Skip to Main Content

Psychology and Law
2025. Vol. 15, no. 4, 239–258
doi:10.17759/psylaw.2025150413
ISSN: 2222-5196 (online)

Transformation of values and life position of military personnel who participated in anti-terrorist operations

 
Audio is AI-generated
0

,

PDF (RUS)
Online translation in english
GS
Information
in Google Scholar
Metrics

Abstract

Context and relevance. Military service and participation in combat operations lead to changes in social attitudes and behavioral patterns of military personnel, transforming their life position, belief system, and values. Objective. To determine the nature of transformations in the value system and life position of conscripts participating in the counterterrorism operation. Hypothesis. The extreme conditions of the counterterrorism operation trigger a process of transformation in conscripts' value systems and life position. They experience: 1) a decrease in the importance of individualistic values and an increase in the significance of prosocial values; 2) an increase in the level of active engagement and meaning in life. Methods and materials. The study involved 30 young men, conscripts: 15 participants in the anti-terrorist operation in border areas and 15 without combat experience (age — M = 19.2, SD = 1.1). The value system and life position of the military personnel were assessed using a battery of methods (Methodology for the diagnosis of value orientations by S. Schwartz; "Life position of the individual", "Proactive Coping", Author's Questionnaire), the level of satisfaction with the need for safety was also assessed (O.Yu. Zotova, 2011). Results. It was established that experiencing a value conflict in extreme conditions of service activity triggers a chain of transformations in the system of normative values of conscripts, but they do not reach the level of personal meaning. Conclusions. Experience participating in an anti-terrorist operation contributes to a decrease in the priority of individual security among military personnel, an increase in the importance of universal human values, the value of their own achievements, as well as the level of activity and meaning in life.

General Information

Keywords: conscripts, values, life position, need for security, anti-terrorist actions

Journal rubric: Interdisciplinary Studies

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2025150413

Acknowledgements. The authors are grateful for assistance in data collection command staff of military units.

Received 20.09.2025

Revised 29.09.2025

Accepted

Published

For citation: Ekimova, V.I., Bulkina, S.P. (2025). Transformation of values and life position of military personnel who participated in anti-terrorist operations. Psychology and Law, 15(4), 239–258. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2025150413

© Ekimova V.I., Bulkina S.P., 2025

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

References

  1. Akimov, I.B. (2019). Dynamics of world perception of military conscripts. The Bulletin of the Samara Humanitarian Academy. A Series Psychology, 2(26), 109—124. (InRuss.). URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=42771205 (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  2. Belinskaya, E.P., Veсherin, A.V., Agadullina, E.R. (2018). Proactive Coping Inventory: Adaptation to a Non-Clinical Sample and the Predictive Capability. Clinical Psychology and Special Education, 7(3), 192—211. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/cpse.2018070312
  3. Bubnova, S.S. (1999) Value orientations of personality as a multidimensional non-linear system. Psychological Journal, 20(5), 38—44. (In Russ.). URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=21972971 (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  4. Ekimova, V.I., Strukova, U.Yu. (2022). Value-semantic attitudes and emotional response to stress of conscript military personnel. In: Actual problems of theory and practice of psychological, psychological-pedagogical and linguistic-didactic research: Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference "XVII Levitov Readings" (Mytishchi, April 13-14, 2022) (pp. 530—535). Moscow: MSRU Publ. (In Russ.). URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?edn=lsaadw (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  5. Ermolaeva, A.V. (2013). Psychological characteristics of combatants personality. Psychological Science and Education psyedu.ru, 5(1), Article 8. (In Russ.). URL: https://psyjournals.ru/en/journals/psyedu/archive/2013_n1/59114 (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  6. Zvezdina, G.P., Priymak, E.N. (2013). Military service in the value orientations of young men of military age. Russian Psychological Journal, 10(2), 32—40. (In Russ.). URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=20147438 (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  7. Zotova, O. Yu. (2011). Need for safety with different social and economic groups. Moscow University Psychology Bulletin. 4, 84—91. (In Russ.). URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=17394730 (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  8. Kazantseva, E.V., Klepinina, A.V. (2025). Assessment of the life position of military personnel, who took part in the SVO. In: O.A. Kochergina (Ed.), Psychological and pedagogical education of parents: history, modernity, prospects: Proceedings of the III All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference (pp. 136—142). Rostov-on-Don: Russian State University of Economics Publ. (In Russ.). URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=69191547 (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  9. Karandashev, V.N. (2004). Schwartz's Methodology for Studying Personal Values: Concept and Methodological Guide. Saint Petersburg: Rech Publ. (In Russ.). URL: https://search.rsl.ru/ru/record/01002512231 (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  10. Karayani, A.G., Korchemny, P.A. (2016). Psychological preparation of operations: a tutorial. Moscow: Military University. (In Russ.). URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=27373149 (viewed: 09.10.2025).
  11. Karayani, A. G. (2024). Combat stress: problems of definition and classification. Bulletin of the Moscow University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, 1, 254—264. (In Russ.). https://org/10.24412/2073-0454-2024-1-254-264
  12. Leontiev, A.N. (2005). Consciousness. Personality. Moscow: Smysl Publ. (In Russ.). URL: https://search.rsl.ru/ru/record/01002706567 (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  13. Leontiev, D.A. (1998) Value representations in individual and group consciousness: types, determinants and changes over time. Psychological Review, 1, 13—25. (In Russ.). URL: https://istina.msu.ru/publications/article/1120362/ (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  14. Leontiev, D.A. (2024). From the Phenomenon of Self-Sufficiency to the Mechanisms of Self-Determination. Educational Studies Moscow, 1, 142—161. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17323/vo-2024-17626
  15. Leontiev, D.A., Shilmanskaya, A.E. (2019). Personal life position: making theoretical notions operational. Voprosy Psychologii, 1, 90—100. (In Russ.). URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=38096358 (viewed: 10.09.2025) 
  16. Magomed-Eminov, M.Sh. (2023). Personality Transformation in an Extreme Situation. In: V. Bespalova (Ed.), Donetsk Readings 2023: Education, Science, Innovation, Culture, and Challenges of Our Time: Proceedings of the VIII International Scientific Conference (Donetsk, October 25–27, 2023). Volume 9: Philosophical and Psychological Sciences (pp. 171—174). Donetsk: Donetsk State University Publishing House (In Russ.). https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=62395659 (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  17. Maksimenkova,I., Guchkova, T.N. (2023). Experience of psychological support of conscripted servicemen at the initial stage of service. World of Science. Pedagogy and Psychology, 11(2), Article 47. (In Russ.). URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=54238325 (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  18. Milczarek, T.P., Milczarek, N.A., Paukson, M.V., Makarchuk, A.I. (2024). The structure and phenomenology of military personnel's experience of combat operations. Military Psychological Journal, 1(3), 103—113. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.25629/RMPJ.2024.01.13
  19. Noss, I.N., Bulgakov, A.V., Bulgakova, E.A. (2025). The relationship of personal values civilian and military specialists in the modern period of development of Russian society. Organizational Psycholinguistics, 1(29), 28—44. (In Russ.). URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=80552948 (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  20. Paronyants, I.V., Dulida, S.S. (2024). Examining the psychological fallout of combat stress on military personnel. Bulletin of Psychology and Pedagogy of Altai State University, 6(1), 77—92. (In Russ.). URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=64314083 (viewed: 09.2025).
  21. Priymak, E. N. (2015). Features of the value-semantic sphere of conscript military personnel at the stage of service in the army: Extended abstr. Cand. of Psychol. Sci. Southern Federal University. Rostov-on-Don. (In Russ.). URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=30426156 (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  22. Safronov, A.D. (2023). Security and victimization of military personnel in the zone of a Special military operation. Law and State: Theory and Practice, 12(228), 505—508. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.47643/1815-1337_2023_12_505
  23. Tarabrina, N.V., Khazhuev, I.S. (2016). Psychological consequences of experiencing intense stress by participants in a counter-terrorism operation and the civilian population. In. Psychology of everyday and traumatic stress: threats, consequences, coping (pp. 179—193). Moscow: Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences Publ. (In Russ.). URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=27701585 (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  24. Tarabrina, N.V., Kharlamenkova, N.E., Padun M.A., Khazhuev, I.S., Kazymova, N.N., Bykhovets, Yu.V., Dan, M.V. (2017). Intense stress in the context of psychological safety (N.E. Kharlamenkova, ed.). Moscow: Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences Publ. (In Russ.). URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/zfgjrr (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  25. Utlik, E.P. (2020). Warrior of Russia: military psychological research: Monograph. Moscow: Military University. (In Russ.).
  26. Outioganov, A.A. (2009). The studying semantic sphere aspect fighting stress are investigated. Siberian Pedagogical Journal, 13, 345—352. (In Russ.). URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=19033778 (viewed: 10.09.2025).
  27. Yanitskiy M.S. (2020). System of Value Orientations of Personality and Social Communities: Structural and Dynamic Model and its Application in Psychological Research and Psychological Practice. The Bulletin of Kemerovo State University, 22(1), 194—206. https://doi.org/10.21603/2078-8975-2020-22-1-194-206
  28. Archana, Soni, O., Ojha, M. (2023). A study on combat motivation: how soldiers get immune to the perpetual fear of death. Defence Studies, 24(2), 189—209. https://doi.org/10.1080/14702436.2023.2253740
  29. Culea (Șerban), M. (2024). The role of military morale as an essential dimension of combat power. Security and Defence Quarterly, 47(3), 1—18.https://doi.org/10.35467/sdq/174832
  30. Joyce, R.M. (2022). Soldiers' Dilemma: Foreign Military Training and Liberal Norm Conflict. International Security, 46(4), 48—90.https://doi.org/10.1162/isec_a_00432
  31. Kaspersen, I.S. (2022). New societies, new soldiers? A soldier typology. Small Wars & Insurgencies, 32(1), 1—25. https://doi.org/10.1080/09592318.2020.1785990
  32. Krebs, R.R., Ralston, R. (2022). Patriotism or paychecks: Who believes what about why soldiers serve. Armed Forces & Society, 48(1), 25—48.https://doi.org/10.1177/0095327X20917166

Information About the Authors

Valentina I. Ekimova, Doctor of Psychology, Professor, Head of Chair of Scientific Foundations of Extreme Psychology, Faculty of Extreme Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1480-3571, e-mail: iropse@mail.ru

Sofiya P. Bulkina, Graduate of Department of Extreme Psychology Science Foundations, Faculty of Extreme Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5537-848X, e-mail: bulkinasofi@yandex.ru

Metrics

 Web Views

Whole time: 2
Previous month: 0
Current month: 2

 PDF Downloads

Whole time: 0
Previous month: 0
Current month: 0

 Total

Whole time: 2
Previous month: 0
Current month: 2