Why people switch to Russian: a psychologist's explanation
Kyiv • UNN
Psychologist Mykola Oliynyk explained the switch to Russian as an automatism of the psyche during stress. The brain subconsciously chooses neural pathways familiar from childhood.
Recently, people on social media have been increasingly talking about the return of the Russian language to the public space - from everyday communication to content and services. Why this is happening and whether there are psychological reasons for it, psychologist-coach Mykola Oliynyk told UNN journalist.
In stressful situations, the brain looks for the simplest ways to stabilize. A person acts not through rational choice, but through automatic reactions, says the psychologist. That is why behavior can change unconsciously.
Under stress, the psyche seeks the fastest path to stability. And it returns not to the "best", but to the familiar. Language is a skill that is formed over years. And if in childhood or for a long time a person spoke Russian, then at a moment of tension the brain automatically "rolls back" to this model
The psychologist adds that language often has a deep emotional connection with past experiences. It can be associated with childhood, family, and first experiences, and in difficult moments, a person subconsciously seeks a familiar environment.
Language is often tied to childhood, family, first emotional experiences. And in stress, a person subconsciously seeks a sense of familiarity and security. This can be nostalgia, habit, or simply a neural pathway. This is not about a position, but rather about the automatism of the nervous system
At the same time, linguistic behavior is also influenced by the environment. According to the expert, people tend to adapt to what they see and hear around them. Media and public figures, in particular, play a special role in this.
Man is a social being. He adapts to the environment. If a certain language is heard in the media, public figures use it, and it is popularized in content, then it becomes the norm. And vice versa, when a new standard is formed, people begin to adapt to it
Attitude towards language also depends on personal identity. For some, it is a matter of principle, for others - just a tool for communication. This is what determines the difference in people's reactions.
For some, language is part of a national position, a marker of "who I am" and a matter of values. For others, it is simply a tool for communication. The difference is how much a person identifies with this topic and the state as a whole. As a combat officer and war veteran, I believe that now we must be united, cohesive, and without alternatives towards the enemy. After all, he is common, one for all Ukrainians
The psychologist emphasizes: it is important to react correctly to such situations.
A strong position is calmness, not aggression or pressure, but a clear understanding: I speak Ukrainian - this is my choice and my position. Further - do not attack, do not argue, and do not humiliate, because people change more not through conflicts, but through examples and environment