Social and psychological mechanisms of constructing personal identities and patriotic narratives in the digital environment among school-age audiences

A theoretical analysis of the social and psychological mechanisms of constructing narratives of patriotism and national identity in the digital environment among school-age audience has been carried out. In the context of the communicative space digital transformation, where schoolchildren spend a significant part of their time online, understanding the processes of value formation in a digital environment is becoming particularly relevant. The patriotic narratives construction in modern conditions does not take place in isolation, but in the context of social interaction mediated by digital technologies. Understanding the mechanisms of this process is becoming particularly relevant for educatio­ nal practice and youth policy, as it allows to develop effective strategies for patriotic education, considering the digital age realities. The purpose of the study has been achieved through identification and theoretical substantiation of key social and psychological mechanisms of the digital environment relevant for constructing patriotic narratives in children’s and adolescents’ minds. An interdisciplinary analysis of scientific literature on social identity, psychological distance, and digital communication has been conducted. The key mechanisms are a group (civic) identity formation and psychological distance reduction among participants in communication. These mechanisms work together and are enhanced by the specific characteristics of the digital environment. To achieve this goal, the method of theoretical analysis of scientific literature on the issues of patriotism, social identity, and psychological distance has been applied, consi­ dering the digital communication peculiarities. The conclusions obtained in the course of the research emphasize the need and importance of using an integrated approach to educational programs development for civic and patriotic education, which should consider not only the social and psychological characte­ ristics of schoolchildren, but also the peculiarities of the impact of traditional mass media on them, as well as the specifics, algorithms, and areas of digital platforms development.

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