People were not in agony
The tracks of the March 1 events cannot be fully removed unless all issues are settled. On the one hand legal proceedings and arrests continue. On the other hand, there are relatives, murdered people, etc. Our society is seriously concerned over these issues," psychologist Albert Nalchajian said in a conversation to A1+.
When will people finally recover of the stress?
Only after all issues find a fair solution and justice is administered in the country. People are waiting for justice. Real criminals must undoubtedly be brought before court and those expressing their viewpoints must be freed. The process must be sped up. We have no time to linger as there are other urgent issues to be addressed. The country must be strengthened. Numerous people are wasting time. We use our abilities in the wrong direction.
How can amnesty influence on their psychological state in the given situation?
I think amnesty is a must today. It will surely have a positive influence on people's psychology. Amnesty creates a positive and human image of the state.
The current situation in Iran resembles post-election events in Armenia which were qualified as an agony accompanied by an appliance of special techniques. Do you think that similar techniques are employed in Iran today? Are Iranians in agony?
I wouldn't say so. I don't think the techniques you have mentioned were used in Armenia either. As a rule, a mob usually gets aggressive especially when it is led by a person calling for destructive measures. Even those who don't like the leader obey him. I think that the events in both countries are directly connected with a crowd's psychology. If special techniques were applied the outcome would be much more serious. When a mob's leader loses an election, they begin blaming the system and complaining of injustice. They immediately start a struggle against injustice.
There are a few factors which make people fly into range. One of them is injustice which is quite a natural phenomenon. As a psychologist I can use some other factors to make people more aggressive. Psychology gives us the chance.
Has any candidate ever applied to you?
Thanks God, no. I wouldn't agree to any bargain. Psychologists activated after the events.
Weren't they a bit late?
Of course, they were. If they were invited to avert the disaster they might be useful and we would have no victims. But no one asked psychologists for help. No one likes psychologists as they tell the truth.
How would you characterize Armenians' psychological state today?
I think that pessimism prevails over optimism among our people. Our surveys have showed that some 30 percent of Armenians are ready to leave Armenia in search of better living conditions. This is really awful. It means that we are pessimists. If a person is pessimist it influences on the quality of his life. Anyway, we must cling together to overcome these difficulties.
Knarik Isoyan
