Theoretical Overview of Contemporary Concepts of Psychological Security
The author sees security as a psychological phenomenon that makes sense only in the context of human reactions. The article outlines research on psychological security within the scope of organizational psychology, development psychology, environmental psychology and social psychology; some of works have not been covered before. The role of psychological security in the organization is shown with the emphasis on its importance for developing relations of trust, information exchange, transfer of knowledge and practices. It is argued that there is relationship between the need for emotional security realized in infancy and man’s behaviour as an adult, which can be observed in many spheres of life. The link between the characteristics of the surrounding world and psychological security is considered. The examples of how insecure or unordered environment can lead to deprivation of such senses as effectiveness, trust and social cohesion are given. In terms of social psychology psychological security is interpreted in the context of perceptions which represent subjective reflections of the reality through perceiving the world around us. To make security personal reality it should be accepted and processed, that is why external events are defined, interpreted and perceived subjectively.