No 5 (2025)
Articles
Integration of neurophysiological mechanisms of attention and emotional regulation in the "Reality Strategy" method: empirical justification for accelerated therapy of psychological trauma
Abstract
The subject of the study is the integration of neurophysiological mechanisms of the reticular activating system (RAS) and emotional regulation within the framework of the innovative method "Reality Strategy," developed for accelerated therapy of psychological trauma. The object of study is the psyche as a dynamic self-organizing system prone to fragmentation under conditions of global crises, where emotional intelligence (EI) plays a key role as a catalyst for reconsolidation. The author analyzes the role of RAS in selective attention filtering and its dysfunction when fixating on traumatic narratives. As a central instrument of correction, a multi-level "Acceptance" is considered, providing recalibration of neural filters through practices based on principles of predictive coding of the brain. Empirical data (N = 60) confirm high effectiveness: a sharp reduction in emotional charge of traumas (from 9.5 to 1.8 points) is observed, statistically significant growth in EI indicators (p " 0.001), and sustainable improvement of neurophysiological markers of attention. The method is positioned as precision psychotherapy and introduces the concept of "neuroauthenticity" for deep personal transformation and prevention of disorders in high-risk groups. The method and methodology feature a longitudinal design with pre-, mid-, and post-measurements, tools including MSCEIT, HADS, PCL-5, and qualitative analysis of vignettes to assess neuroplasticity and emotional regulation. The novelty of the research lies in the operationalization of multi-level "Acceptance" as a tool for reprogramming RAS to focus on resource narratives, accelerating healing. The main results of the conducted research provide convincing confirmation of the therapeutic effectiveness of the proposed method, demonstrated by statistically significant improvements in the participants' condition, including a 30-40% reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms on the HADS and PCL-5 scales. These data indicate a high potential for scaling the method at a global level, especially in the acute post-pandemic mental health crisis, where demand for innovative treatment approaches is growing. The authors emphasize the need for further research using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and neuroimaging methods such as fMRI for deeper validation and understanding of the mechanisms of action at the brain level. An important scientific contribution of this study is the introduction of the concept of "neuroauthenticity," which enhances the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention and strengthens preventive measures for the quality of life of patients.
Psychologist. 2025;(5):1-20
1-20
Fundamental and Applied Approaches in Soviet Psychology of Films in 1920s–1930s
Abstract
The modern development of cinema, as well as the prospects for applying psychological knowledge to filmmaking and analyzing their impact on audiences, have their roots in the early developments in film psychology in the early 20th century. However, a historical and psychological analysis of the development of film psychology is underrepresented in modern literature. This scientific field developed as an independent and interdisciplinary one at the intersection of scientific, artistic, and ideological knowledge. This article aims to examine methodological approaches to Soviet film psychology in the 1920s and 1930s. The chronological framework of the study is related to the period of the formation of the Soviet film industry and the formation of Soviet psychology during the NEP and industrialization. The relevance of the study is determined by the objective of systematizing the theoretical and methodological principles of film psychology research in the 1920s and 1930s. The method used is a problemological and source study analysis of scientific literature on film psychology from the 1920s and 1930s. The sources analyzed include monographs, journal and newspaper articles discussing theoretical and methodological issues in film studies. The Marxist (materialist) paradigm, which underpinned the development of Soviet psychology in general and cinema psychology in particular during the period under study, is examined. From the standpoint of dialectical materialism, the psyche is a product of social reality and is determined by material factors, while artistic intent is realized through the material form of cinema. Within the framework of Soviet cinema psychology, fundamental (reflexological and psychophysiological) and applied (psychotechnical and pedological) approaches can be distinguished. The reflexological and psychophysiological approaches studied the reflexive and dynamic characteristics of the functioning of mental phenomena in the process of perception and influence of cinema. In psychotechnics and pedology, the characteristics of the perception and influence of films on representatives of certain social groups and their activities in various social and professional spheres were analyzed. The described methodological developments in the field of Soviet cinema psychology in the 1920s and 1930s allow to define this scientific direction as independent and having its own conceptual specificity.
Psychologist. 2025;(5):21-35
21-35
Professional liberation and personal well-being: differentiation of adaptation trajectories based on individual characteristics
Abstract
This article examines the process of professional dismissal as a critical life event that significantly impacts an individual's psychological well-being. The aim of the study was to differentiate trajectories of psychological adaptation to dismissal based on individual psychological characteristics. The relevance of this topic lies in the fact that the process of professional dismissal is a significant life event, followed by significant and global changes, stress, and loss of identity—all of which lead to a decline in employee well-being within the organization. The issue of psychological support for professional well-being within organizations has been understudied, and the lack of effective preventative measures to support employee well-being is a recognized problem. Despite a significant volume of international research, this topic remains underdeveloped in Russian psychology. An analysis of the publications allows us to determine the focus of Russian researchers when studying the professional well-being of employees. The study involved 174 respondents. The methodological framework included a set of psychodiagnostic techniques aimed at assessing coping strategies, resilience, emotional intelligence, motivation, and value orientations, as well as the use of correlation and cluster analysis. The analysis of empirical data revealed key predictors of successful professional release: general abilities, resilience, and value orientations. Cluster analysis identified five types of employees with characteristic behavioral profiles in a release situation: "harmonious intellectual," "workaholic," "unrecognized genius," "servant," and "victim of circumstances." Dominant coping strategies and psychological characteristics are described for each type. Based on the resulting typology, differentiated adaptation trajectories were developed and described, offering organizations targeted areas of psychological support tailored to the individual employee profile. The process of employee adaptation in a situation of professional release consists of a unified algorithm, which includes the following main areas of work: diagnostic and analytical; consultative; developmental; and educational. It is concluded that taking into account personal characteristics in the process of dismissal contributes not only to the successful adaptation of the employee, but also to the preservation of his psychological well-being, which ultimately is important for social responsibility and the reputation of the organization.
Psychologist. 2025;(5):36-45
36-45
Psychological Readiness for Risk as a Factor of Professional Efficiency among Extreme Occupation Specialists
Abstract
The subject of this study is psychological readiness for risk as a key factor in the professional efficiency of specialists working in extreme conditions. The article explores the essence and structure of risk readiness, emphasizing its role in maintaining behavioral stability and operational performance under uncertainty and emotional strain. Psychological readiness is viewed not only as an individual personality trait but also as a dynamic state that integrates cognitive, motivational, and volitional-emotional components influencing the quality of professional decisions. Special attention is given to the relationship between the level of risk readiness, professional success, psychophysiological adaptability, and group dynamics in extreme conditions. The research methods include analysis and synthesis of scientific literature, comparative analysis of risk psychology approaches, systematization of theoretical models of self-regulation, and empirical studies of psychological resilience in high-risk professions. The interdisciplinary methodological framework integrates psychological, physiological, and organizational perspectives, allowing risk readiness to be conceptualized as a core component of professional reliability and adaptive behavior. The scientific novelty of the study lies in clarifying the conceptual foundations of psychological readiness for risk, identifying its structural components and mechanisms of manifestation in professional activity, and substantiating its role as a determinant of performance efficiency in extreme occupational contexts. It is shown that constructive risk readiness promotes resilience, adequate forecasting, and reduction of destructive emotional reactions, while excessive or unconscious risk-taking increases the probability of mistakes and decreases professional reliability. The practical significance of the research is reflected in the development of recommendations for diagnosing and enhancing psychological readiness for risk among extreme occupation specialists. The proposed measures include targeted psychological training, stress management programs, prevention of emotional burnout, and team-based readiness development aimed at fostering an informed and controlled attitude toward risk. The findings can be applied in professional selection, in the design of educational modules for psychological training, and in the activities of emergency response and security organizations.
Psychologist. 2025;(5):46-57
46-57
The problem of the readiness of psychologists and psychotherapists to cooperate with clergy.
Abstract
This article attempts to analyze the readiness of practicing psychologists and psychotherapists to collaborate with clergy. The research object consists of practicing psychologists and psychotherapists belonging to various methodological traditions. The subject of the study is the degree and direction of their readiness to cooperate with clergy. The relevance of the topic is due to the fact that in recent decades, psychological science has recognized the significance of religiosity and spirituality as a powerful helping resource and an important aspect that must be taken into account in psychology and psychotherapy. However, theoretical acknowledgment does not automatically mean that psychologists and psychotherapists are ready to transition this issue into a framework of cooperation with church representatives, even though such dialogue is extremely important for religious clients and patients. The method of data collection was semi-structured interviews. Twenty-two practicing specialists were surveyed. The method of processing the collected material was thematic analysis. It was found that at the theoretical level, the overwhelming majority of respondents demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between psychology and religion and recognize the potential for such partnership based on a common goal of helping individuals. However, empirical data reveal a significant gap between declared readiness and its practical implementation: only half of the surveyed specialists have relevant experience. A fundamental difference was identified between practicing specialists with experience in interaction and those without such experience. Participants with collaboration experience clearly formulate the goals of interaction, which are categorized into two overarching groups: educational activities (increasing literacy on mental health issues) and practical helping activities (providing therapeutic assistance considering religious worldviews). Additionally, a one-sided nature of cooperation was identified: psychologists apply their competencies in a religious setting but do not show initiative to gain knowledge from clergy and deepen their own religious competence, which limits the potential for dialogue. The study reveals a systemic gap between the awareness of the need for collaboration and its practical embodiment. The article highlights and analyzes key barriers that hinder the transition from theoretical consensus to real interaction. It concludes that targeted work is necessary to overcome the identified practical and worldview obstacles to activate collaboration.
Psychologist. 2025;(5):58-71
58-71
Gender-specific decision-making in conditions of risk and uncertainty
Abstract
The article presents the results of a study of the specifics of gender characteristics of the impact of the emotional component on the decision-making process and the role of gender characteristics of subjective risk assessments in decision-making. In modern scientific literature, much attention has been paid to the issues of gender differences in leadership style and in managerial decision-making, however, the problem of rational explanations by men and women of choice in conditions of risk in different situations remains almost unexplored. One of the steps towards the gradual elimination of these gaps is the author's experiments described in the article. Two experiments were conducted: the first experiment tested the hypothesis of different degrees of rationality and emotionality as the basis for decision-making by men and women, the second tested the hypothesis of the difference between men and women in decision-making under conditions of risk in different situations. The data obtained as a result of experimental verification of the hypotheses put forward by the authors was analyzed using mathematical statistics methods. The φ-Fischer criterion (Fischer angular transformation) and the V-Kramer criterion were used. The results of the author's experimental research presented in the article contribute to the development of ideas about gender-specific decision-making in conditions of risk and uncertainty. Based on the results of experiments the characteristics of decision-making by men and women were revealed, the following conclusions were drawn: emotionality and rationality of decision-making in men and women are approximately the same, there are also no significant differences in emotional and rational explanations for men and women. The choice of men and women depends on the type of tasks, and differences in decision-making between men and women are found only in some situations. In assessing their chances of winning, men are more likely to rely on the objective probability given in the conditions of the task, while women are more likely to rely on subjective ideas.
Psychologist. 2025;(5):72-89
72-89
Individual psychological characteristics of patriotism among Latvian and Russian students
Abstract
The relevance of this study is determined by the need to obtain additional data on the problem of patriotism as a personality trait, in particular the need to understand the specificity of the structure of patriotism and its manifestation among representatives of different ethnic groups. Against the background of active geopolitical processes, the issue of the patriotic orientation of personality is highly relevant. In this regard, the aim of this work is to identify and describe the characteristics of patriotism among Russian and Latvian students. The study of patriotism is carried out within the framework of A.I. Krupnov’s system-functional approach, which makes it possible to conceptualize this phenomenon as one of the personality traits. The article presents the results of a theoretical and empirical investigation of this trait, as a result of which individual-psychological features of patriotism were identified among Russian and Latvian students. The following instruments were used: the original blank test “Patriogram” (S.I. Kudinov, A.V. Potemkin), as well as its Latvian adaptation by M.V. Tsveks and M.A. Rushina; the “Five-Factor Questionnaire” (P.T. Costa, R.R. McCrae, in the Russian adaptation by M.V. Bodunov and S.D. Biryukov), as well as in the Latvian adaptation by A. Rošane. Firstly, two types of patriotism were distinguished (conditionally constructive and conditionally non-constructive). Secondly, conditionally constructive patriotism is similar in structure in both groups and is characterized by the influence of harmonious variables on its structure, i.e., a high readiness (vigor) to independently engage in patriotic activity (internality), accompanied by positive emotions (stenicity), orientation toward socially significant values, the dominance of socio-centric motives (socio-centrism), and the presence of general judgments about this phenomenon (awareness) along with a deeper understanding of it (consciousness). Thirdly, conditionally non-constructive patriotism differs in its structure between Russian and Latvian students. Among Russian students, this type is characterized by the influence of disharmonious variables of the dynamic, affective, regulatory, and motivational components of patriotism, as well as difficulties in manifesting this trait. Among Latvian students, conditionally non-constructive patriotism is still influenced by harmonious variables of the dynamic, affective, and regulatory components of patriotism, while ambivalence is observed in the motivational, value, and productive components, as well as the influence of personal difficulties on its structure.
Psychologist. 2025;(5):90-114
90-114
On the issue of measuring the level of role stress of working mothers
Abstract
It is difficult to imagine the modern world without an active social position of women, few people will be surprised by a female scientist, leader or space explorer. However the birth and upbringing of children have not faded into the background, women are still actively involved in the role of mother and hostess. The multiplicity of roles performed high social demands and an attempt to combine career and motherhood creates risks for the emergence of intrapersonal conflict, which significantly reduces the quality of life of both women and their children. The article proposes a new model of role stress to understand the intrapersonal conflict of working mothers. It includes components such as role ambiguity, role conflict and role overload. Analysis of research results from domestic and foreign sources helped to identify the main causes of stress and psychological areas where it manifests. The article defines key constructs that describe the areas of a mother's life most affected bvy stress. It also defines the concepts of role ambiguity, conflicts and overload, describing their forms of manifestation. Based on psychological counseling practice, the article provides insights into how these concepts affect working mothers' lives. - Lexical components were identified that reflect thoughts, feelings, actions, situational context and the experience of negative reactions to non-compliance with role expectations. - A "Role Stress Questionnaire" has been developed that reflects the most prominent psychological components of intrapersonal conflict leading to role stress. The findings from the systematic analysis of the factors behind the intrapersonal conflict of working mothers presented in this publication provide a foundation for further research on the problem and development of a tool for understanding the role stress of working mothers.
Psychologist. 2025;(5):115-135
115-135
The relationship between self-concept components and anxiety in older adolescents
Abstract
The theoretical focus of this study is late adolescence. Its study is relevant because this period is associated with a high academic workload for schoolchildren and the simultaneous development of self-awareness. The current sociocultural situation also exacerbates this effect and influences the development of adolescent self-concept. Amidst information overload, unstable social norms, and the high importance of external evaluation, adolescents face difficulties in understanding and accepting their own self. Adolescents become vulnerable and sensitive and may exhibit anxiety, which negatively impacts their effectiveness in all areas of activity. This article presents the results of an empirical study examining the relationship between the components of adolescent self-concept and anxiety, as well as an assessment of gender differences in these parameters. Ninety-two older adolescents from cities in Primorsky Krai participated in the study. The study utilized a testing method. The Spearman and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical analysis of the results. The most prominent components of the self-concept structure were identified as those related to self-reflection, activity, physical characteristics, and social identity. While situational and personal anxiety predominate at a moderate level, phobic and asthenic components are also prominent. A negative correlation was established between the stability of the self-concept and anxiety. Girls significantly more often exhibit higher levels of self-esteem and general anxiety, as well as a pronounced sensitivity to interpersonal evaluation. Despite the existence of numerous empirical studies on anxiety and self-esteem in adolescents, this study offers scientific novelty as it provides a deeper understanding of the relationship between self-concept and anxiety. This study opens the possibility of developing preventive and corrective programs that can reduce anxiety and strengthen psychological resilience and self-esteem in adolescents.
Psychologist. 2025;(5):136-151
136-151