At just 21, Marija Stojanovic is already making significant waves in the field of psychology, currently completing her honours and planning a specialisation in trauma and neurodivergence. Her unique perspective, shaped by growing up as a first-generation Serbian-Australian with an Orthodox priest father and an artist mother, offers a rare blend of insights into cultural identity, personal growth, and the complexities of modern youth. In a recent discussion, Marija delved into her research and personal experiences, providing a crucial lens on the challenges young people face today.

Navigating Two Cultural Worlds: A Serbian-Australian Journey

Marija's childhood was a constant negotiation between two distinct realities. Raised primarily speaking Serbian at home and not learning English until school, she often felt caught between worlds. "I was too Australian for the Serbians and I was too Serbian for the Australians. So I didn't fit anywhere," she shares. This duality extended to traditions, such as celebrating Christmas on 7th January according to the Orthodox calendar, which further highlighted her unique position among her peers. These experiences shaped her understanding of family dynamics and the need for self-identity.

Growing up with strict Serbian cultural and religious rules in a more laid-back Australian society created significant friction, particularly during her adolescence. Marija faced restrictions on personal expression, like hair colours and piercings, often in deference to her family's standing in the community. This led to a period of rebellion as she sought to forge her own identity. Now, at 21, she has found a way to bridge these worlds, maintaining peace with her family while asserting her authentic self, a testament to her personal growth and understanding.

Cutting-Edge Psychology Research: Music, Memory, and Anxiety

As part of her honours, Marija is undertaking a fascinating study on music and working memory, exploring how music can interrupt this crucial cognitive function and whether trait anxiety influences the effect. Working memory, similar to short-term memory but more interactive, is essential for higher-order cognition like decision-making and problem-solving, and is highly susceptible to distraction. Marija's interest in neurodivergence, including anxiety and OCD, motivated her to explore this under-researched area.

Her initial findings show unexpected results, with some participants performing better on working memory tasks with music, contrary to the hypothesis that lyrical music would be more distracting. Marija herself finds 'angry classical music' helpful for focus while studying, noting, "my brain's just built a bit different." This research not only contributes to our understanding of neurodivergence but also highlights the complex interplay between our environment and cognitive function. Looking ahead, Marija plans to specialise in trauma and neurodivergence, focusing on therapies like EMDR and clinical assessment.

Faith, Science, and Forgiveness

The clash between psychology's reliance on facts and evidence, and religion's foundation in faith, presents a significant hurdle for Marija, whose father is an Orthodox priest. While she acknowledges the core pursuit of meaning in both, she sees them as largely polar opposites. However, studying psychology has offered her a profound understanding of her own family dynamics, making it difficult to hold grudges.

A lot of people who study and practice psychology, because we understand why people do what they do, it is very hard to hold a grudge and to say, no, that wasn't okay.

This empathetic lens allows her to understand the context behind her parents' actions, even if she doesn't condone them. She identifies strongly with her mother's resilience and persistence. For her future children, Marija would aim for a gentler, more forgiving approach, while still instilling Serbian values like hospitality, etiquette, and cultural pride.

The Unseen Challenges in Immigrant Communities

A critical point in the discussion touched upon domestic and family violence within certain immigrant communities, where practices unacceptable in Australia may be normalised. Marija highlighted less visible forms of abuse like control, narcissism, and financial abuse. She believes the key to addressing these issues lies in education and better integration resources.

Marija suggests implementing programs through hospitals for first-time mothers who have immigrated, offering individual support as well as joint parenting classes. Crucially, these resources need to be accessible in various languages and directly promoted within these communities. She also challenged Australia's role, questioning if enough is being done to make immigrants feel truly welcomed and respected, noting that racism can push people away and lead to isolation within cultural bubbles.

Social Media's Grip on Youth: A Flawed Ban and Real Dangers

Marija strongly criticises Australia's social media ban for under-16s, calling it "the biggest load of shit" and ineffective. She argues that platforms don't enforce it, and children simply create new accounts. While acknowledging the potential for positive impact if properly implemented, she believes the ban missed the mark, particularly in restricting apps like YouTube. However, she advocates for restricting platforms like TikTok for under-16s due to its detrimental effects on brain development.

Drawing from her own childhood, Marija recounts unsupervised internet access on platforms like Omegle, where exposure to disturbing content was common and often traumatising. She notes this has led to a desensitisation in her generation. The rapid, short-form content on platforms like TikTok, she warns, is severely impacting attention spans and dopamine regulation, predicting a "whole new wave of depression and anxiety in the next generation." She advocates for longitudinal studies to assess this damage and treating social media use as an addiction.

Beyond "Therapy Talk": Actioning Self-Awareness

Marija addressed the growing trend of young people using sophisticated "therapy talk" to describe their traumas and attachment styles. While some may be genuinely informed, she believes many simply parrot terms without truly understanding them or, more critically, without doing the necessary work to address their issues. She views this as a way to avoid responsibility, rather than engaging in true personal growth.

Learning is, you know, a lifelong journey. You can get to a point where you understand, you know, childhood, why you do things, why you think a certain way. That's just one stage of it. You know, the next stage after that is reflecting, OK, what can I do differently?

She highlights the importance of moving from self-awareness to actionable change, emphasising that while understanding one's past is crucial, it's merely the first step. True growth involves actively working through issues and taking responsibility for one's behaviour, a principle she applies within her own friendships, where honest feedback is valued as much as support.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does cultural identity impact a young person's development in Australia?

Cultural identity can be challenging for first-generation Australians, creating a feeling of not fitting into either their ancestral or adopted culture, which can lead to internal conflict and a prolonged search for self-identity during adolescence.

What is working memory and how does music affect it?

Working memory is an interactive form of short-term memory crucial for complex tasks like problem-solving; Marija's research indicates that while lyrical music is generally considered distracting, some individuals may surprisingly show improved performance with music, particularly certain genres like 'angry classical music'.

Why is the social media ban for under-16s in Australia considered ineffective?

The ban is seen as ineffective because social media platforms often do not enforce it, and young people can easily circumvent restrictions by creating new accounts, rendering the policy's intended protective benefits largely moot.

How can parents from strict cultural backgrounds better support their children in Australia?

Parents are encouraged to accept that their children will integrate Australian cultural norms, resolve conflicts without violence, and actively seek resources that help them integrate into the broader community rather than remaining isolated in cultural bubbles.

Key Takeaways and Further Exploration

Marija Stojanovic's insights offer a compelling view into the intricate world of cultural identity, the complexities of youth mental health, and the evolving landscape of psychological understanding. Her journey from navigating two cultures to pursuing advanced research underscores the importance of empathy, critical thinking, and continuous personal growth. For more thought-provoking discussions on culture, psychology, and modern life, visit The Symbiotic Shift website and explore their full range of engaging content.