Družbene spremembe, travmatične emocije in emocionalna opora
Social changes, traumatic emotions and emotional support

Summary/Abstract: The article deals with emotiotial support in the context of wide and fundamental social changes. On the basis of data obtained from two studies of social support provision in Slovenia (1987 and 2002), the author focuses on changes in providers of emotional support and tries to explain these changes partly by using the collective trauma perspective formulated in the works of P. Sztompka. The collective trauma produced by social changes from around 1987, when some political and social disturbances began to spread, up to the first years after Slovenia's gain of independence, and triggered by traumatizing conditions interpreted as threatening, was manifested as social moods, emotions and attitudes. Faced with various acute issues and traumatic situations people sought collective emotional support as coping strategies to fight traumatic emotions (uncertainty, anxiety, insecurity, feelings of danger, fear, disappointment, shock, hate, euphoria). It seems that an important strategy for coping with collective emotions was intensive interaction with dispersive sources of emotional support beyond narrow intimate circles (family members, friends). Collective emotions were generated by comprehensive social changes and could only be solved by intensive social exchanges and contacts in wider social circles (co-workers, neighbors, co-members of organisations). In new traumatic circumstances people were more open to others outside the immediate family and circle of friends. They started to talk about, and define common and shared situations, exchange experiences, express their moods, emotions and attitudes, identify causes and solutions for common plight, and decide to do something about it. Gradual stabilisation of the new political and socio-economic system from the mid 90s onwards generated new conditions and situations and also new coping methods. People tried to cope with the new capitalist economy (the ethos of competitive individualism, time and productivity pressures) by turning to intimate personal relationships. In 2002, during the period of post-tradition in Slovenia, when life became much more predictable and stable but also more stressful and fast-paced, providers of emotional aid also changed - intimate partners and friends became primary discussion partners with whom people discussed matters that were important to them. However, these changes in discussion partners were not similar for men and women. Women became the main providers of emotional support for men but not vice-versa, which meant a revivification of women's traditional relational or emotional work.

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