NGO „Vedzeb“
Master of Psychology / Psychologist, Psychosocial Support Specialist
Tbilisi/Georgia
Mnozadze12@gmail.com
Abstract
Historical and contemporary social processes in Georgia frequently reveal various forms of disruption in individual biographical continuity. This phenomenon is not limited to personal experience but often extends across generations, influencing both the formation of collective memory and the construction of identity.
Examples of disrupted biographical continuity can be identified in different historical contexts. One such example is the practice of Mamluk recruitment, in which children were forcibly separated from their familial and cultural environments and acquired new identities within different social settings. Another significant case is that of the mass repressions of the Soviet period, which involved the loss of social status, family ties, and place of residence, resulting in abrupt changes to the course of individual lives. In the contemporary context, particular attention should be paid to cases of illegal adoption, in which individuals often lack information about their origins, causing identity formation later in life to become a complex and potentially crisis-ridden process.
From a socio-psychological perspective, these processes may be examined within the framework of social identity theory, which emphasises the importance of group belonging in the formation of self-perception. The concept of transgenerational trauma demonstrates how unresolved experiences may be transmitted across generations and reflected in emotional and behavioural patterns. The narrative identity approach, meanwhile, enables us to understand how individuals attempt to reconstruct their life stories when biographical continuity has been disrupted.
Understanding these processes is important from both individual and societal perspectives. It is necessary to develop approaches that help individuals comprehend their own biographical histories, strengthen their sense of identity, and process traumatic experiences. Open communication, psychosocial support, and increased public awareness are of particular importance, as they can assist individuals in understanding and integrating their personal histories more effectively. Such approaches may also contribute to strengthening social trust and to the development of more humane and inclusive forms of collective memory.
Keywords: biographical continuity; identity; collective memory; transgenerational trauma; social identity; illegal adoption; narrative identity.