The relationship between coping strategies of behavior and personal choice of participation in extreme volunteerism

 
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Abstract

Context and relevance. Extreme volunteerism is a specific type of prosocial activity in which civilians are involved in performing tasks in special conditions on a voluntary basis. The choice to participate in extreme volunteerism is based on prosocial considerations and responsibility, serves as a manifestation of civic duty and patriotism, and is focused on justice and spiritual and moral values. Context and relevance. Extreme volunteerism is a specific type of prosocial activity in which civilians who demonstrate the highest spiritual and moral values are involved in performing tasks in special conditions on a voluntary basis. Methodological and theoretical basis: the basic provisions of the theory of self-determination, axiological and subjective-participatory approaches. Goal. To establish the nature of the relationship between coping strategies of behavior and the motivation of personal choice for the participation of volunteers in a special military operation. Hypothesis. The orientation of personal choice to participate in volunteerism actualizes the manifestation of certain coping behavioral strategies: ideological choice — self—control, acceptance of responsibility and positive reassessment; pragmatic choice - distancing and confrontational coping. Methods and materials. Sample: 125 participants in a special military operation. Questionnaires have been applied: 1) coping strategies (R. Lazarus, S. Folkman) and 2) studying personal choice of participation in extreme volunteerism (V.E. Petrov). Data processing methods: correlation and regression analyses, assessment of differences in indicators in groups. Results. A direct relationship has been established between the components of personal choice and coping strategies. The differences in the groups of respondents with ideological and pragmatic types of personal choice are shown. Ideological volunteers are distinguished by taking responsibility for the fate of the Motherland and the reference environment, transforming ideological positions in a prosocial direction, and entering the path of personal growth. Pragmatic volunteers appear as individuals with a predominance of subjectively significant interests and reduced emotional involvement in solving the tasks assigned to them. Conclusions. The interrelation of the value-semantic characteristics of the personality and the coping strategies of behavior used in extreme conditions is confirmed. The necessity of psychological support for volunteers, strengthening the spiritual and moral qualities of future defenders of the Fatherland is actualized.

General Information

Keywords: extreme volunteerism, personal choice, motivation, coping strategies, coping behavior, idealism, pragmatism

Journal rubric: Interdisciplinary Studies

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2026160214

Received 18.02.2026

Revised 26.02.2026

Accepted

Published

For citation: Maryin, M.I., Petrov, V.E., Ekimova, V.I. (2026). The relationship between coping strategies of behavior and personal choice of participation in extreme volunteerism. Psychology and Law, 16(2), 229–243. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2026160214

© Maryin M.I., Petrov V.E., Ekimova V.I., 2026

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

References

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Information About the Authors

Mikhail I. Maryin, Doctor of Psychology, Professor, Professor of Department of Scientific Fundamentals of Extreme Psychology, Faculty of Extreme Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology & Education, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1142-8857, e-mail: marin_misha@mail.ru

Vladislav E. Petrov, Doctor of Psychology, Docent, Associate Professor, the Department of Scientific Bases of Extreme Psychology, Faculty of Extreme Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7854-4807, e-mail: Petrovve@mgppu.ru

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

Contribution of the authors

Mikhail I. Maryin — research ideas; research planning; scientific text editing.

Vladislav E. Petrov — research ideas; data collection and analysis; manuscript design.

Valentina I. Ekimova — collection and analysis of bibliography; clarification of research results; scientific text editing.

All the authors participated in the discussion of the results, writing and formatting of the manuscript, and also agreed on the final text of the article.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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