Psychological characteristics of the personality value crisis in the post-war period

Abstract

The goal of the article is to study the psychological characteristics of a person's value system crisis in the post-war period. The socio-psychological environment formed after the war causes significant transformations in the individual’s value system, social attitudes, behavioral models, and meaning-making processes. The article examines the influence of post-war traumatic experiences on the destabilization of the individual’s value system, the psychological consequences of decreased social trust, and the characteristics of behavioral responses.The theoretical analysis is based on M. Rokeach’s theory of values and S. Schwartz’s concept of value orientations, with reference to V. Frankl’s meaning-centered approach. The article also reflects the results of an experimental study conducted among individuals with post-war experience. During the research, the methods of psychological interview, M. Rokeach’s “Value Orientations” methodology, and the survey method were applied. The analysis of the obtained data showed that under post-war conditions the majority of participants prioritized values related to security, family preservation, and psychological stability, while value orientations associated with professional self-realization, social activity, and future planning decreased.

The research findings indicate that the post-war value crisis is mainly manifested through the disruption of the individual’s internal psychological balance and the intensification of uncertainty about the future. At the same time, some participants demonstrated a tendency toward reconsidering life values and restoring psychological stability.

The article may have practical significance in the development of psychological support, social adaptation, and psychoeducational programs in post-war conditions.