Why does a person lie, and what can a love of lying lead to? What can lead to low vision and blindness in people of different ages? What pushes a person to dishonorable actions epigraph

Honesty is a component of honor. Honesty is the ability to truthfully and confidently tell a person to his face everything you think. Is it easy to be honest? Does a person always tell the truth? What could lead him to deception? In fact, we cheat every day. But these lies to parents or friends are generally harmless. But when you lie in a situation of moral choice, when your future or someone's life depends on it.... This is where honesty becomes extremely necessary.

In the novel M.A. Bulgakov's "The Master and Margarita" the procurator of Judea Pontius Pilate faces the honesty of Yeshua Ha Nozri. During the interrogation, trying to save the wandering philosopher from death, he hints that he should lie. However, Yeshua does not understand or does not want to understand the hints and proclaims that telling the truth is easy and pleasant. And in the presence of the secretary and the convoy, he admits that soon there will be no power, because all power is violence against a person. Pilate does not accept this truth because he fears for his life. To admit this means to lose your post, and subsequently, possibly, your life. And he passes an unjust verdict on the wandering philosopher, sentencing him to death, although he did not kill, did not steal, did not do anything illegal. This act will torment Pilate for a long time, he will try to correct the mistake, but two millennia will pass, and only the Master will grant forgiveness to the procurator of Judea by writing a novel about him.

In V. Bykov’s book “Sotnikov,” the main character, sentenced to death, recalls his childhood. In his family it was customary to tell the truth. My mother believed in God, and my father was a man who fought in the Red Army and had a medal pistol. The boy really wanted to hold the Mauser in his hands and shoot from it. But my father categorically forbade touching the weapon, especially in his absence. One day, waking up at dawn, the boy discovered that no one was home. Finally he can play with daddy's gun. But when he picked it up, the Mauser fired. The mother immediately suggested that her son confess to his father what he had done, otherwise things would get worse. Sotnikov went to tell his father everything. He, of course, was outraged. But he relented, saying that his son did the right thing by telling him everything. “I guessed it myself,” he asked, and the boy quickly, nodding his head, answered: “Yes.” As he left his father's side, he blushed. After all, he lied. All his life, Sotnikov remembered his offense - a little lie. And the pangs of conscience did not go away, many years later. He was afraid or simply did not have time to think, and then it was scary to correct this mistake, but every time, remembering this incident, he felt remorse.

Honor and dishonor.

Each of us has encountered people of honor. People who can selflessly help a person. Such people can come to the aid of even a stranger without demanding anything in return. But there is also a dark side of honor, one that gains strength day by day. Dishonor is a negative quality of a person, which is expressed in meanness, deceit, deceit and betrayal. Dishonest people value only their ego; they help others for their own benefit. Can such people be trusted? Can you rely on them in difficult times? Of course not.

Today we understand that dishonor is growing, gaining momentum, while destroying the moral values ​​of a person. Nowadays it is difficult to find a person who will help, understand and console.

“Take care of your honor from a young age,” this is exactly the epigraph of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin’s story “The Captain’s Daughter.” The concept of honor became central to the work. Honor is decency, the moral purity of heroes, such as Pyotr Grinev, his parents, the entire family of Captain Mironov; This is military honor, loyalty to the oath, this, by and large, is love for the Motherland. The story contrasts Pyotr Grinev and Alexey Shvabrin. Both are young, of the noble class, officers, but how different they are in character and moral principles. Grinev is a man of honor, whether it concerns his relationship with Masha Mironova, or his loyalty to the oath, perseverance to the end during the Pugachev rebellion. Without honor and conscience Alexey Shvabrin. He is rude to Masha, it costs him nothing to go over to the rebels, violating the officer’s honor. Captain Mironov, commandant of the Belogorsk fortress, evokes deep sympathy. He did not lose his dignity, remained faithful to his oath, and did not bend his knee to Pugachev. In the Grinev family, the concept of honor was the basis of the character of Father Petrusha. Despite the fact that Peter, like all children, loved to play pranks, the main thing was brought up in him - human dignity, decency, and this is honor. The hero shows it by returning the gambling debt and not being humiliated by betrayal, as Shvabrin did.

Let us turn to the work “Song about Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich, the young guardsman and the daring merchant Kalashnikov” by Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov. The writer touches on one of the most important problems facing man - the problem of honor. How to protect the honor of yourself and your loved ones, no matter what, how to remain human in any situation?

The action takes place in the distant sixteenth century, during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, when the guardsmen could commit outrages, knowing that they would not be punished by the tsar. Kiribeevich is shown as such a guardsman, who, without thinking about the fate of the woman, Alena Dmitrievna, puts her in a terrible position. The neighbors see him trying to caress her, a married woman, which in those years was considered the greatest sin. Shame on an innocent woman. Her husband, the merchant Kalashnikov, is outraged and challenges the guardsman to open battle. Defending the honor of his wife and family, he went to the duel, realizing that he would not have mercy from the king in any case. And here a duel is played out between truth, honor and dishonor. Because of a man devoid of morality, the noble Kalashnikov dies, his children are left without a father, and a young innocent girl is left a widow. So Kiribeevich ruined the life not only of himself, but also of the woman he loved. And all because of this, that a person who does not have spiritual values ​​will never be able to comprehend true love, which leads to good deeds, in which honor remains pure and innocent. This work teaches a lot: that you always need to defend the honor of your family and loved ones, and not to offend anyone.

In conclusion, I would like to call people to conscience. To what has always been the concept of honor. Honor is one of the highest moral qualities of a person. It is formed from childhood. After all, the foundations of human dignity are a long and thorny path from selfishness to the establishment of moral principles. From person to person, from generation to generation, the basics of honor, etiquette and human dignity have been passed on, and only the person himself chooses which moral ideals to choose as a guide in this life. So let us not be dishonest people, let us not become like those who have already been swallowed up by their own ego, selfishness and selfishness. After all, the manifestation of honor is a feat not only for oneself, but also for the whole world!

Dubrovny Egor

It is better to be poor with honor than rich with dishonor.

Honor... What is it? Honor is the moral qualities of a person, his principles worthy of respect and pride, this is a high spiritual force that can keep a person from meanness, betrayal, lies and cowardice. Without honor a person has no real life. It is better to be poor with honor than rich with dishonor.

Classics of world fiction have created many works that tell about heroes who have different attitudes to the concept of honor and dignity. Thus, in the prose poem “The Counterfeit Coin” by Charles Baudelaire, the meanness of man and the choice of dishonor are shown. The main character gives a poor man a counterfeit coin, not thinking that this unfortunate man might be arrested. An arrest was the least that could be done; he could have been flogged, beaten, or even simply killed. This poor fellow's life is already not so good, but it will become even worse. The man who gave this coin committed a dishonorable act; he chose wealth instead of honor, although one coin would not have made him poor. The author wants to convey to us the idea that it is unforgivable to be evil, and even worse - to do evil out of stupidity. This is the most dishonest thing! Even the kindest deed can conceal great meanness in its depths.

In Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol’s poem “Dead Souls,” the main character Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov serves as a vivid example of dishonor. Throughout the poem he deceives people for his own benefit. Pavel Ivanovich wanted to get rich by buying up “dead souls.” These were documents for the ownership of peasants who died but were considered alive. Chichikov buys up “dead souls” in order to deceive the entire society. Pavel Ivanovich did not think about people, he blatantly lied to them and did everything for himself. Looking at these two examples, we see that more often people choose wealth. But I believe that it is better to be poor with honor than rich with dishonor.

“Honor is like a precious stone: the slightest spot takes away its shine and takes away all its value,” Edmond Pierre Beauchaine once said. Yes, this is indeed true. And everyone, sooner or later, will have to decide how to live - with honor or without it.

Cheboltasov Igor

Where do dishonest people come from?

Dishonor is a negative quality of a person, which is expressed in meanness, deceit, deceit and betrayal. It entails shame, destruction of oneself as an individual. Even in the most difficult moment, a person must continue to follow an honest path, without doubting for a second. From birth, parents raise their children to be honest, so where do dishonest people come from?

It seems that different answers can be given to this question, but I believe that dishonor is, first of all, a lack of respect for oneself and others. Therefore, it is very important that we understand that the main values ​​in life are honor and conscience. But, unfortunately, not everyone understands this and chooses the wrong path. By committing any deception, we are approaching dishonor. And with each subsequent betrayal we become dishonest.

The theme of dishonor is touched upon in the story “The Captain's Daughter” by Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. In this work, two heroes are contrasted: Pyotr Grinev and Alexey Shvabrin. You can judge a person by his actions in difficult times. For the heroes, the test was the capture of the Belogorsk fortress by Pugachev, where Shvabrin showed his dishonor. He saves his life by deception. We see him on the side of the rebels, while whispering something in Pugachev’s ear. Grinev is ready to share the fate of Captain Mironov and stand for his Motherland.

Let us turn to Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”. The main character Anatol Kuragin is an irresponsible and hypocritical person. He does not think about the consequences of his actions, does not think about the future and does not pay attention to the opinions of others. Kuragin's dishonor is his desire to marry Marya Bolkonskaya because of her wealth. It shows how the hero, for his own good and his own benefit, is ready for any dishonorable act. The author wants to convey to us that a dishonest person is ready to commit a vile act for his own benefit.

Summarizing what has been said, we can conclude that dishonor means the loss of one’s moral character. Having acted dishonestly once, a person cannot stop, becoming a traitor and a liar. We often meet dishonest people in our time, but I would like there to be as many honest people as possible.

Evstropova Victoria

arguments for an essay

Essays on the topic of honor on our website:

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The problem of honor and dishonor is one of the most important in a person’s life. We are taught from childhood that acting dishonestly is bad. Walking past the playground, we hear every now and then: “This is not fair! We must replay!”
That's the definition honor we find in the dictionary S.I. Ozhegova:
There you can see the definition of the word "honest":
In the dictionary V.I. Dahl gives the following sayings about dishonor:

Honor is a moral category. The concept of honor is inextricably linked with the concept of conscience, that is, to be an honest person is to live according to conscience, according to deep inner convictions that one thing is good and the other is bad.
A person faces the problem of what to do: honestly or dishonestly (lie or tell the truth; betray or remain faithful to the country, person, word, principles, etc.) literally every day. That is why all world literature turned to it in one way or another.
the problem of honor and dishonor is one of the most important. Erast, a flighty young man, a nobleman, carried away by Lisa, a peasant girl, thinks of leaving his usual society for her sake and abandoning his previous way of life. But in the end his dreams turn out to be self-deception. Lisa, deeply in love with Erast, sincerely believes the young man and gives him the most precious thing that she, a poor girl, has - her maiden honor. Karamzin bitterly reproaches Lisa for this act:

But if we can understand and justify Lisa (she is truly in love!), then it is impossible to justify Erast. Brought up in a noble environment in such a way that he cannot earn a living on his own, the hero, who is facing a debt trap because he lost his entire fortune at cards, decides to marry a rich widow. Liza, waiting for her lover from the war, accidentally finds out about everything, and Erast, taken by surprise, wants to pay off the girl with money. The act is deeply dishonest, showing Erast’s cowardice, his lack of will, and selfishness. Lisa turned out to be more decent than Erast, paying for her love and lost honor at a very high price - her own life.
All heroes are tested for honor. Take care of honor from a young age - this is the main instruction of his father to Pyotr Grinev, who is going to serve. And the hero honorably fulfills the parent’s order. He refuses to swear allegiance to Pugachev, while another hero, Alexei Shvabrin, does this without much hesitation. Shvabrin is a traitor, but if his action could be explained only by a completely understandable fear of death, then it could at least somehow be justified. But Shvabrin is a vile, low person. We know this from how he tried to denigrate Masha Mironova in the eyes of Grinev, how he meanly wounded Peter during a duel. Therefore, his betrayal is quite natural and cannot be justified.
Pugachev’s henchmen, who betrayed him, also show themselves to be dishonest people. While Pugachev himself, although presented by Pushkin as an ambiguous figure, turned out to be a man of honor (he gratefully remembers the sheepskin coat given by Grinev; at the request of the main character, he immediately stands up for Masha and frees her from Shvabrin’s captivity).
the problem of honor is also key. Both main characters, Evgeny Onegin and Tatyana Larina, pass the test of honor. For Onegin, this test consists of refusing or agreeing to a duel with Lensky. Although, according to the unwritten rules of secular society, refusing a duel was cowardly and dishonorable (if you committed an act - answer!), in the case of Lensky, greater dignity and honor for Onegin would have been to apologize and refuse the duel. But Evgeny showed cowardice, fearing the condemnation of the world: he did not explain to Vladimir. The result of the duel is known to everyone: the young poet died in the prime of his life. Thus, formally, Onegin was not guilty of anything: he accepted the challenge and fate turned out to be more favorable to him than to Lensky. But the hero's conscience was unclean. It was the consciousness that he acted dishonestly, dishonestly, in our opinion, that forced Evgeniy to leave society for seven long years.
Tatyana passed her honor exam with great dignity. She still loves Onegin, which she sincerely admits to him, but refuses a relationship with him because she wants to preserve the good name of her family. For her, a married woman, this connection is impossible.
A.S. himself Pushkin died tragically at the dawn of his strength, defending the honor of his wife, Natalya Nikolaevna, who was accused of having an affair with the young Frenchman Dantes. On his death M.Yu. Lermontov wrote wonderful words:
the concept of honor is replaced by the concept of benefit. It is not without reason that the writer characterizes him as a person of a cautious and cool character. Since childhood, Chichikov has well learned his father’s order to “take care and save a penny.” And so little Pavlusha sells food to his classmates, makes a wax bullfinch and sells it the same way. Having matured, he does not shun a shameless scam with the purchase of “dead souls”, finding an approach to each seller, deceiving someone, making up an incredible story for this (as he did with Manilov), and simply not explaining anything to someone (Korobochka). But other landowners (Nozdryov, Sobakevich, Plyushkin) are fully aware of the meaning of this event, but nevertheless their “honor” does not suffer in the least from Chichikov’s proposal. Each of these landowners happily sells “dead souls” to the main character, thereby improving their financial situation.
Officials in the poem are also shown as unscrupulous and dishonest people. And although the work does not contain large, detailed images, Gogol gives beautiful miniature portraits of government servants. So, Ivan Antonovich Kuvshinnoe Rylo is a typical official who, taking advantage of his official position, extorts bribes from visitors. It is he who introduces Chichikov to all the intricacies of the bureaucratic machine.
Unlike the poem

a detailed description of the life and morals of officials of the small town of N is presented. All of them are dishonest, since they do not hesitate to take bribes, and they do not really hide it. The officials feel like the rightful owners of the town, and the only thing the mayor is afraid of is denunciation. The habit of taking and giving bribes is so deeply rooted in the minds of officials that they also consider a bribe to be the best way to appease Khlestakov, whom they mistake for an auditor. Khlestakov, a young man, according to Gogol’s definition, “without a king in his head,” not brought up in strict concepts of honor and dignity, having lost at cards in St. Petersburg and sitting in a hotel in the town of N penniless in his pocket, happily accepts money from officials, at first even not understanding what was the matter and why suddenly he was so incredibly lucky. He doesn't care about the consequences of his words and actions. And he is happy to deceive, attributing to himself more and more merits (and on friendly terms with Pushkin, and he writes and publishes in magazines, and knows all the ministers), he is not embarrassed by the fact that he declared his love to Marya Antonovna, his daughter the mayor, and his wife Anna Andreevna, and then even promised to marry Marya Antonovna.
honor turned out to be an empty phrase for Andriy, the youngest son of Taras, an old Cossack colonel. Andriy easily betrays the Cossacks for the sake of his beloved, the Polish lady. Taras and Andriy’s brother, Ostap, are not like that. For them, Cossack honor is most important. The father, no matter how hard it was for him, mad with anger after seeing his son slashing at his own Cossacks in battle, kills his son with a shot.
speaks for itself. The hero of the story is a boy who was entrusted by teenagers during a game to guard an imaginary military warehouse, having taken his word of honor not to leave his post. And he didn’t leave, despite the fact that everyone had long since left and the park was getting dark and scary. Only the permission of a military man, who happened to be nearby, freed the child from this promise.
In life, it also often happens that the word given by a person turns out to be higher than any personal benefits, circumstances, etc. All this speaks of the high honor of such people. This is what happened with A.P. Chekhov, who refused the title of academician after the same title was deprived of M. Gorky, for whom Anton Pavlovich at one time warmly voted and whom he warmly congratulated on his election. But the Academy of Sciences decided to reverse its decision. Chekhov categorically disagreed with this. He said that his vote in favor of electing Gorky as an academician was sincere and the Academy’s decision was absolutely inconsistent with his personal opinion.
In the works of A.P. Chekhov's problem of honor, including professional honor, was raised more than once.

he talks about Doctor Osip Stepanovich Dymov, who remained faithful to his medical duty to the end. He decides to suck out diphtheria films from a sick boy, although this was very dangerous for the doctor, and therefore was not prescribed as a mandatory treatment measure. But Dymov goes for it, gets infected and dies.

Today there are more than 2 billion gamers in the world, but this market continues to grow every day. Almost half of all players (45%) are women, but the most alarming thing is that these figures also include a significant number of children and teenagers.

For some, the game becomes not just life, but also a completely profitable business. Progaming is a job that requires regular training to maintain and develop your skills. But few manage to turn a hobby into a profession, so the vast majority play solely for pleasure.

Games and diseases

In the summer of 2014, the results of a large-scale study conducted by specialists from the University of Oxford with the participation of 5 thousand adolescents aged 10 to 14 years were published. It turned out that only 25% of them did not play games every day. Among the rest, groups were identified that played for less than an hour a day, from one to three hours a day, and for more than three hours.

It was further learned that children who played for less than an hour every day had a more positive view of the world compared to those who did not play at all. On the contrary, teenagers who played for more than three hours were less satisfied with their lives and had emotional and behavioral problems.

But still, scientists are in no hurry to make loud statements, because they admit that the study was based on the responses of the teenagers themselves, which means there is a certain amount of subjectivity in it.

Against the backdrop of these data, others were published regarding video game TV. It turned out that more than three hours of screen time seriously increases the risk of developing diabetes. Scientists came to this conclusion after examining almost 4.5 thousand children of different sexes aged 9-10 years. After studying the health status of volunteers and conducting a survey on the amount of video games in their lives, experts concluded that the more time a child spends in front of a screen, the more fat tissue in his body and the higher his insulin resistance. But here we cannot speak unequivocally about the dangers of video games specifically; most likely, it has to do with a sedentary lifestyle in general.

When talking about video games, many often bring up the connection with hostility and antisocial behavior. Back in the early 2000s, researchers noted that games significantly increase aggression among children and adolescents. Today, the evidence is different - there is no clearly identified connection between time spent playing games and emotional or mental problems in children.

Well, of course, if the game begins to gradually crowd out all other interests, then there is no need to talk about its benefits. But here the responsibility lies entirely with the parents. They have the power to diversify the life of their children and show its versatility beyond the TV or computer screen.

Boundaries of reality

At the same time, it cannot be denied that video games to some extent blur the boundaries between the virtual and real world and sometimes force players to solve their problems exclusively through gaming methods. There was even a study done on this topic that proved that avid gamers actually carry over certain techniques into real life. Many of the players (from 15 to 21 years old) said that they felt as if in life they could press a button and change the course of events in an instant. The extent to which the game penetrates into real life also depends on the time a person spends on the computer. But in the most advanced cases, the game completely replaces what is happening around a person.

Some also admitted that they deliberately transfer some “chips” from the game, this helps them in communicating with people who move in the same field. At the same time, when it came to real violence or causing harm, all survey participants were unanimous - they would never be able to transfer violence into real life, even if they imagine a similar scenario in their heads. It cannot be said that absolutely all emotional reactions and states of players are provoked solely by games. In addition, some of the volunteers' comments (for example, about the magic button) could simply be part of their fantasies, and not evidence of altered thinking. In general, we can say that although research in this area answers certain questions, it leaves behind many new ones that still need to be addressed.

How to help a gambling addict

You can suspect real gambling addiction in an adult or child based on the so-called “red flags.” First: a strong desire to play games always and everywhere. Second: violation of control and blurring of the boundaries between the beginning of the game and its duration. Third: the game crowds out all other hobbies, including communication with friends. Fourth: people continue to play, even when a conflict situation arises around it. If you notice such manifestations and they last for more than a year, you can safely talk about the diagnosis of gaming disorder in a person.

If we are talking about a child, it is worth trying to analyze with him the reasons that led to this state of affairs. Perhaps these are problems at school, difficulties in communicating with peers, or misunderstanding on the part of parents. Aggressive games are often used as a method to relieve tension, then it is worth looking for alternative methods. In such a situation, it’s a good idea to develop clear rules with your child regarding the place and time of play and try to follow them.

With adults it's a little more complicated. It is important to understand whether more dangerous mental conditions are hidden behind gambling addiction, and only a psychotherapist can help with this. If the diagnosis is confirmed, he will have to be treated. The range of methods is quite wide (from family counseling to daily horseback riding), and a specialist can advise the right one only after communicating with the patient. Moreover, most often the most effective are non-drug methods; medications, in particular antidepressants, are prescribed only in extreme cases.

Age crises: how to emerge victorious from them

Transitional age

The connection between this or that crisis and age in general is quite conditional, but one of the brightest and most noticeable periods occurs between 14 and 19 years. This is the same transitional age, which is associated with a huge number of social, psychological and physiological changes in the body. Puberty turns a teenager's life into continuous swings of emotions, and sometimes it is not so easy to deal with this. Among other things, it is at this time that growing children first begin to think about their immediate future and the time when they will have to grow up. There is no need to go far; even choosing a future profession and place of study at the age of 16-17 is an impossible task for many.

Adolescence is, in fact, the first adult crisis in a person’s life. And if in childhood a crisis is the complete destruction of the old and the construction of a new one, then in adults it is always some kind of choice and conflict of contradictions that no one will solve for you.

Children today spend most of their time in the school system and this makes the decision-making process even more difficult for them. Social pressure, endless instructions from your parents and the feeling that your own feelings and experiences are of no interest to anyone. As sad as it is, sometimes such situations lead to the most disastrous consequences.

But hormones and overwhelming emotions prevent teenagers from accepting reality and soberly understanding what is happening, otherwise they would easily accept the normality of what is happening and finally stop worrying about trifles. As a rule, during this period, young people often give up their usual hobbies and look for new ones, strive to isolate themselves from their parents and show their independence.

This kind of identity crisis is not just a lack of understanding of what to become when you grow up. Partly this is the full formation of personality and its assessment. And the point here is not only in the future profession, many face serious problems in accepting their body, which is rapidly changing. At the same time, you are searching for yourself in society and among the people around you. And here, for a growing child, a loving and understanding family that will accept him as he is is very important.

Quarter life crisis

This crisis is often complained about between the ages of 20 and 30. Some find themselves at a crossroads after graduating from university, others are torn between starting a career and personal life. And many do not want to live on their own at all, because they feel good next to mom and dad, who easily solve all problems. In recent years, the time of entry into adulthood has noticeably shifted, and this has led to the fact that the previously known “crisis of 30 years” has imperceptibly decreased to 25, but this is still a very relative age.

To all this is often added the nervousness that has appeared against the backdrop of the widespread spread of social networks. It always seems to us that something is wrong with us, because if you believe the world of Instagram and Facebook, things are going much better with friends and peers. If you are familiar with this situation, remind yourself that any person’s account is precisely a selection of the best of the best, and in some cases, this best is also contrived or exaggerated many times over. Just try not to compare yourself with others, rather try to focus on achieving your own goals.

This crisis cannot be viewed as destructive, since, on the contrary, it opens the way for personal growth and allows you to rebuild your life according to your own ideals, and not those that were imposed from the outside.

The most common advice on how to survive this crisis most often comes down to Zen practices. Firstly, learn to plan and don’t try to do everything, secondly, accept the inevitability of mistakes, and thirdly, figure out what you are really interested in and what you would like to do in life. To some extent, this crisis is even useful, because it helps to put thoughts in order and finally make changes in life.

Middle age crisis

Unlike the previous crisis, which is based on fear of the future, this one, on the contrary, is associated with the past. One day a man wakes up and finds himself terrified as everything he has suddenly loses all meaning. It seems that the work of your whole life is boring and dull, love is a thing of the past, and the children have completely forgotten about you in the flow of their own affairs. It is this age that is often associated with a craving for expensive and meaningless purchases, affairs with younger partners, divorces and other attempts to regain long-gone youth.

A midlife crisis applies to people between the ages of 40 and 60, when a rethinking of everything that happened to a person before occurs. But it is not so easy to describe this crisis unambiguously. It can occur differently in different people, as well as occur at different age intervals. And if for some these thoughts become pleasant memories, for others they become a direct gateway to depression.

If the first two crises can be safely called periods of growth and change, then this is a classic crisis in the psychological sense. It brings with it negativity, depression, devaluation of oneself and one’s life, and serious thoughts about death. And the most important thing here is to try to extract something useful and productive for yourself from the current situation.

But there are also things that almost everyone experiences during this period. There is a strong sense of disappointment and a clear sense of mortality. In addition, age also manifests itself from a physiological point of view - more and more diseases develop, women begin menopause (something similar happens in the male body and is called andropause).

The most important thing in this crisis is not to miss its transition into depression; in this case, you cannot do without the help of a psychologist. In all other cases, the most important advice is to accept the changes that have come and learn to live in the proposed circumstances.

What is learned helplessness?

A similar syndrome was first described in 1967 after several experiments on animals and humans. It has been proven that learned helplessness can increase depression and anxiety. When a person realizes that he cannot change anything around him, he loses motivation. And even if a chance arises, the person still does not take any action. Against the background of such behavior, the risk of depression inevitably increases.

Psychologist Martin Seligman, who is often credited with coining the term “learned helplessness,” described in detail three features of this condition:

• The person is passive in the face of trauma
• The person does not understand that reaction can control trauma
• A person's stress level increases significantly

To prove their theory, psychologists conducted a study on dogs, during which they were subjected to a series of electric shocks. The experiment showed that dogs that couldn't control the situation ended up showing signs of anxiety and depression, but those that could press the lever did not.

In people, acquired helplessness manifests itself in the fact that they cannot adapt to difficult life situations. Usually they just accept that something bad will happen and do not try to influence it. And even if a potential solution to a problem flashes on the horizon, the person will not use it.

One of the most striking examples of acquired helplessness is smoking. A person makes several attempts, then loses faith in himself and stops trying altogether.

Sometimes acquired helplessness is formed in childhood. When parents do not satisfy the child's need for help, he begins to think that he is unable to change the situation in any way. And if such events occur regularly, then the developed helplessness will continue into adulthood.

The most common signs of acquired helplessness in children: low motivation and self-esteem, low expectations, the child never asks for help, and is sure that he will never be able to achieve success.

The most important factors for combating acquired helplessness in children are proper attachment to parents, a sense of humor and independence.

It is much more difficult for an adult to overcome acquired helplessness. The most effective approach in this regard is cognitive behavioral therapy. In its course, people learn to receive attention and support, find ways to avoid helplessness, identify behaviors that reinforce it, increase self-esteem, and set realistic goals and objectives.

WHO experts found that 45 million people around the world entered the new millennium in absolute darkness, and more than 130 million were visually impaired. Why is this happening? What are the causes of deterioration and loss of vision in people at different ages? Irina Lyazgina, a first category ophthalmologist at the diagnostic department of the Ophthalmological Center of Karelia, answered these questions.

Ophthalmologist Irina Sergeevna Lyazgina

- Irina Sergeevna, please tell us what decreased vision is and what are the main reasons for its occurrence?

Low vision is a severe visual impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. It is manifested by a pronounced decrease in visual acuity or defects in the visual field in the form of narrowing of its boundaries or the appearance of blind areas. Blindness or low vision can have many causes: injury, eye disease, or be hereditary.

- What are the causes of decreased vision and even blindness in different age groups among residents of Karelia?

One of the main causes of visual impairment in children is considered to be disturbances occurring in the optical system of the eye (refractive errors). The most common vision disorder in children is myopia. This is due to the fact that the age from 7 to 16 years is combined with increased visual stress (reading, writing, school lessons). Failure to follow the rules of watching TV and working with a computer, genetic predisposition, nutritional deficiencies and other negative factors can lead to the development of strabismus, myopia, amblyopia (“lazy eye”) and other vision problems in children.

In middle age, people may experience inflammatory diseases of the deep membranes of the eye, retina, optic nerve, as well as severe eye injuries, which in turn can lead to both decreased vision and irreversible blindness.

In old age, people with severe diseases such as hypertension and diabetes are more susceptible to developing cataracts (clouding of the lens) and diabetic retinopathy, that is, circulatory disorders in the retinal vessels and optic nerve. Age-related retinal degeneration and glaucoma also often develop in old age. Age-related degeneration of the retina is associated with damage to a very important area of ​​the retina, which is responsible for object vision, and with glaucoma, due to impaired exchange of intraocular fluid, the optic nerve, the conducting system of the eye, is affected.

- What can be done to avoid blindness?

First of all, prevention, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a visual exercise regime are necessary. Annual preventive examinations by an ophthalmologist are necessary even when nothing worries us, because the most dangerous diseases are usually almost asymptomatic and patients notice them only in the later stages. In our center, anyone can undergo a full comprehensive examination and get answers to all their questions regarding the health of their eyes.

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