National Dysphoria: a terminology and a research proposal Domina Petric, MD ABSTRACT National dysphoria may be defined as a state of unease or dissatisfaction with one´s own nationality and national identity. It may be caused by national trauma, such as during and after aggression by another nation, extreme globalization, in which the sovereignty of individual nations and individual states is being wiped out, or in the case of being a victim of totalitarianism (classical, soft, inverted). INTRODUCTION National identity may be defined as a person´s identity or sense of belonging to one state or to one nation 1, 2 . It is a sense of a nation as cohesive whole, as represented by distinctive traditions, culture, and language 3 . National identity may refer to the subjective feeling individual shares with a group of people about a nation, regardless of one´s legal citizenship status 4 . National identity is viewed in psychological terms as an awareness of difference, a feeling and recognition of what is we and they 5 . National identity can arise as a direct result of the presence of elements from the common points in people´s daily lives: national symbols, language, the nation´s history, national consciousness, and cultural artefacts 6 . Patriotism can be defined as the expression of one´s national identity seen in a positive light and characterized by national pride and love for one´s country, whilst chauvinism is the extreme expression of national identity, which refers to the firm belief in the country´s superiority and extreme loyalty toward one´s country 1 . NATIONAL DYSPHORIA National dysphoria may be defined as a state of unease or dissatisfaction with one´s own nationality and national identity. It may be caused by national trauma, such as during and after aggression by another nation, extreme globalization, in which the sovereignty of individual nations and individual states is being wiped out, or in the case of extreme abuse and unjust persecution conducted by a totalitarian government. Chauvinism is characteristic for conquerors, imperialists, colonialists…, that is nations who believe in their superiority in comparison to the nations they attack. Nations that are under attack, conquered nations, can develop national inferiority complex that becomes a part of a national consciousness. As a consequence of wars many individuals who belong to defeated nations may lose their healthy sense of national identity and even opt for another nationality, culture and religion. National trauma is a concept in social psychology, that can be defined as a trauma in which the effects of a trauma apply generally to the members of a collective 1