Psichologinė priklausomų nuo alkoholio moterų tapatumo kūrimo grindžiamoji teorija: vidinė atskirtis kuriant iliuzinį tapatumą

Abstract

Women’s alcohol addiction is a serious social problem, which is relevant to study at scientific, practical, and social levels. So far, it has received little research attention in the field of psychology; thus, this study aims to fill the existing gap in the literature. Ten self-identified alcohol-addicted women participated in the study. Empirical data was collected through biographical narrative interviews. In order to reveal the main characteristics of alcohol-addicted women’s identity development, as well as factors contributing to the manifestation of alcohol addiction, K. Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory approach was chosen as a methodological strategy. The constructivist grounded theory reveals a key characteristic of alcohol-addicted women’s identity development: inner detachment between compensatory and impotent identities, which due to the use of an immature psychological defences constitutes the concept of illusory identity. This study uses psychoanalytical theoretical perspectives to explain the difficulties experienced by participants. It is proposed that the process of internal detachment stems from the lack of integration of internal structures, which manifests in a lack of self-power and worth, as well as in interpersonal difficulties. Moreover, this study hypothesizes that a lack of internal structures relates to being psychologically “unborn,” the manifestation of the death instinct, and a longing for an archetypal state of paradise, which can be induced by heavy alcohol use. The results of this study highlight the need for an empathetic and compassionate approach to alcohol-addicted women at both the professional and societal levels, which can positively affect the mental health of both alcohol-addicted women and future generations.