Psychological aspects of future planning among ukrainians in a climate of uncertainty during war

Abstract

This article addresses a topic of great relevance to contemporary society: the impact of wartime uncertainty on the psychological and emotional well-being of Ukrainian citizens. It presents a theoretical analysis of current research on the issue of wartime uncertainty. The main characteristics of a situation of uncertainty are described: novelty, contradiction, complexity; a large number of possibilities, choices, and decisions; unpredictability, uncertainty, and the absence of cause-and-effect patterns; uncontrollability, and the inability to categorize the situation due to a lack of information. Various definitions of a situation of uncertainty are examined as a transitional form; an open-ended problem with many possible solutions; and the incompleteness of the perception process. The article describes human emotional and behavioral reactions to situations of uncertainty: ranging from apathy to impulsive and chaotic actions, high nervous tension (feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, anxiety) to the experience of positive emotions (reduction in internal tension, satisfaction from even minor successes, joy), and so on. Ways to overcome situations of uncertainty through planning one’s future life are proposed. It is determined that the following steps are important for planning one’s future life in a situation of uncertainty: recognizing the limits of one’s own competence (what we can influence), breaking down large plans into small and achievable goals, making decisions, planning in accordance with one’s principles, meanings, and values; developing tolerance for uncertainty. Tolerance for uncertainty is defined as an individual’s ability to cope with stress in complex, unstructured situations.