SHAPING AND MODELING PERSONALITY IN PROCESS OF LONG LASTING TRANSITION-CASE OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Abstract

The years of socio-economic and political transition in the Republic of Macedonia were characterized with: rising ethnic tensions, refugee crisis, transformation of the political system and political ideology, and the introduction of political pluralism. Macedonia faced interethnic tensions which escalated with the war conflict in 2001. There were more or less other problems with neighbors which were related with the identity of Macedonian nation and Macedonian state. During the period of more than 15 years (1999-2015), Psychological laboratory at the Institute for Sociological Political and Juridical Research (ISPJR) -Skopje has implemented several surveys which purpose was to indentify the process of psychological transformation of the citizens under the influence of politically motivated events. Analyses showed that politically motivated factors of stress can influence changes in the psychological processes as: perception, competence for moral judgment, identity, social attitudes, (authoritarianism) and political ideology. And, at the end, changes in the political culture bring new shape of the average personality profile. Findings showed that citizens’ average personality profiles can be shaped as a result of long lasting changes in society. The new generations of individuals become more self oriented and less prepared to participate in collective initiatives.