SOCIAL DISTANCE AS A PSYCHOSOCIAL PHENOMENON: THEORETICAL UNDERSTANDING AND DEFINITIONAL ANALYSIS OF RELATED CONCEPTS
PDF 47-62 (Українська)

Keywords

social distance
social distancing
social dissociation
social avoidance
social withdrawal
bystander effect
social alienation
social rejection
social isolation
social detachment
social apathy
civic disengagement
moral disengagement
compassion fatigue

How to Cite

Safronova, M., & Petrovska , I. (2025). SOCIAL DISTANCE AS A PSYCHOSOCIAL PHENOMENON: THEORETICAL UNDERSTANDING AND DEFINITIONAL ANALYSIS OF RELATED CONCEPTS. PSYCHOLOGICAL JOURNAL, 11(3), 47–62. https://doi.org/10.31108/1.2025.11.3.4

Abstract

The article presents a theoretical understanding of the phenomenon of social distance as an integral concept encompassing a range of related psychosocial phenomena. The relevance of the study stems from increasing social tension under the conditions of war, crisis events, and information oversaturation, which provoke emotional detachment, apathy, and a decline in citizens’ engagement in social life. Despite the widespread use of terms related to social distance, Ukrainian academic literature reveals a lack of clarity in definitions and an absence of clear differentiation between related concepts.

The aim of the article is to provide a theoretical conceptualization and systematization of key terms related to social distance in order to develop a comprehensive model and create psychodiagnostic tools for further empirical research. The methodological foundation is based on a comparative analysis and synthesis of scientific sources.

As a result of the study, eleven concepts were identified and described, each reflecting different aspects of social distance: social dissociation, social avoidance, social detachment, the bystander effect, social alienation, social rejection, social isolation, social disengagement, social apathy and civic indifference, moral disengagement, and compassion fatigue. An analytical table was compiled to reflect the causes, mechanisms, and consequences of each of these phenomena.

The findings can be used in further empirical research and for the development of psychodiagnostic tools.

 

https://doi.org/10.31108/1.2025.11.3.4
PDF 47-62 (Українська)

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