Dynamics of russian citizens’ social fears during the first and second waves of COVID-19

Background. The study of the psychological characteristics of social fears during the first wave of COVID-19 indicated that Russian citizens were massively in a state of fear. The persisting threat of a pandemic throughout the year, the inconsistency of managerial decisions in the absence of a coherent strategy to combat COVID-19, obviously create growing social tension in Russia, which is projected onto the psychological level of the state of modern society. Objective. To identify the dynamics of social fears among Russian citizens during the first and second waves of COVID-19. Hypothesis: there is a tendency for the growth of social fears among Russian citizens during the second wave of COVID-19, while the media continues to form a depressive and depressing “picture of the world”. Design. Psychodiagnostics was carried out remotely using Google forms. Sample size: 497 people. At the first stage (the first wave — March / April, 2020), 253 people were tested. At the second stage (second wave — October / November, 2020), 244 people passed testing, of which 150 took part in the periods of both the first and second waves, and 94 — only during the second wave. At the third stage, statistical analysis was carried out in order to identify the dynamics of social fears. Results. From the moment COVID-19 began to the peak of the second wave, Russian citizens showed negative dynamics, characterized by: 1) an increase in the experience of social fears associated with failure and defeat, as well as rejection and suppression; 2) an increase in the imbalance of trust caused by the growth of trust in the world and others, as trustworthy sources of information about the current danger, against the background of a steadily reduced trust in oneself; 3) a decrease in optimism and faith in the future with an increase in the intensity of emotional stress, as well as a desire to delegate responsibility for the events of one’s own life; 4) a general decrease in efficiency (based on the results of self-report). Conclusion. The information broadcast by the media about COVID-19 has a systemic psychological impact through the demonstration of a pessimistic “picture of the world”, which, creating an aggressive information field literally enveloping the psyche, destroys its self-confidence, social ties and group cohesion, and also fills it social fears, increasing the sense of social deprivation. The intended consequences will send the psychological community to develop a predictive model for overcoming this situation. In our opinion, the main thing in the work with the consequences of the pandemic is psychological assistance, the basis of which should be the methods of correction of the cognitive-affective sphere of the individual — the return of self-confidence and the transformation of the “picture of the world” of the present and future into a positive one. Particular attention should be paid to increasing collective cohesion and setting group goals that outline the future positive “picture of the world” of Russian society

Entry into intercultural marriage: factors of spouse choice

Background. Intercultural marriages are micro-level models of intercultural relations and can help to understand the changing society of the globalization era. The objective. Revealing attitudes towards entry into intercultural marriage and factors influencing the choice of a foreign cultural marriage partner among Russians and Buryats in the Republic of Buryatia. Design. The study was conducted in 2020 in the Republic of Buryatia using a socio-psychological survey on online platform. The convenience sample was used (the “snowball” method). The sample included representatives of 2 groups: Russians (N = 111) and Buryats (N = 102). Results. The analysis showed that the attitude towards entry into intercultural marriage in these groups is above average, while no significant differences were found between the groups. The negative attitude towards intercultural marriages among Buryats to a greater extent than among Russians was determined by factors reflecting the acceptance of intercultural marriages by relatives, loved ones and society in general, which was more significant for the Buryats. Among the Russians, more than among the Buryats, negative attitudes were interconnected with factors reflecting personal characteristics of the future spouse (values, norms of behavior) and interpersonal communication. For both the Russians and the Buryats, negative attitude towards entering into intercultural marriages is associated with the importance of proximity of cooking traditions, naming, raising children and their identity, as well as religious beliefs. Conclusion. The general favorable “Zeitgeist” in Buryatia towards intercultural marriages contributes to the tolerant attitude towards the creation of such married couples among both the Russians and the Buryats.

Clinical-psychological elaboration of discourse with regard to behavioural reactions typical of children and adolescents in the situation of COVID-19 pandemic

Background. The present state of COVID-19 pandemic has made the society face new challenges; it has created a number of crisis situations that regard both adults and children and that need prompt clinical-psychological solutions. Psychological data concerning children and adolescents in the pandemic context are notably few. Objectives. The analysis of how different age strata react to the situation, with special attention to how children and adolescents react to the measures introduced to prevent further spread of COVID-19. Subsequent specification of directions in which clinical-psychological approach could help to develop the corresponding medical-sanitary discourses. Results. It was found that whenever the population reacts and fulfils the corresponding recommendations in an inefficient way it can be explained by the fact that medical-sanitary discourse is not sufficiently elaborated in clinical-psychological terms. It is shown that there is a need for further analysis and development of constructive clinical-psychological approach to informing different age groups and for completing the existing medical-sanitary discourses on the basis of constructive clinical-psychological approach. The study singles out new system characteristics of a more productive medical-psychological approach to informing the public and influencing people’s behaviour in the present situation. Thus, it is shown that the informational-psychological characteristics of the discourse in question must be: exactness, credibility, systematic nature, teleological and behaviourial meaningfulness, as well as acceptability in terms of mental hygiene. It is extremely important to take into account that different age groups, such as children and adolescents, correspondingly, should be approached in different ways when informing them about the correct behaviour in the pandemic conditions. Apart from the mental hygiene issues, one should bear in mind the developmental aspects of construing information for children and adolescents. The clinical-psychological task here is to use the development of pandemic awareness in children and adolescents as an opportunity to create a new situation of psychic development, to form an impulse that not only could prevent them from developing a number of psychic disorders but could also favour their personality growth in the circumstances they find themselves in. Conclusion. The study singled out the directions for developing a new constructive trend in clinical-psychological studies, namely, in child and adolescent clinical psychology.

Information and psychological impact in the context of strategic communications paradigm

Background. The change in the paradigm of information-psychological confrontation caused changes in the content and architectonics of information-psychological impact, and determined the new trends in the forms of their practical use. Identifying the features of information and psychological impact in the context of strategic communications will make it possible to ensure the information and psychological security of person and society in a more targeted way. Objective. To identify the types, features and trends in the application of information-psychological impact in the context of the strategic communications paradigm. Results. The study reveals the essence of strategic communications as a paradigm of information-psychological confrontation. It analyzes architectonics and content of the main types of information and psychological impact. The study also discusses the main trends in the development of methods and forms of information and psychological impact. Conclusions. The context of strategic communications extends the understanding of information and psychological impacts. It is advisable to consider it as a deliberate dissemination (promotion, blocking and/or selection) of information, interaction and movement between participants in the communication process.Strategic communications use impact methods related to “hard power” meta-strategies based on coercion and “soft power” using attraction technologies. The implementation of these meta-strategies is accompanied by trends reflecting the transition from influence on the military enemy to impact on civilians; from “hard” to “soft” methods of exposure; from monological forms (dissemination of information, influence) to dialogical forms (communication); from an open invasion of consciousness and human behavior to more hidden forms of influence; from tactical forms designed for immediate effect to strategic forms aimed at a distant outcome; from monotype forms of influence to diverse, difficult, complex ones.To ensure the information-psychological security of the person and society, knowledge and consideration of the peculiarities of information and psychological impact are necessary within the framework of the current paradigm of information-psychological confrontation.

Socio-psychological features of value orientations in postgraduate students

Background. In the present situation, which certain studies describe as a crisis in the system of research staff training and which is characterized by low number of postgraduate students filling up the staff of scientific institutions, it is extremely important to study the specifics of motivation and value sphere of postgraduate students’ personality. Objective. Analysis of the socio-psychological characteristics that postgraduate students’ values have. Design. The study is based on a monitoring questionnaire survey of graduate students conducted in 2019 by employees of the RAO Information and the analytical center. The empirical data were processed using methods of mathematical statistics (statistical software packages SPSS and StatSoft Statistica). The study involved students of postgraduate research bodies that train postgraduate students in the field of education sciences, as well as postgraduates of pedagogical universities situated in Moscow, St. Petersburg and in other regions of the Russian Federation. A total of 803 respondents were interviewed. The study was aimed at assessing the hierarchy of life values in graduate students and the influence of socio-demographic factors, social stratification, and socio-psychological factors on the relevance of postgraduate students’ life values. Results. The results of the study indicate that the leading positions in the structure of postgraduate students’ life values are occupied by basic values (“family”, “good health” and “material well-being”) and by the most relevant values associated with self-actualization. It is shown that the value orientations of postgraduate students are determined by the influence of a number of socio-demographic factors (gender, age, presence and composition of the family), social stratification (financial status, educational status of parents) and socio-psychological factors (having or not clear-cut future plans, emotional assessment of one’s prospects, having or not emigration plans) factors. The comparison of the opinions of postgraduates and research staff showed that postgraduates are more focused on values related to self-actualization, as well as on traditionalist values. Conclusions. The core of postgraduate students’ life values structure if formed by the basic values and, in addition, the values related to self-actualization of individual. The value orientations of postgraduate students are determined by a number of socio-demographic factors, social stratification and socio-psychological factors. It was found out that at a certain age the structure of life values in postgraduate students changes significantly, in accordance with the aims of age development. It is shown that changes in graduate students’ family status make them reconsider the structure of life values. It is also noted that the restructuring of life values in graduate students, when if it proceeds in accordance with the values of natives in “Western” countries, contributes to the formation of emigration attitudes.

Types of interaction between mother and early age child with developmental disorders caused by neurological pathology

Background. It is relevant to consider the possibilities and resources of the family in ensuring the proper development and correcting deficiency of a child with developmental disabilities. The analysis of interaction between an adult and a child as well as the definition of criteria and conditions of a child’s development, constitute theoretical basis for sustaining family resources, which is especially important for the early period of child development. Objective: to describe the characteristics of interaction within the dyad “mother–early age child with developmental disabilities (resulting from neurological pathology)”, to construct a typology of interaction and to determine the conditions of developing interaction for young children. Design. Sample: the dyad “mother-child of early age.” Comparison sample (n = 51): children with normotypic development (NT), the average age 24.8 months. The main sample (n = 54): children with neurological pathology (NP); neurological diagnoses: the consequences of early organic damage of the central nervous system and cerebral palsy, the average age 25.2 months. Research method: video observation of mother and child interaction in the process of joint activity with a set of toys. The data of the primary analysis of video materials in accordance with the author’s scheme were subjected to secondary analysis (assessment of differences between groups, correlation and factor analysis). Results. 4 types of interaction in the dyad “mother — early age child” are singled out. The types differ in the parameters such as: position of the mother in the interaction, level of dialogic interaction, content of the actions of mother and child and their influence on each other, creation of the zone of proximal development. The optimal type of interaction that is favourable for the development of the child is characterized by activity of both the mother and the child, the involvement and productivity of the child. The type that could be regarded as favourable with certain restrictions is the type called “child dominance”, in which the activity of the child prevails, but the activity of the mother is insufficient. The unfavourable types are “mother dominance”, characterised by the predominance of mother’s activity, the obsessive-violent maternal position and the subordinate position of the child, and the parallel type, in which there is no joint activity of mother and child. Conclusion. The study established the relationship between the mother’s actions in relation to the child and his/her productivity and activity, characterised the optimal type of interaction, which creates conditions for the development of the child and the correction of its deficiency. The task for future research is to develop programs that could be used to optimise mother–child interaction in those cases when the implementation of developing interaction is not entirely successful; such programs need to take into account the particular type of interaction within the dyad.

Neuropsychology of the unconscious: current state of the problem

Introduction. The sphere of the unconscious includes many phenomena that have a strong influence on human behaviour and cognitive activity. Although the importance of taking into account the unconscious is evident to most psychotherapists, its role is visibly underestimated in neuropsychology. In this regard, the present state of research on brain organization of unconscious processes is of interest. Objective. The review aims to describe the current state of research on brain mechanisms of the unconscious. Procedure. The present paper describes a variety of unconscious phenomena. It also outlines widespread points of view on the correlation between consciousness and unconscious and discusses the freewill problem. The question posed is whether the research programme of neuropsychology allows studying the unconscious phenomena. The study analyses the subject matter of neuropsychology and discusses the historical change of A.R. Luria’s views on psychology of the unconscious. The paper describes the studies of brain mechanisms underlying a variety of unconscious manifestations that have been conducted within different psychological schools. The aim is to consider the essential principles of neuropsychological research of the unconscious. Conclusion. In foreign neuroscience there are numerous studies in the field of brain mechanisms of unconscious processes. Up to now, the leading positions in the sphere are taken by neuropsychoanalysis and cognitive neuroscience. In Russian neuropsychology the unconscious is barely investigated because it does not comply with the traditional research object, that is, the higher mental functions. However, in the current conditions, the research programme of neuropsychology allows studying the unconscious. The paper highlights the advantages of investigating the unconscious phenomena from the neuropsychological standpoint considering its evolutionary purpose.

Women in the structure of the Russian Boxing Federation: professional motivation and connection with psychological well-being

Background. Russia is the world leader in the number of women who are members of management bodies in top achievements sports. At the same time, the professional motivation of women engaged in boxing activities and its connection with psychological well-being have not yet been object of a special study. However, targeted management of staff motivation could help to increase their professional efficiency, satisfaction with their performance in the professional sphere and, as a result, achieve sustainable psychological well-being. Objective. To study the peculiarities of professional motivation of women who are employees of the Russian Boxing Federation (RBF), and its connection with psychological well-being. Design. The survey involved 39 women aged 23 to 59 who hold positions in the FBF. The tools used were: the Questionnaire of professional motivation by E. Desi and R. Ryan (adapted by Osin E., Ivanovа T., and Gordeevа T.), and the Questionnaire of psychological well-being by K. Riff (adapted and modified by L.V. Zhukovskaya and E.G. Troshikhina). Results of the study made it possible to determine the attractiveness factors of activities in the FBF: the main ones are “interest in activities,” “opportunities for professional development”, and “team”. Internal professional motivation dominates, which is consistent with the data on the attractiveness of the activities performed in the RBF due to interest in it, the possibility of personal development, a sense of psychological well-being from the process and the results of activities. Positive correlation of autonomous professional motivation with psychological well-being has been established. Conclusion. The data obtained made it possible to describe the peculiarities of professional motivation of women-employees of the Russian Boxing Federation and its connection with psychological well-being.

Features of providing emergency psychological aid to people experiencing loss in emergency situations

Background. In many countries frontline emergency workers of different specialties face the need to inform people of their relatives’ death and to support them during the acute period following the message. The need for psychological training in this area is evident. However, the research in this area is not only complicated in terms of logistics, but also hindered by a number of ethical difficulties. The analysis presented in this paper has significant practical value and draws on the unique professional perspective of the EMERCOM emergency psychologists who provide psychological support to people experiencing loss in an acute period — relatives and loved ones of those who died in emergencies. Objective. To give an outline of approaches to psychological support in cases of loss, of the factors influencing adaptation to a loss, and of the opportunities for early psychological interventions. Design. The theoretical overview presents the analysis of foreign experience and main approaches to announcing the death of a relative. The following section describes and analyses the main approaches and practical experience of the EMERCOM psychologists. The conclusion outlines the possibilities of a systematic approach to providing emergency psychological aid in cases of loss. Results. The study presents a list of characteristics of support providers, recipients and situations that need to be taken into account when choosing a strategy of work with people experiencing a recent loss. Conclusion. The study allows to single out three main thematic blocks, the consideration of which is necessary when choosing a strategy for dealing with loss in an acute period. First, features of the situation; second, characteristics of the person experiencing loss; third, the characteristic of the support provider. The process of psychological support, as described in the paper, includes assessment and consideration of the objective characteristics of the situation, the recipient’s characteristics and response, and the characteristics of the specialist himself. The interpretation of relationship between these factors and their influence on the condition of the person who experiences a loss allows the psychologist to choose the most effective strategy for providing psychological support.

Verbal and non-verbal methods in studying social representations of happiness

Background. The phenomenon of “happiness” is characterized by semantic indeterminacy and is mainly considered from the correlative viewpoint. The present study proceeds from the idea of relevance and potential of multimodal approach to the analysis of multilevel socio-psychological phenomena. With this perspective in mind, social representations of happiness were researched with the use of visual analysis of photographs as one of the qualitative methodology tools. The second method of collecting empirical material consisted in semi-structured interviews. Objective. The aim of the study was to describe social representations of happiness. The procedure was as follows: the sample consisted of two groups of students from 21 to 24 years old. The groups were coordinated as to their composition and socio-economic status. At the first stage of the study test subjects were asked to make a photo report consisting of five to seven photos on the topic “happiness” within a month. The data were analyzed in the light of comprehensive strategy for interpreting visual data, including hermeneutical, semiotic, structural, and discursive analyses. The scheme of photo processing and examples of empirical material are presented below. At the second stage semi-structured interviews were conducted with another group of test subjects and subsequently analyzed in the framework of thematic approach. The data obtained by different research methods were compared and subject to analysis with respect to the potential and limitations of verbal and visual methodological approaches. Results. The study revealed the core and periphery of social representations of happiness, and the corresponding structure and content were presented graphically. The results obtained by qualitative analysis of the photo material reflected those factors in the content of social representations of happiness that were considered insignificant in quantitative studies. The emotional variability of the concept under study was revealed due to its visual presentation. Conclusion. The study design presented in the paper implies both the analysis of visual data and the interview method. It has proved effective for studying complex socio-psychological phenomena. Further research could be conducted in several directions: content analysis of the phenomenon under study for other age groups; variation of study design by using other verbal methods or approaches to discourse analysis; modifying the visual data interpretation strategy for studying other multimodal phenomena.