation’s structure analysis about trainees’, soldires’ and officers’ procedure of seeking psychological support. Results indicated several interesting findings about stigma’s content and structure depending on military duty, education and role. Implications of future research are made.
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