Psychology of identity distortion: adolescent subcultures of "quadrobers" through the prism of pedagogy, psychology and psychiatry

Relevance. The Quadrobera subculture is gaining more and more popularity every day. At first glance, it may seem that the hobby of a minor is harmless, limited only by attributes that help to become outwardly similar to animals, but often the hobby goes to extremes, and a number of authors consider it destructive, capable of leading to personality regression. The issue concerns both parents, legal representatives of minors, and the public at large at various levels, up to the legislative level. However, the phenomenon of quadrobing implies a deeper understanding than perception through the prism of external behavioral characteristics, and requires a deeper and more detailed study of the psychological mechanisms of quadrobing formation and its impact on identity distortion in the adolescent environment. Goal. To carry out a pedagogical, psychological and psychiatric understanding of the phenomenon of the Quadrobera subculture as a form of identity distortion in the adolescent environment.
Materials and methods. In the course of the study, a literature review was conducted to study the psychological mechanisms of protection and deviation in the behavior of quadrobers, a study was conducted through an anonymous sociological survey conducted using the Yandex Forms platform, in which 114 people participated: 34 people (30%) are practicing psychiatrists, 80 people (70%) arestudents of a medical university and resident doctors specializing in Psychiatry.
Results. The key mechanism for forming the commitment of minors to subculture is its use as a psychological defense in conditions of personal instability, internal conflict and social maladaptation. The opinion of psychiatrists and students converged on issues related to the hospitalization and forced treatment of representatives of the subculture, the attitude to hobby as a psychopathology. The majority of respondents consider a fascination with psychopathology that does not require hospitalization and compulsory treatment. They also recommend seeking the advice of a clinical psychologist. Students of a medical university are recommended to consult a psychiatrist more often. If parents or legal representatives of minors had contacted the doctors, they would have consulted the children and treated them like ordinary patients.
Conclusions. Quadrobing is a protection mechanism for minors based on regression, compensation, dissociation, and identification with the aggressor. It was found that medical university students have a more conservative view of the Quadrobera subculture and its representatives than psychiatrists. The results obtained can be used to develop a methodological manual, a preventive manual on digital hygiene and to expand interactions between specialists, parents and underage representatives of the subculture

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