Personal Authenticity as a Predictor of Coping with Stress and the Possible Effect of Stress

Social Sciences. 2023. Vol. 54. No. 4. P. 99–113.

Nartova-Bochaver S. K.

This article substantiates the importance of studying personal
authenticity as loyalty to one’s true Self, considers historical and cultural prototypes
of this phenomenon, and notes the difference between the Eastern and
Western traditions of understanding the true Self: in the East, it is a person’s
dialog with the world, and in the West, it is inner harmony. Four basic oppositions
are proposed to describe authenticity: “to have” versus “to be” (adaptation
vs. meaning); source vs. effect vs. epiphenomenon; molecular vs. molar;
internal vs. external. The main function of authenticity is identified as monitoring
the meaningfulness of life lived by a person in accordance with their
unique calling. The contemporary descriptive and operationalized concepts
of authenticity are compared; their limitations when transferred to Russian
culture are noted. The original agent-based conception of authenticity is proposed,
understood as a person’s loyalty to their individuality, the space-time
context of their life and life-calling. The status of authenticity in this sense is
the inherent human trait of sensitivity to situations. The agent conception is
supported by the Moscow Authenticity Scale as the main standardized measurement
tool. The resource role of authenticity in stressful situations of various
kinds is discussed. Based on the impact of negative life events obtained
in various fields of psychology, a hypothetical model of the possible change
and genesis of authenticity under stress is substantiated.

Keywords: stress, positive psychology, existential psychology, person-centered psychology, personal authenticity, agent psychology