VOLITIONAL MECHANISMS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF-REGULATION OF MENTAL STATES OF MILITARY PERSONNEL IN EXTREME CONDITIONS OF PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Abstract

The article provides a theoretical justification of the volitional mechanisms of psychological self-regulation of mental states of military personnel in extreme conditions of activity. The relevance of the study is determined by the prolonged exposure of military personnel to combat stress situations, accompanied by high levels of psycho-emotional tension, threats to life, and responsibility for decision-making. In such conditions, the ability of an individual to consciously control their emotions, attention, and behavior, which is ensured by the activation of the volitional sphere, becomes particularly important. Based on an analysis of contemporary scientific sources, the structure and functional role of the main volitional mechanisms of psychological self-regulation are outlined: awareness of mental state, volitional decision-making, attention control, emotional self-regulation, self-restraint, and regulation of verbal expressions of emotions. It is shown that awareness of one's own mental reactions is a basic prerequisite for effective regulation, while volitional decision-making ensures the transition from impulsive reactions to purposeful behavior. Attention control stabilizes mental activity in extreme conditions, and emotional self-regulation helps reduce the intensity of destructive experiences. Self-restraint ensures the adequacy of behavioral and verbal reactions in complex combat situations. The integrative role of purposefulness and perseverance as a motivational resource that coordinates the work of all these mechanisms and increases their effectiveness in high-risk situations has been substantiated. It has been proven that the development of volitional mechanisms contributes to the preservation of mental stability, the prevention of mental exhaustion, and the improvement of the effectiveness of the professional activities of military personnel. Prospects for further research related to the empirical study of the effectiveness of programs for the development of volitional selfregulation and the implementation of psychoprophylactic measures in the military training system have been identified.