A problem is a collective concept that includes obstacles, breakdowns, losses, illnesses, interferences, difficulties and troubles. This is everything that interferes with normal life, that burdens and threatens, restrains and hinders, which differs from normal healthy functioning.
If a person is striving forward, the problem is what holds him back, makes him stand still, and even go back. If a person wants happiness, the problem is that happiness deprives him. If you just want to live, then the problem is a serious life difficulty in normal life. If people see that a person’s behavior is inappropriate, they say that he has a problem.
The problems do not include trifles and do not include what is catastrophic, problems are troubles of medium magnitude.
A world with problems is a hostile world while the problems can be dealt with, and a terrible one when the problems become unsolvable. However, in the latter case, the problems are already moving into the status of «horror» and «nightmare».
In the metaphorical vertical of the problem, everything that is below zero is some kind of negative (minus). Getting rid of problems, solving problems is the movement from minus to zero, the elimination of the backlog.
Moving from zero to plus is development, gaining an advantage.
Problems are objective and subjective, internal and external. If these types of problems are not distinguished, there is great confusion and unnecessary disputes. First of all, it is necessary to distinguish between an objective problem (an objective source of serious difficulties, an obstacle to the process of normal life) and a subjective problem. A subjective problem is what is seen as a terrifying life difficulty. In fact, there may not be a life difficulty, but what is happening is perceived (experienced) as something terrible: dark, heavy and oppressive, depriving one of opportunities, light and joy.
The subjective problem is almost always associated with a feeling of fear. This is a life difficulty, perceived through the prism of fear, or a feeling of fear that depicts life’s difficulties.
Subjective problems are a field of complete subjectivity. Such problems are only what a person perceives (realizes, experiences) as a problem, and what one person perceives as a problem, another can see as an opportunity.
Initially, children do not use the word Problem, but only those children who are allowed by their parents to complain (but how else? Say calmly, without crying, screaming and an unhappy face, what you want. Then I will help you). Growing up, children begin to actively use this concept when they need to worry, relieve themselves of responsibility and attract attention. For someone to help them. To do it not by him, but by someone else. If this becomes a habitual mode of action, an experiential personality is formed. Such people often come up with, or even create problems for themselves, thereby attracting attention to themselves.
It is important to understand that life’s difficulties are not yet problems. Problems can be created from difficulties, and people do this by creating the ground for psychotherapy. If the client is used to creating problems for himself, he will always need psychotherapy. If the therapist has created a problem for the client, he also now has something to work with …
People who are focused on development rarely use the word problem, it is more natural for them to think in terms of goals and objectives. On the other hand, if we think in the category of problems, then the problems of such a person are different, of a different nature and of a different level. For example, a developmental psychologist considers a problem that does not correspond to cultural or age norms of personality development, and for people with the value of self-improvement — the image of a developed and worthy personality. A person may not consider it a problem that he gets drunk or at least gets used to lying on the couch in front of the TV, turning from a person into a vegetable. And we can consider this as his problem, and if possible, we will do it to change the situation. For a developmental psychologist, the problem is that a person thinks of his life in terms of problems, instead of living in terms of goals and objectives.
Problems in human life
Creating problems and getting rid of problems. Why and why do people create problems for themselves and experience them. Successful people and problems. See →
Problems in practical psychology
The problem as a marker of the type of psychological work. Dealing with a problem. See →