Aim. To identify differences in the structure of representations about volunteering among university students with and without experience in volunteering.

Methodology. 173 participants formulated associations to the word “volunteer”. Data processing: frequency analysis, z-test.

Results. There are no statistically significant differences between the groups in the frequency of semantic groups of associations regarding volunteering. Thus, the ideas of students who do not have experience in volunteering adequately reflect the content and meaning of this activity. The only difference concerns the ranking of the semantic group of associations associated with active involvement. For students with no experience of volunteering, this group occupies the fourth position out of five possible, and for student volunteers - the second position.

Research implications. The results of this study can be used in the preparation of participants in the volunteer movement at universities.

Aim. To identify differences in beliefs about religion in groups of churchbound and unchurched people.

 Methodology. The main content of the study is the analysis of ideas about the religion of churchbound and unchurched people by the method of psychosemantics – semantic differential. The semantic differential was based on the material of Russian vocabulary. The incentive word: the Orthodox Christian religion. The method of data processing is factor analysis.

Results. The analysis has shown that in a group of churchbound people, internal activities for the formation, development and mastery of their own worldview can be traced. Besides, there is practically no contradiction in the ideas of religion among the churchbound people, unlike the group of unchurched people due to the predominance of a sign system: reliance on the text of Holy Scripture. For the unchurched people ideas about religion belong to the emotional sphere and do not affect the semantic one. On the contrary, in the group of churchbound people the ideas about religion are meaningful and express the desire for a final meaning or «super sense».

Research implications. Three main differences in the ideas of religion in the groups of churchbound and unchurched people have been identified: 1. Positive – negative; 2. Humanistic – authoritarian; 3. Relevant – irrelevant. The results obtained can be used for the enlightenment of spiritual culture in various social institutions.

Aim. To study the specifics of the structure of resources for experiencing stressful and frustrating situations in students with different levels of stress.

Methodology. The study sample included 65 students and was divided into two groups according to the level of stress experience. The study used the methodology “Flexibility of Thinking” by A.S. Lachins, “PSM-25 Psychological Stress Scale” by Lemur-Tessier-Fillion and the Rosenzweig frustration test.

Results. Based on the results of factor analysis, it was found that there is a specific structure of resources for experiencing situations of stress and frustration among students with different levels of stress. Students with high stress levels tend to blame the external environment and use self-defense reactions. Students with a low level of stress, on the contrary, are looking for ways to meet needs and flexibility of thinking is used by them as a resource for successful coping with stress.

Research implications. The research contributes to the study of thinking flexibility as a resource for coping with stressful and frustrating situations. The revealed specifics of the structure of resources for experiencing stressful situations will complement the training programs for coping with stress.

Aim. To reveal the emotional orientation of a person prone to trolling.

Methodology. The study involved 60 Internet users: 28 boys and 32 girls aged 18 to 35 years. During the study the following methods were used: method « Determination of the general emotional orientation» by B. I. Dodonov, the author’s research questionnaire «Orientation of a person’s behavior in the Internet space»; methods of statistical data processing (Mann-Whitney U-test, correlation analysis). During the study the application software «SPSS 22.0» and «MS Excel 2021» was used.

Results. It is proved that a person prone to trolling is distinguished by the severity of pugnic and gloric emotional orientations.

Research implications. The results of the study can be used by practical psychologists to support the process of Internet socialization.

Aim. Studying the connection between the world assumptions of the individual and psychological well-being in the conditions of transitivity of the society.

Methodology. 176 people aged 19-22 were interviewed. Data was collected in November- December 2022. Methods: the scale of world assumptions, dispositional optimism test, psychological well-being scale, the DASS 21 method.1

Results. 3 groups differing in basic beliefs have been identified. A comparative analysis of psychological and emotional well-being, dispositional optimism revealed a significant superiority in all indicators of the group with an active life position and a positive self-image (“confident in themselves and the world around”), compared with other clusters.

Research implications. Theoretical significance: expansion of ideas about the relationship between the basic beliefs of the individual and the level of psychological well-being. Practical significance: the use of results in the diagnosis of predictors of the psychological well-being of the individual.

Aim. Identification of the relationship of emotional intelligence with the adoption of multi-stage decisions.

Methodology. The decision-making process was investigated by using the computer method Emotional Anticipation in a Casino Gambling (EPIC). Emotional intelligence was measured by using the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue). Correlation and regression analysis of the data was carried out.

Results. It is shown that emotional intelligence, understood as a trait, is a predictor of both indicators of decision-making strategies and anticipatory emotions, which, in turn, make an independent contribution to the decision-making process.

Research implications. The correlations of emotional intelligence as a trait with multi-stage decision-making demonstrate its regulatory role in the decision-making process.

Aim. To analyze and describe the ideas of young men and women about life achievements and success in the context of professional self-determination.

Methodology. The research is based on the data of the interview developed by us. The interview focused on young people’s ideas about the future life, about prospects, plans for the future life. The study involved 10 boys and 22 girls aged 15-23 years old, the average age of the respondents is 18 years old, 10 schoolchildren, 22 students.

Results. The analysis of the results allows us to make a preliminary conclusion that the results obtained correspond to the described phenomenon of the duality of self-determination in early adolescence.

Research implications. The results obtained allow us to assume that the dynamics of self-determination is age dependent, independent of socioeconomic circumstances.

Aim. To study the markers of socialization through the subjective perception of life in retirement.

Methodology. The main method was to conduct a semi-structured interview, which was then processed by the method of thematic analysis. The study was conducted in Chelyabinsk and Chelyabinsk region in 2022, a total of 20 interviews were conducted and processed.

Results. Based on the results of qualitative analysis the markers of socialization of people in retirement were analyzed, as well as the subjective perception of time (past, present and future). It was found that the basis of pensioners’ value core is health, family and children, prosperity, success and happiness of their relatives, which are the basis for the “ideal” old age. At the same time, the images of ideal and real old age are not identical in many ways. Mismatch is also observed in the degree of formation and focus on the images of the past, present and future. The past is most clearly and positively represented in the minds of the respondents; associations with the present are less concrete and more negative. Almost all pensioners had difficulty in formulating goals and images of their personal future, while optimistically describing the future of the country as a whole.

Research implications. The study contributes to understanding the role of the perception of time of life in the socialization of pensioners. The results form the basis for further quantitative research in this problem area, in particular to examine the temporal focus.

Aim. Summary of the data of a qualitative study of the pandemic`s impact on the lives of adults.

Methodology. The article summarizes data from a qualitative study of the impact of the pandemic on areas of adult life. Data collection was carried out on the tablet of a medical psychologist and online format using google-forms, the respondents were asked to write a free-form answer to the question: “Describe in one or two sentences how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected your life.” The study involved 227 respondents, men accounted for 21.1%, women 78.9%, mean age M=53, σ=11.68, and the results are presented in groups divided by the severity of the disease. The data was processed by the content analysis method.

Results. The key concepts determining the impact of the pandemic on the life are “fear”, “diseases”, decreased communication – “little communication”, “anxiety”, “hypertension”, “burden”, “weakness”. Summarizing the highlighted markers, we note that the semantics of the emotional side seems negative and suggests limitations in satisfying vital needs, also reduces the adaptation process. The COVID-19 pandemic has the greatest impact on the psychological state of respondents.

Research implications is to clarify ideas about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the spheres of life of a modern person. The received data can be used by practical psychologists in counseling, medical psychologists, accompanied by rehabilitation programs.

Aim. Theoretical analysis of the factors of late socialization.

Methods. The key research method was the theoretical analysis. The analysis of the content of works in local and foreign psychology is carried out which enabled to single out a number of factors of late socialization.

Results. In the course of theoretical analysis, a number of diverse factors influencing the process and result of socialization at an old age have been identified: cultural, social, economic, demographic, psychological and biological. Studies within each factor are considered, as well as the relationship of factors of late socialization. However, it is noted that each factor is studied separately. Thus, there is a need to study the factors of late socialization in the system in order to identify a holistic reliable picture of personality development in the post-work period.

Research implications. The theoretical analysis carried out has shown that further scientific search, expanding the understanding of late socialization, a systematic study of the factors of socialization at a late age, acquires urgent importance. further studies of cognitive psychological factors of socialization, such as subjective age, time focus, basic beliefs and others are of particular interest.