The minyan as a psychological support system

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Religious Studies

Background:

• Religious institutions provide vital support for developmental changes and personal growth.
• The minyan, a Jewish weekly prayer group, is examined for its non-liturgical psychological dimensions.
• Traditional Western emphasis on individualism is shifting towards communalism and cooperation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the psychological support system and small group dynamics of the minyan.
• To understand the minyan's role in maintaining personal identity and self-esteem.
• To examine the minyan's preventive and restitutive mental health functions, particularly during grief.

Main Methods:

• Psychoanalytic principles and general psychology as a theoretical background.
• Analysis of the minyan as a small group and psychological support system.
• Exploration of the minyan's non-liturgical, interpersonal functions.

Main Results:

• The minyan gratifies affiliative needs, counters loneliness, and enhances self-esteem.
• It provides crucial mental health support, acting preventively and restoratively during life stressors.
• The minyan may symbolize a nurturing mother group, fulfilling a universal need for psychological union.

Conclusions:

• The minyan serves as a vital psychological support system, offering community and meaning.
• Its ritualistic structure aids in managing life stressors and grief, promoting mental well-being.
• The minyan exemplifies communal values, anticipating a societal shift towards cooperation and altruism.