Mental states are divided into. Psychological states of a person

mental states- a psychological category that characterizes the mental activity of an individual for a certain period of time. This is the background against which the mental activity of a person proceeds. It reflects the originality of mental processes and the subjective attitude of the individual to the reflected phenomena of reality. Mental states have a beginning and an end, change over time, but they are integral, relatively constant and stable. K.K. Platonov defines mental states as occupying an intermediate position between mental processes and personality traits.

Mental states include joy, sadness, concentration, boredom, fatigue, tension, apathy, etc. It is often impossible to give an exact definition of the experienced state, since, firstly, mental states are multidimensional and characterize reality from different angles, and secondly, they are continuous, that is, the boundaries of the transition of one state to another are not clearly marked, they are smooth. "Pure" states practically do not exist.

What kind of mental state will arise in an individual at a given point in time is influenced by two groups factors: environmental factors and individual characteristics of the subject. The first include the characteristics of reflected objects and phenomena of the surrounding world. To the second - the previous states and properties of the individual (features of cognitive activity, needs, desires, aspirations, opportunities, attitudes, self-esteem, values). Mental states are determined by the ratio of these factors.

States arise in the process of activity, depend on it and determine the specifics of experiences. Each mental state is experienced by the individual as a whole, as a unity of spiritual, mental and physical (bodily) structures. The change in mental state affects all these levels.

Mental states are characterized by certain characteristics . States are classified depending on which of these characteristics come to the fore at a given time. emotional characteristics reflect the dominance in a given state of a particular emotion, their intensity, polarity (the predominance of positive or negative emotions: joy and sadness). The sign of some states is not obvious. For example, it cannot be unambiguously defined as positive or negative surprise or concentration. Emotional state is euphoria, joy, satisfaction, sadness, anxiety, fear, panic Activation States show the inclusion of the individual in the situation or alienation from it. Increased activation is manifested in clarity of consciousness, energetic behavior, the desire to solve the task, to overcome difficulties. On the other side of the pole - a decrease in the intensity and pace of movements, a decline in activity. Activation states include excitement, inspiration, elation, concentration, absent-mindedness, boredom, apathy. Tonic states reflect the tone, energy resources of the body. The tone is felt as the presence or absence of energy, a large or small resource of strength, internal composure or lack of composure, inertia, lethargy. Tonic states - wakefulness, monotony and mental satiety, fatigue and overwork, drowsiness and sleep. Tension(from English. tensionЇ voltage) states show to what extent a person needs to make volitional efforts to choose one or another behavior. The more attractive various objects are to the individual, the more more strength required to contain non-priority stimuli, the higher the tension. At low tension, a person is liberated, uninhibited, feels inner comfort, at high tension, he is clamped, he feels inner lack of freedom, the compulsion of his behavior. Tension states include states of tension, emotional resolution, frustration, sensory hunger, and stress states.

For each state, emotional, activation, tonic and tension characteristics can be recorded. All characteristics are interconnected and in most cases change in concert. For example, in mental states for which positive emotions are typical (a state of joy), there is an increase in activation and tone, a decrease in tension.

Also, mental states can be divided into classes according to which particular area of ​​the psyche they characterize the most. In this case, cognitive, emotional, motivational and volitional mental states will be distinguished. Sometimes only one kind of mental states is considered - emotional states, and the latter are considered a kind of emotions. This is not entirely true, since emotional states differ from emotions and emotional reactions in that the former are more stable and less objective (everything pleases, saddens). Emotional states, as well as mental states in general, characterize activity to a greater extent and influence it.

Due to the fact that mental states, like other mental phenomena, can be measured by various parameters, many of them cannot be unambiguously attributed to one class or another.

2.6.1 EMOTIONAL MENTAL STATES

Depending on the content and dynamics of experiences, emotions are divided into moods, feelings and affects.

Moods. The main features of moods are:

1. Weak intensity. If a person experiences a mood of pleasure, then it never reaches any level. strong manifestation; if this is a sad mood, then it is not pronounced and is not based on intense nervous excitations.

2. Significant duration. Moods are always more or less continuous states. Their very name indicates that the corresponding emotions are slowly developed and experienced over a long period. Short-term emotional states no one will call moods.

3. Obscurity, "unaccountability". Experiencing this or that mood, we, as a rule, are weakly aware of the reasons that caused it. Often we are in one mood or another, without being aware of the sources of this state, without associating it with certain objects, phenomena or events. “A person feels sad when the body is unwell, although he still does not know at all why this is happening” (R. Descartes). On the contrary, when a person is explained the reason for his mood, this mood often quickly disappears from him.

4. A kind of diffuse character. Moods leave their imprint on all thoughts, attitudes, actions of a person at the moment. In one mood, the work performed seems easy, pleasant, a person reacts good-naturedly to the actions of those around him; in a different mood, the same work becomes hard, unpleasant, and the same actions of other people are perceived as rude and unbearable.

The senses. The hallmarks of feelings are:

1. Distinct intensity. Feelings are stronger emotional experiences than moods. When we say that a person experiences a feeling, and not a mood, by this we indicate, first of all, an intense, clearly expressed, quite definite emotional experience: a person does not just experience pleasure, but experiences joy; he is not just in a mood that expresses some kind of vague anxiety - he is afraid.

2. Limited duration. Feelings don't last as long as moods. Their duration is limited by the time of the direct action of the causes that cause them, or the memories of the circumstances that caused this feeling. For example, spectators in a stadium experience strong feelings while watching a football match they are interested in, but these feelings fade after the match is over. We can again experience this or that feeling if the thought of the object that caused this feeling in its time arises in our memory.

3. Conscious character. characteristic feature feelings is that the reasons that caused them are always clear to the person who experiences these feelings. This may be a letter we received, the achievement of a sports record, the successful completion of work, etc. Feelings are based on complex nervous processes in the higher parts of the cerebral cortex: according to I.P. Pavlova, feelings "are connected with the most upper section and they are all tied to the second signaling system. "Unaccountable feeling" is a term that does not correspond to the psychological characteristics of feelings, which always act as conscious experiences. This term can rightly be applied to moods, and not to feelings.

4. Strictly differentiated connection of emotional experience with specific objects, actions, circumstances, his callers. Feelings do not have a diffuse character characteristic of moods. We experience a sense of pleasure when reading this particular book, and not another; doing our favorite sport, we experience satisfaction that does not apply to its other types, etc. Feelings are most closely related to activity, for example, a feeling of fear causes a desire to run, and a feeling of anger causes a desire to fight. This "objective" character of feelings has great importance during their upbringing: feelings develop, become deeper and more perfect as a result of close acquaintance with the objects that cause them, systematic exercise in this type of activity, etc.

Feelings are distinguished by the complexity and variety of emotional experiences. Depending on their content and the causes that cause them, they are divided into lower and higher.

lower feelings associated mainly with biological processes in the body, with the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of natural human needs. An example of the lower feelings would be the pleasure or pain experienced in thirst, hunger, satiety, satiety, and various types of muscular activity, depending on the degree of muscle tension or muscle fatigue.

higher feelings divided into three groups: moral, intellectual and aesthetic.

moral called such higher feelings that are experienced by a person in connection with the realization of the conformity or inconsistency of his behavior with the requirements of public morality.

intellectual feelings associated with human cognitive activity are called, they arise in the process of educational and scientific work, as well as creative activity in various arts, sciences and technologies.

aesthetic called such higher feelings that are caused in us by the beauty or ugliness of perceived objects, whether they are natural phenomena, works of art or people, as well as their actions and actions.

Affects. The salient features of effects are:

1. Very large, sometimes excessive intensity and violent outward expression emotional experience. Affects are characterized by an excessive force of excitatory and inhibitory processes in the cerebral cortex and, at the same time, an increased activity of the subcortical centers, the manifestation of deep, instinctive emotional experiences. Rapidly developing excitation in the centers of the cortex associated with these emotional experiences is accompanied by a strong inductive inhibition of other parts of the cortex, as a result of which, during an affect, a person may not notice the environment, be unaware of ongoing events and his own actions, and is transmitted to the subcortical centers which, being released at the moment from the restraining and controlling influence of the entire cortex, cause a vivid external manifestation of the experienced emotional state.

For example, that a person has an anxious mood if he is seized by some, as yet unclear and indefinite fears. We can say that a person is seized with a feeling of fear if his condition is already more definite and the cause of which is well known to him. And, finally, we can say that a person experiences an affect of horror if his emotional state, which, compared with the two previous ones, is unusually strong and is violently expressed in external movements and internal physiological processes: a person can run away from horror without looking back or, conversely, stay in place without being able to move.

2. The short duration of the emotional experience. Being an excessively intense process, the affect cannot last long and ceases very quickly. At the same time, three stages can be noted in its course, characterized by different features.

initial stage affect. In some cases, the affect comes on suddenly, in the form of some kind of flash or explosion, and quickly reaches its maximum intensity (Fig. 31 a). In other cases, a gradual increase in the intensity of emotional experience is observed: attention is drawn to the objects or circumstances that caused the emotion and gradually focuses more and more on them, excitation increases in some and, accordingly, inhibition in other centers of the cortex, the subcortical centers become more and more activated and themselves begin to have a strong influence on cortical processes, as a result of which a person loses self-control and, finally, completely surrenders to the strong experience that has gripped him (Fig. 31 b).

central stage when the affect develops to its climax. This stage is characterized by abrupt changes and even disturbances in the normal functioning of the whole organism. The processes of excitation, especially in the subcortical centers, reach their highest strength, deep inhibition covers the most important centers of the cortex, the functions of which are inhibited, in connection with which the higher nervous processes associated with the social and moral attitudes of the individual acquired during life experience and upbringing break down, the mechanisms the second signal system and, accordingly, the activity of thinking and speech is upset. The ability of voluntary attention is reduced, a person is largely

Mental states as an area of ​​scientific research are poorly developed. However, the importance of mental states in human life and activity is exceptionally great.

They have a significant impact on activity, behavior, interpersonal communication, personality formation and self-regulation, etc. Mental states occupy an intermediate place between the processes and personality traits and characterize activity mental activity"here and now".

Mental states are a holistic reaction of the individual to external and internal stimuli, aimed at achieving a useful result of an activity or an adaptation process.

Mental states are characterized by various functions.

One of the main functions is regulatory (adaptation to the environment and situation). Mental states act both as a form of self-regulation of the psyche, and as one of the most important mechanisms for integrating a person as a whole - as the unity of his spiritual, mental and bodily organization.

The adaptive function of the state is to establish a correspondence between the actualized needs of the individual and his capabilities and resources, taking into account the specific conditions of existence, characteristics of activity and behavior. This feature allows you to save as much as possible possible level health, the ability to adequate behavior and successful activities, the possibility of full-fledged personal development.

Mental states are at the same time a form of integration of current changes in the body, and the dynamics of mental processes, and actual features of both individual spheres of the personality and the personality as a whole (its development).

CLASSIFICATION OF SPECIES

Mental states are richly varied. Quite a variety of classifications of mental states are presented in psychological science.

Thus, a variant of the classification is presented in the work (V.A. Ganzen, V.D. Yurchenko, 1976).

Table 4

Classification of human mental states (abbreviated version)

Every 24 hours of his life, a person experiences certain repetitive states (functional): wakefulness, fatigue, relaxation, sleep. The change of states contributes to a better memorization of events and the acquisition of experience.

In addition to these states, a person can experience a huge number of different states and their shades. The most studied in science are volitional and affective states. We will consider some of them.

Wakefulness is a functional state associated with the tension of physiological and mental mechanisms of activity regulation. This is the optimal working state, and a person in this state operates efficiently. Wakefulness contributes to the self-realization of the individual, but then turns into fatigue.

Fatigue is a temporary decrease in performance under the influence of prolonged exposure to a load (physical or intellectual, etc.). Fatigue is manifested in an increase in the inertness of nervous processes (at the physiological level), in a decrease in sensitivity, impaired memory, attention, shifts in the emotional sphere, etc. (at the psychological level), as well as in a decrease in labor productivity, skills, speed and accuracy of activity (at behavioral level).

Relaxation - a state of calm, relaxation, recovery. Relaxation can proceed involuntarily, that is, the body itself restores strength, but it can also be arbitrarily induced with the help of training, drugs, hypnosis, etc.

Som is a periodically occurring functional state, manifested in relaxation, immobility, close to relaxation.

Monotony is a mental state characterized by a decrease in the level of vital activity, which occurs as a result of exposure to monotonous stimuli. It manifests itself in dullness of attention, a decrease in its ability to switch, a decrease in quick wits, a weakening of the will, and drowsiness. At the same time, an unpleasant emotional experience develops, accompanied by a desire to get out of this oppressive situation, to “shake it up”, to become more active. Monotony can turn into a persistent state of boredom.

Boredom is a persistent motivational state that occurs even with varied but uninteresting work. Boredom affects the quality of work and interpersonal relationships.

Satiation is a person experiencing a feeling of disgust for the work performed, which consists in the fact that as a result of a long-term performance of any monotonous activity, a person simply has an unwillingness to perform it, and then, with its further performance, a sharply negative attitude towards it (up to affect) and persistent desire to end it. This condition is not associated with fatigue.

Panic is a motivational mental state associated with manifestations of mass fear of a real or imaginary threat, a state of periodic fright, horror, growing in the process of mutual infection by them.

Emotional burnout is the mental state of healthy people who are in intensive and close communication with clients, patients in an emotionally saturated atmosphere when providing professional assistance. It can occur in closed work teams that perform joint activities for a long time (up to six months). Emotional burnout is manifested in emotional and / or physical exhaustion: a feeling of emotional tension and a feeling of emptiness. In this case, an indifferent and even negative attitude towards people serving

by the nature of the work, the consequences of which are irritability and conflict.

Emotional burnout also leads to a decrease in labor productivity, self-esteem of one's competence, an increase in dissatisfaction with oneself and a negative attitude towards oneself as a person.

Anxiety is a state of unconscious threat, a feeling of apprehension and anxious expectation or a feeling of vague unease. Anxiety, entrenched, becomes a property of personality.

Anxiety is the tendency of an individual to experience anxiety, a state of conscious or unconscious expectation of the impact of a stressor, a frustrator. Anxiety is a fairly stable personality trait.

Stress (gsyat. stress - stress, pressure) - a state of stress that occurs under the influence of strong influences (see Stress in the topic "Emotions and feelings").

Frustration (English frustration - frustration, disruption of plans, collapse) is a specific emotional state that occurs when a person on the way to achieving a goal encounters obstacles and resistances that are either really insurmountable or perceived as such. Behavior in a state of frustration can be both constructive and non-constructive. Constructive behavior is characterized by increased motivation, revision of the situation, adaptive aspirations. Unconstructive - different types of aggression, complacency, etc.

Sympathy (Greek sympatheia - attraction, internal disposition) is a stable positive (approving, good) attitude towards someone or something (other people, their groups, social phenomena), manifested in friendliness, benevolence, admiration, encouraging to communicate, provide attention, help. The opposite state is antipathy.

Synthonia (Greek syntonia - consistency).

Admiration is the highest satisfaction, delight.

Euphoria is a mental state (mood), which is characterized by carelessness, serenity, complacency, carelessness and at the same time an indifferent attitude to the serious aspects and phenomena of life. The euphoric state has narcotic properties - it activates the psyche, and a person gets used to it. To call it, a person needs alcohol, drugs, and an artist or athlete needs spectators.

Concentration - a mental state of concentration of consciousness on a particular object or group of objects for some time. External concentration is expressed in the weakening or complete cessation movements, tense facial expressions. Internal concentration is such a mental state in which thoughts and experiences (internal monologues) are in the focus of consciousness.

Absent-mindedness is a mental state that is characterized by a deviation of attention and thus disturbances in mental orientation. Absent-mindedness is understood as various weaknesses of attention (a general weakening of attention, in which a person cannot concentrate on anything; excessive mobility of attention; too much focus on something, which is combined with inattention to everything else (“professional”).

MANAGEMENT OF EMOTIONAL STATES

Emotions are not always desirable. Excessive emotions can disrupt activities or communication. On the other hand, emotional uplift good mood they are promoted. Therefore, it is desirable to learn how to manage emotions: control their external expression, evoke desired emotions and eliminate unwanted emotional states. The control of the expression of emotions manifests itself in three forms: "suppression", that is, the concealment of the expression of experienced emotional states; “disguise”, that is, the replacement of an experienced emotional state with an expression of an emotion that is not experienced at the moment; "simulation", that is, the expression of unexperienced emotions.

The ability to control the expression of one's emotions has significant individual differences: in form (suppression, disguise, simulation); by the sign of emotions; age; culture, etc. So in Western culture it is not customary, for example, to show not only positive, but also negative emotions.

Many types of human activity (scientific, acting, sports, etc.) require inspiration, spiritual uplift. To do this, you need to learn how to evoke the right emotions.

Among the techniques that a person uses to evoke desired emotions, there are two:

1. Actualization of emotional memory and imagination and laughter. A person recalls situations from his life that were accompanied by strong feelings, emotions of joy or

grief, imagines some significant situations for him. Using this technique requires some training.

Laughter has a positive effect on the emotional sphere of a person.

2. Use to evoke the emotions of music. The dependence of certain emotional states on the nature of a piece of music has been experimentally established.

To eliminate unwanted emotions, mental regulation is used, associated with external influences (another person, music, color, natural landscape), or with self-regulation. Self-regulation includes: 1) changing the direction of one's consciousness by turning off consciousness from emotional circumstances; switching consciousness to some interesting business; reducing the importance of future activities; 2) use of protective mechanisms; 3) the use of breathing exercises.

Psychological protection is a mechanism for resisting anxiety. A special regulatory system for stabilizing the personality, aimed at eliminating or minimizing the feeling of anxiety associated with the awareness of any conflict. 3. Freud identified several such defenses.

Withdrawal is a physical or mental escape from a situation that is too difficult.

Identification is the process of appropriating the attitudes and views of other people. A person adopts the attitudes of people who are powerful in his eyes and, becoming like them, feels less helpless, which leads to a decrease in anxiety.

Projection is the attribution of one's own antisocial thoughts and actions to someone else.

Displacement - substitution of the real source of anger or fear by someone or something (displacement of evil on an object that is not related to the situation that caused the anger).

Denial is the refusal to acknowledge that a situation or events are taking place. For example, a mother refuses to believe that her son is dead.

Repression is an extreme form of denial, an unconscious act of erasing in memory a frightening or unpleasant event that causes anxiety, negative experiences.

Regression is a return to more ontogenetically early, primitive forms of response to an emotional situation.

Reaction formation - behavior opposite to existing thoughts and desires that cause anxiety, in order to disguise them. For example, to hide his love, a teenager will show aggression towards the object of adoration.

Mental states are an integral characteristic of mental activity over a certain period of time, determined by:
1) previous, present and expected situations;
2) a set of updated personality traits;
3) previous psychosomatic state;
4) needs, aspirations and desires;
5) opportunities (manifested abilities and latent potential);
6) objective impact and subjective perception of the situation.

The problem of mental states was first posed in Russian psychology by N.D. Levitov (On the mental states of a person. M., 1964.)

Examples of mental states: aggressiveness, apathy, excitement, excitement, cheerfulness, fatigue, interest, patience, drowsiness, laziness, satisfaction, suffering, responsibility (duty), trust, conscientiousness, sympathy (compassion), openness, revelation.

Characteristics of mental states:
1) Emotional (modal);
2) Activation (reflect the intensity of mental processes);
3) Tonic (power resource);
4) Tension (degree of stress);
5) Temporary (duration, stability: from a second to several years);
6) Polarity (favorable - unfavorable; positive - negative).

Classification of mental states:
1) Neutral (calmness, indifference, confidence);
2) Activation (excitement - apathy);
3) Tonic: (a) emotional (affect, panic, mood, stress, depression, happiness, etc.), (b) functional (optimal and unfavorable), (c) psychophysiological (sleep, wakefulness, pain, hypnosis);

Pain is a mental state that occurs as a result of super-strong or destructive effects on the body with a threat to its existence or integrity. Wakefulness - a behavioral manifestation of activity nervous system or functional state person in the context of the implementation of a particular activity. Sleep is a periodic functional state with inhibition of conscious mental activity. Hypnosis is a special psycho-physiological state that occurs under the influence of directed psychological influence (hypnotic suggestion). A significant increase in susceptibility to suggestion is combined in hypnosis with a sharp decrease in sensitivity to the action of other factors.

4) tension (tension, relaxation - tightness). Occur at increased load, when leaving the comfort zone; with an obstacle to the satisfaction of needs, with physical and mental trauma, anxiety, deprivation of conditions.

Functions of mental states:
1) Integrative (integrate processes and personality traits to ensure the flow of activities);
2) Adaptive (establishing a correspondence between the actualized needs of a person and his capabilities and resources, taking into account the specific conditions of existence, characteristics of activity and behavior .;
3) Informational;
4) Energy;
5) Estimated;
6) Anticipating;
7) Tuning;
8) Motivating;
9) Balancing.

Continuity of states - the absence of pronounced transitions from one state to another.

Functional states determine the effectiveness of human activity.

Optimal functional states: optimal performance, readiness for action, operational tension. High and stable productivity, work is done easily and quickly without tension, attention is focused, mental and motor functions activated; interest in business and purposefulness.

Unfavorable functional states: deterioration in the performance of activities or a dangerous overstrain of human forces. Kinds:
Fatigue is a natural depletion of forces as a result of intense long-term work, a signal of the need for rest. Physical, mental, sensory, motor, postural, etc. Physiological discomfort, irritability, lethargy, impaired attention, desire to rest. Cycles: compensated - uncompensated - breakdown state; acute - chronic overwork.

Monotony - due to monotonous work, stereotyped actions, meaningful poverty of tasks. Contribute: lack of diversity in the environment, monotonous noise, subdued lighting. Decreased tone and activation - drowsiness, apathy, boredom. There are automatisms. Bottom line: injuries, accidents, accidents. Or a state of satiety arises - an active emotional rejection of boring work, which is discharged in an affective form.

Stress is the body's work in excess of costs. Physiological stress is caused by physical influences: loud noise, high air temperature, bright flashes of light, vibration, etc.

Among the factors that determine the development and occurrence of states, there are five groups of phenomena that determine their occurrence and development:
Motivation is what drives an activity. The more intense and significant the motives, the higher the level of the functional state. The qualitative originality of the functional state on which a particular activity will be implemented depends on the direction and intensity of motives;
the content of the work, the nature of the task, the degree of complexity impose requirements on the formation of a certain functional state, determine the level of activation;
sensory load. Sensory load includes not only factors directly related to the activity, but also the environment. It can range from sensory satiety to sensory deprivation;
original pho new level, i.e., a trace from a previous activity;
individual characteristics of the subject, such as strength, balance, lability of nervous processes. Determine the specifics and development of functional states. In particular, monotonous work has a different effect on people with different strengths of the nervous system.

Regulation and self-regulation of mental and functional states. Diagnosis of mental and functional states. Ensuring optimal performance.

The basis of the program we developed (see Zotkin N.V. Ensuring optimal performance as a way to improve the mental well-being of the individual // Health Psychology: psychological well-being personality: Materials of the interuniversity scientific-practical conference. M .: Publishing house of URAO, 2005. S. 81-84.) were selected by S.A. Shapkin and L.G. Wild phenomena of activity, functional state and personality of the subject, which can act as structural components of adaptation and mental well-being of the individual. The first, activation component, is associated with organic and functional costs; the basis of the second, cognitive component, is restructuring in the cognitive systems of activity; the third, emotional component, is determined by the dynamics of emotional experiences; the fourth is the motivational-volitional processes that ensure the coordination of all other components.

The selection of methods was based on the conclusion that optimal performance depends on high motivation, adaptability and the ability to withstand emotional (psychological) and physical stress. Methods were selected from a large number described in the literature according to the criteria of efficiency, ease of implementation and minimum execution time. Evaluation of compliance with the criteria was also based on data from the literature (mainly on the statement of the authors about the experimental or empirical confirmation of their effectiveness).

The optimal performance program includes the following techniques.

To activate the intellectual (cognitive) sphere, the technique of "Intellectual self-regulation" by S.E. Zlochevsky. Before going to bed, the results of the day's intellectual and practical work are summed up and the content, volume and order of the work is planned for the next day (completion time 1-2 minutes).

For activation at the physical and physiological level, the methods of "Restoring the working muscle tone" by F. Perls and breathing exercises(execution time from 1 to 5 minutes).

The instruction is given in accordance with the original text of F. Perls: “Yawning and stretching restore the working muscle tone. To see yawning and stretching in its most beneficial form, watch your cat when she wakes up after the midday heat. She stretches her back, stretches her legs as far as possible, frees her lower jaw, and at the same time fills herself with air all the time. Having filled up to the maximum volume, she allows herself to "deflate" like a balloon - and is ready for new things. Develop the habit of yawning and stretching at every opportunity. Take the cat as a model. Start yawning, let the lower jaw drop down, as if it is completely falling. Take a breath, as if you need to fill not only the lungs, but the whole body. Let your arms loose, open your elbows, and push your shoulders back as far as possible. At the pinnacle of tension and inhalation, release yourself and let all the tensions you have created relax."

Breathing "invigorating" exercise - every hour repeat a slow breath and a sharp exhalation several times - and a "recovery" exercise: at the expense of six - inhale, at six - hold the breath, at six - exhale (counting time gradually lengthens with subsequent executions).

To activate emotional sphere and general physical tone, breaks in work are arranged using vigorous, active music with your favorite melody, reproduced by audio equipment or mentally, with obligatory distraction from work (time from 2 to 5 minutes).

An addition to this technique was a preliminary (3-5 minute) relaxation with the instruction: “Look just above the horizon, immerse yourself and relax; relax the muscles and give freedom to thoughts.

To activate the emotional-motivational sphere, exercises from the happiness training by R. Davidson and R. Holden were used. The first is to smile at yourself in the mirror for 1-2 minutes before work (with cheerfulness) and after work (with satisfaction); the smile should be genuine, when the eyes light up and there is (preferably) a surge of happiness. The second is to share good news with colleagues and others every day - at least 10 minutes a day in total. The third is to plan and arrange for yourself a small holiday or pleasure every day, regardless of whether it is deserved or not. A list of pleasures is preliminarily written, consisting of 25 items, which becomes the basis for actions in the third exercise.

The program is used in combination with all the above methods and takes about 30-40 minutes a day spent on yourself.

To prevent the appearance of motivation for reluctance to complete the program (due to limited time or because of the desire not to fulfill requirements that are of little importance to them), the participants were asked not to do exercises, but to develop habits. In this case, the emphasis shifted from mandatory conscious efforts to complete tasks to ordinary automatic (poorly conscious) actions. This allows participants to bypass their own resistance associated with a negative attitude towards obligation. The program is designed for self-learning and implementation with daily control (self-control) for two to three weeks. Necessary tool control and self-control is a (reflexive) subjective report of the subjects on the results of mastering the program. Such a report at the same time has the effect of self-hypnosis for the participants, reinforcing a positive attitude towards the mastered tasks of the program.

Features of cognitive mental states

Conclusion

1. The essence of mental states and their classification

In this abstract work, we are faced with the goal of briefly characterizing the essence of mental states, incl. in the process of cognitive activity, based on the experience of domestic and foreign researchers. Three main tasks follow from this goal: first of all, to study the essence of mental states and their classification, secondly, to characterize the emotional and volitional mental states, and, finally, to bring the features of the cognitive mental states of the individual.

The mental state of a person is a very complex multifaceted phenomenon, which has always been the object of close attention from psychologists and other specialists.

Today, the mental state is understood as a temporary functional level of the psyche, which reflects the interaction of the influence of the internal environment of the body or external factors and determines the direction of the course of mental processes at a certain moment and the manifestation of a person's mental properties.

From the point of view of functioning, the mental state of a person is manifested in how quickly or slowly reactions and processes occur in it, as the existing mental properties affect.

The mental state is closely related to the individual properties of the personality, since it characterizes mental activity not in general, but individually. The state of fear in one person can be expressed in mental excitement, and in another - in mental "paralysis", inhibition of mental activity. Just as mental properties are reflected in mental states, mental states can translate into mental properties. If a person very often experiences a state of anxiety, the possible formation of a personal property - anxiety.

Each mental state is an experience of the subject and, at the same time, the activity of his various systems, it has an external expression and is found in a change in the effect of the activity, which is performed by the personality. Only a joint comparison of indicators that reflect each of these personal psychological levels allows us to conclude that a person has a particular condition. Neither behavior nor various psychophysiological indicators, taken separately, can reliably differentiate the mental state. Leading place in the diagnosis of states belongs to the experiences associated with the attitude of the individual to a particular phenomenon, situation. Isolation of experiences as a visible factor in the mental state of a person makes it possible to consider the mental state precisely as a qualitative characteristic of the psyche of a person, which combines mental processes and personality traits and influences them (Fig. 1).

Mental states have a reflex nature. At the same time, some of them are of an unconditioned reflex origin, for example, the state of hunger, thirst, satiety, while others (most) are of a conditioned reflex. For example, a person who is accustomed to starting work at the same time, before it begins, has a state of optimal readiness for activity, he enters the rhythm of work from the very first minute.

The basis of mental states is a certain ratio of nervous processes (from episodic to persistent typical for this person) in the cerebral cortex. Under the influence of a combination of external and internal stimuli, a certain general tone of the cortex, its functional level, arises.

Picture 1

Mental states in the structure of the personality psyche

Physiological states of the cortex I.P. Pavlov called phase states. “At one end,” he wrote, “there is an excited state, an extreme increase in tone, irritation when the inhibitory process becomes impossible or very difficult. It is followed by a normal, vigorous state, a state of equilibrium between irritable and inhibitory processes. Then follows - a long, but also sequential, series of transitional states to the inhibitory state. Of these, the following are especially characteristic: a leveling state, when all stimuli, regardless of their intensity, in contrast to a vigorous state, act in exactly the same way; a paradoxical state, when only weak stimuli act or/and strong stimuli, but only barely; and, finally, an ultraparadoxical state, when only previously developed inhibitory agents act positively, a state followed by a complete inhibitory state. Pupils of I.P. Pavlov differentiated and divided some phases into a number of additional phases.

Mental states from the outside are manifested in changes in breathing and blood circulation, in facial expressions, pantomime, movements, walking, gestures, intonation features of speech, etc. So, in a state of satisfaction, one can observe an increase in the frequency and amplitude of breathing, and dissatisfaction predetermines a decrease in the frequency and amplitude of breathing. Breathing in an excited state becomes frequent and deep, in a tense state - slowed down and weak, in an anxious state - accelerated and weak. In case of unexpected surprise, breathing becomes more frequent, but maintains a normal amplitude.

Mental states can be classified according to a variety of criteria. First of all, divide them into groups of manifestations of mental processes:

emotional states - moods, affects, anxiety, etc.;

volitional states - determination, confusion, etc.;

cognitive states - concentration, thoughtfulness, etc.

Mental states are also distinguished by depth and duration. Passion as a mental state is deeper than moods. Each state is temporary, it can be replaced by another. For practical purposes, it is necessary to distinguish instantaneous (unstable), long-term and even chronic states, or operational, current and permanent ones, for psychological diagnosis. Each state - for example, anxiety and thoughtfulness, under certain conditions, can be both operational (unstable), current (long-term), and permanent (chronic). The transition of states from current to permanent can be both positive (state of training in sports, determination) and negative (state of fatigue, confusion).

According to purely psychological signs states are intellectual, emotional, volitional and combined.

Depending on the occupation of the individual, mental states are divided into states in educational, labor, combat, household, extreme and other types of activity.

According to the role in the structure of the personality, the states can be situational, personal and group. Situational states express the features of the situation, which caused reactions in the psyche of the individual that are uncharacteristic of her mental activity. Personal and collective (group) states are typical for a particular person or collective (group).

According to the depth of experiences, deep and superficial states are distinguished. According to the nature of the influence on the individual, the collective (group), the states are divided into positive and negative.

By duration, mental states are long and fast. The longing of young soldiers (sailors) for their homeland can cover a period of up to several weeks, until they get used to the new conditions, do not "join" the team. The state of expectation of some significant event in some people occurs several months before its occurrence.

According to the degree of awareness, states can be more or less conscious and unconscious.

The complexity of distinguishing between types of mental states lies in the fact that it is almost impossible to place them within the same scale, to classify them according to one criterion. Each state has its own set of manifestations and signs (level of awareness, dominance of mental processes, duration, adequacy of the situation, etc.).

So, in mental states, the characteristics of mental processes and personality traits are combined and merged. Analysis of the mental state makes it possible to predict the behavior of the individual, its development and self-growth.

At the same time, all mental states are characterized by:

integrity, mobility and relative stability;

direct and immediate connection with mental processes and personality traits;

individual originality and typicality;

mismatch of personality traits and mental states, polarity.

Emotional and volitional mental states

Emotions are a very important component of the human psyche, they are mental phenomena that reflect personal significance and assessment of external and internal situations for human life in the form of experiences.

Emotions can significantly influence human behavior and the process of activity. The experience of the vital meaning of the phenomena and properties of the world, or emotions, is a necessary prerequisite for human activity. Emotional processes provide, first of all, the energy basis of activity, are its motives. Emotions determine the quality and quantitative characteristic behavior. They also provide selectivity of perception - the choice of environmental objects that affect a person and are meaningful to him. At the same time, congenital, unconditioned reflex emotions and acquired emotions or conditioned reflex emotions are distinguished.

The world of human emotions is multifaceted. There are as many emotions as there are situations in which a person gets. In general, feelings and emotions change contrastingly in the following directions:

satisfaction (pleasant experience);

displeasure (unpleasant experience);

double (ambivalent);

indefinite relationship to reality.

Mood, affect, stress, frustration, and passion stand out among the main emotional states (Table 1).

Mood is a relatively long, persistent mental state of moderate or low intensity, which manifests itself as a positive or negative emotional background. mental life individual. The mood can be joyful or sad, cheerful or depressed. The source of this or that mood is, as a rule, the state of health or the position of a person in society. At the same time, the mood, in turn, affects the attitude of a person to his environment: it will be different in a joyful mood and, for example, in a sad one.

Table 1

Characteristics of the main emotional states

Emotional stateParametersMoodCharacterized by the subconscious and weak expressiveness. It can be joyful, sad, indifferent. The affect is characterized by significant changes in consciousness, loss of self-control, changes in the entire vital activity of the organism. weak stresses encourage very complex activities. Frustration Conflict between the level of desires and possibilities, lethargy, depression Passion Maximum interest in the subject of passion

Affect is a strong and relatively short-term emotional state associated with a sharp change in important life circumstances for the subject, which is characterized by pronounced motor, speech manifestations and changes in the functions of internal organs.

There are physiological and pathological effects. Able physiological affect a person, despite a sudden shock, is able to direct or control his activities. This affect occurs as a reaction of the body to a strong and unexpected stimulus. Pathological affect for the most part is caused by a relatively weak stimulus, such as a minor insult.

Stress (from the English stress - “pressure, tension”) is a state of a person that occurs as a response to various extreme types of influence of the external and internal environment, which unbalance the physical or psychological functions of a person.

A person can be affected by a variety of stressors, the result of which can be different (Table 2). A short stress mobilizes all the forces of a person, helps to overcome obstacles, to make an act of will, and a strong long-term stress leads to chronic fatigue and professional burnout.

Stress, as well as boredom, disgust can be a specific emotional state of activity. At the same time, the emotional intensity and monotony of labor can be both objective and subjective, reflected only in the mind of a person.

Frustration, on the other hand, acts as a blocking of a person's aspirations, a state of unpleasant emotional tension caused by external or internal obstacles that make it impossible temporarily or permanently to realize a person's intentions. Frustration is usually accompanied by negative consequences: the occurrence of disappointment, despair, aggression, depreviation, etc.

table 2

Types of stressors and their consequences

Stressors Consequences Production (overload, poor equipment) Fatigue, anxiety, irritation, guilt, illness Role-playing (role conflict, lack of status) Behavioral problems, the threat of conflict Structural (weak communications, violation of hierarchy) Poor concentration, low motivation, problems with volitional actions Personal (problems in personal relationships, economic, social) Decreased self-esteem, low productivity, depression, neurosis, illness mental stressful volitional personality

Passion is a strong, persistent all-embracing and all-absorbing feeling that dominates other motives, human needs and leads to the focus on the object of passion of all his strengths and aspirations.

Volitional states are temporary mental states that optimize and mobilize the human psyche to overcome internal and external obstacles. Often such states are manifested in an effort of will, which reflects the strength of neuropsychic tension, which mobilizes the physical, intellectual and moral forces of a person. Positive volitional states include perseverance, determination, purposefulness, enthusiasm, and negative ones - confusion, lack of will, passivity, indecision, doubts, etc.

3. Features of cognitive mental states

As we saw in the first chapter of this work, cognitive processes are closely related to emotional and volitional processes and states.

The cognitive process is a mental process by which a person learns the world. Cognitive activity is the process of reflection in the human brain, his consciousness of objects and phenomena of reality. It consists of a series of cognitive mental processes: sensation, perception, attention, memory, imagination, thinking and speech. The display of reality in human consciousness can occur at the level of sensitive and abstract cognition.

Consequently, cognitive states are those mental states of the individual that accompany the process of cognition, as the development of the surrounding reality and oneself. These include interest, concentration, thoughtfulness, enthusiasm. It is quite difficult to clearly distinguish and distinguish between each of these states, because sensory and abstract cognition closely complement each other (Fig. 2).

Sensory cognition is characterized by the fact that objects and phenomena of the objective world directly act on the human senses - his sight, hearing, smell, tactile and other analyzers and are transmitted to the brain. Cognitive mental processes of sensation and perception belong to this form of cognition of reality.

The highest form of human cognition is abstract cognition, which occurs with the participation of the processes of thinking and imagination. In a developed form, these cognitive processes are inherent only to a person who has consciousness and discovers mental activity in activity. An important feature thinking and imagination is the mediated nature of their reflection of reality, due to the use of previously acquired knowledge, experience, hypotheses, etc. The object of knowledge in the processes of thinking and imagination are internal, not directly given in the sensations of objects, patterns of phenomena and processes.

Figure 2

Scheme of the cognitive process

Important role memory plays in the cognitive activity of a person, which displays, fixes and recreates in a peculiar way what is displayed in the mind in the process of cognition.

A significant characteristic of cognitive activity is emotional and volitional processes that induce a person to active actions, volitional acts.

Therefore, interest, concentration, thoughtfulness, enthusiasm can be counted among the elements of sensation and perception.

Sensation is a cognitive mental process of displaying individual properties of objects and phenomena in the human brain during their direct action on his sense organs. There are also interoreceptive sensations that come from the internal organs.

This is the simplest cognitive activity through which both animals and humans receive elementary information about the external environment and the states of their body. This is a sensation of light, color, smell, taste, touch, noise, vibration, smoothness or roughness, moisture, heat or cold, pain, body position in space, etc. This is an elementary sensitive (sensory) image. But it is also the foundation on which the image of the world is built, the sensitive fabric of the individual's consciousness. The loss of the ability to feel is the loss of channels of communication between a person and the world, as evidenced by cases of blindness, deafness, and experiments in which a person is isolated from external environmental stimuli.

So, sensation is the basis of cognitive activity, a condition for mental development, a source for constructing an adequate image of the world.

Perception is a mental process of displaying objects and phenomena by a person as a whole, in the aggregate of all their qualities and properties with their direct influence on the senses.

The process of perception occurs in conjunction with other mental processes of the individual: thinking (a person is aware of the object of perception), speech (calls it with a word), feelings (discovers his attitude towards it), will (organizes perceptual activity with a conscious effort).

Perception is distinguished: by sensory features (vision, hearing, smell, touch, taste, kinetic, pain), in relation to mental life (intellectual, emotional, aesthetic), by the complexity of perception (perception of space, movement, time). Perception by meaning is the perception of objects and phenomena in space, movement, time.

The main properties of perception are objectivity, integrity, structure, constancy.

The interest of the individual is a motive for learning, this is the first result from the sensation and perception of new material. If at the first stage of cognition there is no state of interest among students, then most likely, the effect of the learning process will be very low. Interest has a positive effect on the emotional-volitional state of the individual. Therefore, in the process of education and upbringing, a wide variety of methods are used to increase the interest of students. The enthusiasm of the individual in the process of cognitive activity, which can be supported by emotional passion, directly depends on it.

The concentration of an individual in the process of cognition, learning is the concentration of attention, which depends on the content of the activity, the measure of interest in it, and, above all, on individual characteristics man, his skills, habits. The basis is the activity and persistence of excitations in the active areas of the cerebral cortex. I. Newton, when asked why he managed to discover the law of universal gravitation, answered that it was due to the fact that he tirelessly thought about this issue. But at the same time, the methods of cognition and learning play an important role, on which the support of the intensity of excitation during the necessary time largely depends, for example, during a lesson at school or during the time that is needed to perform any other activity.

If a person has unfavorable emotional-volitional mental states, for example, stress, affect, indecision, confusion, the cognitive state will also be unproductive.

After writing this abstract work, we were convinced that the mental states of a person are temporary functional levels of the psyche, which reflect its interaction with the external environment, as well as the influence of the internal environment of the body or external factors on the human psyche. They determine the direction of the course of mental processes at a certain moment and the manifestation of the mental properties of a person and are closely related to all components of the psyche.

In fact, mental states are manifested in a certain relation, the experience of an individual relative to this or that fact, phenomenon, object, personality. A manifestation of the mental state is a change in behavior, primarily verbal, a change in some physiological and mental processes.

All mental states are classified according to a variety of criteria, but most often they are divided into three groups: - emotional states (moods, affects, anxiety, etc.), volitional (decisiveness, confusion, etc.) and cognitive (concentration, thoughtfulness, etc.).

Emotional states reflect the emotional background of the individual, his emotional and physiological reaction to external, incl. extreme conditions, personally significant objects, etc.

Volitional states, as temporary mental states, optimize and mobilize the human psyche to overcome internal and external obstacles.

And the cognitive states of the individual accompany the process of cognition, as the development of the surrounding reality and oneself. At the same time, in the process of organizing cognitive activity, it is important to remember that all states are interconnected and for the success of training it is necessary to create conditions for a general positive state of the psyche.

Thus, we managed to achieve the main goal of writing an abstract work, to characterize mental processes from the point of view of their psychophysiological nature, highlighting different types of states, including cognitive ones. This goal was dictated by the fact that an important task of modern education is the formation of a harmoniously developed, physically and mentally healthy personality. However, the success of solving this problem today is negatively affected by a number of factors: the problems of the unstable socio-economic situation of the state, the complexity of the social situation in the development of the child, the unfavorable family atmosphere and the peculiarities of parental relationships. As well as the level of professionalism and psychological education of teachers, the sensitivity of schoolchildren and students to various social influences, their emotional instability and impressionability, individual typological properties, etc. Some of these factors determine the appearance of negative mental states in children, adolescents and youth, which, in the absence of proper psychological correction, adequate changes in the conditions of training and education, can be transformed into persistent personality traits and deform it. further development, lead to a deterioration in the success learning activities, behavior, cause a violation of relationships in society.

An inadequate cognitive mental state worsens the quality of the educational and upbringing process, and vice versa, an effective emotional-volitional and cognitive state of the student's psyche contributes to better assimilation of the material, its comprehensive fruitful development.

Yes, and the specialist himself, a teacher, a psychologist or Social worker, a worker in the field of education and upbringing must timely diagnose and correct undesirable mental states in himself and his colleagues.

List of used literature

1.Berkowitz L. Aggression. Causes, consequences and control. - M.: Prime-Eurosign, 2007. - 512 p.

2.Bekhterev V.M. Personality and conditions of its development and health // Problems of human development and education. - M.: MPSI, 2010. - 416 p.

.Verbina G.G. Stress and emotional state management // News of science and technology. Series: Medicine. Emergency Medicine. Disaster Medicine Service. 2007. No. 1. S. 298-298.

.Ganzen V.A. Perception of integral objects. System descriptions in psychology. - L .: Publishing House of the Leningrad University, 1984. - 176 p.

.Efimova S.N. Fundamentals of General Psychology. - M.: Forum, 2007. - 288 p.

6.Kamenskaya E.N. Psychology of Personality. Lecture notes. - M.: Phoenix, 2010. - 160 p.

.Kostyuk N.V. Positive motivation for learning: concepts, patterns, development factors // Bulletin of the Kemerovo State University. 2005. No. 1. S. 96-97.

.General psychology and personality psychology. - M.: AST, 2009. - 640 p.

.Prokhorov A.O. Functional structures and means of self-regulation of mental states // Psychological journal. 2005. V. 26. No. 2. S. 68-80.

10.Rubintshein S.L. Fundamentals of General Psychology. - St. Petersburg: Peter, 2007. - 720 p.

11.Tkacheva M.S. Pedagogical psychology. Lecture notes. - M.: Yurayt, 2010. - 192 p.

.Shmyreva O.I. Identification of emotional states of students // World of education - education in the world. 2008. No. 1. S. 232-239.

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AT modern world much attention is paid to the problem of psychological states. The psychological state is a specific structural organization of all the mental components that a person has, due to a given situation and the foresight of the results of actions, their assessment from the standpoint of personal orientations and attitudes, goals and motives for all activities. Psychological states are multidimensional, they act both as a system for organizing mental processes, all human activities at any given moment in time, and as human relations. They always present an assessment of the situation and the needs of the person. There is an idea of ​​states as a background against which a person's mental and practical activity takes place.

Psychological states can be endogenous and reactive, or psychogenic. In the occurrence of endogenous conditions, the main role is played by the factors of the body. Relationships don't matter. Psychogenic states arise due to circumstances of great importance associated with significant relationships: failure, loss of reputation, collapse, catastrophe, loss of a dear face. Psychological states are complex. They include temporal parameters (duration), emotional, and other components.

2.1 State structure

A system-forming factor for states can be considered an actual need that initiates a particular psychological state. If the conditions of the external environment contribute to the quick and easy satisfaction of the need, then this contributes to the emergence of a positive state - joy, inspiration, delight, etc., and if the probability of satisfaction is low or absent at all, then the state will be negative in terms of emotional sign. It is in the initial period of state formation that the strongest emotions arise - as subjective reactions of a person expressing his attitude to the process of realizing an urgent need. An important role in the nature of the new steady state is played by the "goal-setting block", which determines both the probability of satisfying the need and the nature of future actions. Depending on the information stored in the memory, a psychological component of the state is formed, including emotions, expectations, attitudes, feelings and perceptions. The last component is very important for understanding the nature of the state, since it is through it that a person perceives the world and evaluates it. After installing the appropriate filters, the objective characteristics of the external world can already have a much weaker effect on consciousness, and attitudes, beliefs and ideas play the main role. For example, in a state of love, the object of affection seems ideal and devoid of flaws, and in a state of anger, the other person is perceived in an exclusively black color, and logical arguments have very little effect on these states. If a social object is involved in the realization of a need, then emotions are usually called feelings. If in emotions the main role is played by the subject of perception, then in the feeling both the subject and the object are closely intertwined, moreover, strong feelings the second person can occupy in the mind even greater place than the individual himself (a feeling of jealousy, revenge, love). After performing certain actions with external objects or social objects, a person comes to some kind of result. This result either allows you to realize the need that caused this state (and then it comes to naught), or the result is negative. In this case, a new state arises - frustration, aggression, irritation, etc., in which a person receives new resources, which means new chances to satisfy this need. If the result continues to be negative, then psychological defense mechanisms are activated that reduce the tension of mental states and reduce the likelihood of chronic stress.

2.2. State classification

The difficulty in classifying mental states is that they often intersect or even coincide with each other so closely that it is quite difficult to “separate” them - for example, a state of some tension often appears against the background of states of fatigue, monotony, aggression and a number of other states. However, there are many variants of their classifications. Most often they are divided into emotional, cognitive, motivational, volitional.

Other classes of states have been described and continue to be studied: functional, psychophysiological, asthenic, borderline, crisis, hypnotic and other states. For example Yu.V. Shcherbatykh offers his own classification of mental states, consisting of seven permanent and one situational component.

From the point of view of temporary organization, fleeting (unstable), long-term and chronic conditions can be distinguished. The latter include, for example, the state of chronic fatigue, chronic stress, which is most often associated with the influence of everyday stress.

Let us briefly characterize some of these states. The state of active wakefulness (I degree of neuropsychic stress) is characterized by the performance of arbitrary actions that do not have emotional significance, against the background of a low level of motivation. In fact, this is a state of rest, non-involvement in complex activities to achieve the goal.

Psycho-emotional stress (II degree of neuropsychic stress) appears when the level of motivation rises, a significant goal and essential information appear; the complexity and efficiency of the activity increases, but the person copes with the task. An example would be the performance of daily professional work under normal conditions. This state in a number of classifications is called "operational stress". In this state, the level of activation of the nervous system increases, which is accompanied by an intensification of the activity of the hormonal system, an increase in the level of activity of internal organs and systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, etc.). Significant positive shifts in mental activity are observed: the volume and stability of attention increase, the ability to concentrate on the task being performed increases, the distractibility of attention decreases and the switching of attention increases, productivity increases. logical thinking. In the psychomotor sphere, there is an increase in the accuracy and speed of movements. Thus, the state of neuropsychic stress of the II degree (psycho-emotional stress) is characterized by an increase in the quality and efficiency of activity.

A state of psycho-emotional tension (or a state of neuropsychic tension of the III degree) appears when the situation becomes personally significant, with sharp increase motivation, increasing the degree of responsibility (for example, the situation of an exam, public speaking, a complex surgical operation). In this state, there is a sharp increase in activity hormonal systems, especially the adrenal glands, which is accompanied by significant changes in the activity of internal organs and systems.

2.2.1 Stress

Modern man lives much more restless than his ancestors. A sharp expansion of the volume of information gives him the opportunity to know more, and, consequently, to have more reasons and reasons for unrest and anxiety. An increase in a fairly large category of people in the level of general anxiety, which is stimulated by local wars, an increase in the number of disasters, man-made and natural, in which a lot of people get physical and mental injuries or simply die. No one is immune from getting into such situations. It is natural for a person to fear death, physical and mental injury. But under normal conditions, this fear is in a suppressed state and is not realized. When a person finds himself in a dangerous situation or becomes an eyewitness to it (even indirectly, watching TV or reading a newspaper), then the suppressed feeling of fear comes to the conscious level, significantly increasing the level of general anxiety. Frequent conflicts (at work and at home) and great internal stress can cause complex mental and physiological changes in the human body, strong emotional stress - lead to a state of stress. Stress is a state of mental tension that occurs in the process of activity in the most complex and difficult conditions. Life sometimes becomes a harsh and ruthless school for a person. Difficulties that come our way (from petty problem to a tragic situation) cause in us emotional reactions of a negative type, accompanied by a whole range of physiological and psychological changes.

Psycho-emotional stress appears when performing overwork in conditions of a threat to life or prestige, lack of information or time. With psycho-emotional stress, the body's resistance decreases (organism's resistance, immunity to any factors of external influence), somatovegetative shifts (increased blood pressure) and somatic discomfort (pain in the heart, etc.) appear. There is a disorganization of mental activity. Prolonged or frequently repeated stress leads to psychosomatic illnesses. At the same time, a person can withstand even prolonged and severe stressors if he has adequate strategies for behavior in a stressful situation.

As a matter of fact psycho-emotional stress, psycho-emotional tension and psycho-emotional stress are different levels manifestations of stress reactions.

Stress is a non-specific response of the body to any demand presented to it. By physiological essence stress is understood as an adaptive process, the purpose of which is to preserve the morphofunctional unity of the body and provide optimal opportunities to meet existing needs.

The analysis of psychological stress requires taking into account such factors as the significance of the situation for the subject, intellectual processes, and personal characteristics. Therefore, under psychological stress, reactions are individual and not always predictable. "... The decisive factor determining the mechanisms of formation of mental states, reflecting the process of adaptation to difficult conditions in a person, is not so much the objective essence of the "danger", "complexity", "difficulty" of the situation, but its subjective, personal assessment by a person "(Nemchin).

Any normal activity a person can cause significant stress without causing harm to the body. Moreover, moderate stress (states of neuropsychic tension I, II and partly III levels) mobilize defensive forces body and, as has been shown in a number of studies, have a training effect, transferring the body to a new level of adaptation. Harmful is distress, or harmful stress, according to Selye's terminology. The state of psycho-emotional tension, psycho-emotional stress, frustration, affect can be attributed to distress states.

2.2.2 Frustration

Frustration is a mental state that occurs when a person, on the way to achieving a goal, encounters obstacles that are really insurmountable or are perceived by him as insurmountable. In situations of frustration, there is a sharp increase in the activation of subcortical structures, there is a strong emotional discomfort. With high tolerance (stability) in relation to frustrators, human behavior remains within the limits of the adaptive norm, the person demonstrates constructive behavior that resolves the situation. With low tolerance, various forms of non-constructive behavior can manifest themselves. The most common reaction is aggression, which has a different direction. Aggression directed at external objects: verbal rebuff, accusations, insult, physical attacks on the person who caused the frustration. Self-directed aggression: self-accusation, self-flagellation, guilt. There may be a shift of aggression to other persons or to inanimate objects, then the person "pouring out his anger" on innocent family members or breaking dishes.

2.2.3. Affect

Affects are rapidly and violently flowing emotional processes of an explosive nature, which give relaxation in actions that are not subject to volitional control. Affect is characterized by an ultra-high level of activation, changes during internal organs, an altered state of consciousness, its narrowing, concentration of attention on any one object, a decrease in the amount of attention. Thinking changes, it is difficult for a person to foresee the results of his actions, expedient behavior becomes impossible. Mental processes not related to affect are inhibited. The most important indicators of affect are a violation of the arbitrariness of actions, a person does not give an account of his actions, which manifests itself either in strong and erratic motor activity, or in intense stiffness of movements and speech ("numb with horror", "froze with surprise").

The characteristics of mental tension and tone considered above do not determine the modalities of the emotional state. At the same time, among all mental states it is impossible to find a single one in which emotions would not matter. In many cases, it is not difficult to classify emotional states as pleasant or unpleasant, but quite often a mental state is a complex unity of opposite experiences (laughter through tears, joy and sadness that exist simultaneously, etc.).

Positive and negative emotional states of a person. Positively colored emotional states include pleasure, a state of comfort, joy, happiness, euphoria. They are characterized by a smile on their face, pleasure from communicating with other people, a sense of acceptance by others, self-confidence and calmness, a sense of being able to cope with life's problems.

A positively colored emotional state affects the course of almost all mental processes and human behavior. It is known that success in solving an intellectual test positively affects the success of solving subsequent tasks, failure - negatively. Many experiments have shown that happy people are more willing to help others. Many studies show that people who are in a good mood tend to view their surroundings more positively.

Negatively colored emotional states are characterized in a completely different way, which include states of sadness, melancholy, anxiety, depression, fear, and panic. The most studied are the states of anxiety, depression, fear, horror, panic.

Anxiety occurs in situations of uncertainty, when the nature or timing of a threat cannot be predicted. An alarm is a danger signal that has not yet been implemented. The state of anxiety is experienced as a feeling of diffuse apprehension, as indefinite anxiety - "free-floating anxiety". Anxiety changes the nature of behavior, leads to an increase in behavioral activity, encourages more intense and purposeful efforts, and thus performs an adaptive function.

In the study of anxiety, anxiety is identified as personality trait, which determines readiness for anxious reactions, manifested in uncertainty in the future, and actual anxiety, which is part of the structure of the mental state at this particular moment (Spielberger, Khanin). Berezin, based on experimental studies and clinical observations, develops the concept of the existence of an alarming series. This row includes

1. Feeling of inner tension.

2. Hyperesthesia reactions. With an increase in anxiety, many events in the external environment become significant for the subject, and this, in turn, further increases anxiety).

3. Actually anxiety is characterized by the appearance of a feeling of vague threat, vague danger. A sign of anxiety is the inability to determine the nature of the threat and predict the time of its occurrence.

4. Fear. The unconsciousness of the causes of anxiety, the lack of its connection with the object make it impossible to organize activities to eliminate or prevent the threat. As a result, an indefinite threat begins to be concretized, anxiety shifts to specific objects, which begin to be regarded as threatening, although this may not be true. This particular anxiety is fear.

5. The feeling of the inevitability of an impending catastrophe, the increase in the intensity of anxiety leads the subject to the idea of ​​the impossibility of avoiding the threat. And this causes the need for motor discharge, which manifests itself in the next sixth phenomenon - anxious-fearful excitement, at this stage, the disorganization of behavior reaches its maximum, the possibility of purposeful activity disappears.

All these phenomena manifest themselves in different ways depending on the stability of the mental state.

Very often, volitional activity decreases: a person feels incapable of doing anything, it is difficult for him to force himself to overcome this state. To overcome fear, the following techniques are most often used: a person tries to continue his work, displacing fear from consciousness; finds relief in tears, in listening to his favorite music, in smoking. And only a few try to "calmly understand the cause of fear."

Depression is a temporary, permanent or periodically manifested state of melancholy, mental depression. It is characterized by a decrease in neuropsychic tone, due to a negative perception of reality and oneself. Depressive states arise, as a rule, in situations of loss: the death of loved ones, the breakup of friendships or love relationship. A depressive state is accompanied by psychophysiological disorders (loss of energy, muscle weakness), a feeling of emptiness and meaninglessness, feelings of guilt, loneliness, helplessness. The depressive state is characterized by a gloomy assessment of the past and present, pessimism in assessing the future.

In the classification of psychological states, there are also somatopsychic states (hunger, thirst, sexual arousal) and mental states that arise in the course of labor activity (states of fatigue, overwork, monotony, states of inspiration and elation, concentration and absent-mindedness, as well as boredom and apathy).

Chapter 3 Security

The absence of danger, more precisely, “a state in which there is no danger to someone or something” in dictionaries is defined by the concept of security. However, experience shows that it is impossible to ensure the complete absence of danger. In this regard, a definition is often used that indicates security as reliable protection from dangers and threats. Such a definition emphasizes the acceptability (and inevitability) of dangers and threats of a certain level, while, as it were, by itself implies the need to protect the object. But under the conditions of acceptability of already initial dangers, protection may not be required. Therefore, the following formulation looks the most acceptable: Security is a state of absence various kinds dangers and threats capable of causing unacceptable harm (damage) to the vital interests of a person. Security is a fundamental human need.

3.1. Human security. Ways to ensure security.

Any animal reacts to a threat to its life with protective actions. Human actions, thanks to his mind, differ from the instinctive actions of animals in foreseeing the development of events, assessing the consequences of their actions, analyzing the causes of dangers, choosing the most effective option actions. A person not only reasonably defends himself in an already existing situation (protection), not only, anticipating dangers, tries to avoid them, but, having established the causes of dangers, transforms the environment with his life activity in order to eliminate these causes (prevention). The environment refers to all its components - natural, social, man-made. It is the transformative life activity that allows a person to fully use the mind to increase his security.

The safety of a person, ensured by his life activity, can be measured by the level of safety. Integral it is characterized by life expectancy.

The longest preservation of life is undoubtedly one of the main goals of life, despite the fact that philosophers are still arguing about the meaning and goals of life. It is no coincidence that security is one of the fundamental needs of man, and scientists call the preservation of life and health the first and main vital interest of the individual. The initial, laid down by nature, life expectancy of individuals of each type of living organisms is shortened due to the realization of dangers from the environment. That is why the real life expectancy, undoubtedly, being dependent on the natural species value, but different from it, characterizes the level of safety.

We can talk about individual and community-wide levels of security. In general, when talking about life expectancy, you need to keep in mind three different indicators:

biological life span determined by the nature of a person as a species;

Individual life expectancy related to a specific person (with its characteristics);

average life expectancy in a given community.

Biological life expectancy serves as a starting point. For nature (for the biosphere), which created man and foresaw this duration, the reproduction of the human race is important. A person must grow to adulthood and produce offspring, and then raise their offspring to adulthood. After that, nature does not need this individual, since the reproduction of the genus will be carried out by his descendants. A significant part of people do not live to the biological limit. Their individual life expectancy is shortened by insecurity, which depends primarily on their own behavior in Everyday life and in emerging dangerous situations. One constantly builds his actions, taking into account their consequences for his security, the other mindlessly follows his momentary desires and desire for pleasure, not caring about security. A person who neglects the principles of a healthy lifestyle, who cannot foresee, avoid dangers, and, if necessary, act rationally, cannot hope for a long life.

However, the security of an individual depends not only on his personal behavior, but also on the number and strength of threats generated by the environment (natural, social, technogenic). And the state of the environment is largely determined by the results of the transformative life of society. The level of security achieved by the transformational activity of this community to ensure the security of its members from various kinds of threats is characterized by the average life expectancy in the community. This value is obtained by averaging the real values ​​of the life expectancy of the individuals in the community. The security level of communities with the progress of civilization is still constantly growing. Ordinary resident ancient egypt, in which the average life expectancy was 22 years, it was difficult to survive more than 40-45 years, despite the most “safe” behavior at that time (this did not apply to priests who were in special conditions and therefore had the opportunity to live to the biological limit). The Roman who lived later lived longer, because he bathed in the bathhouse built for that, and drank water from the water supply, unlike the Egyptian, who bathed and drank from the same Nile. In the most harmoniously developed countries today, the average life expectancy has reached 80 years (Scandinavia, Japan). Apparently, this is already the same biological threshold, the practically achievable limit of the increase in life expectancy.

Thus, the level of security of an individual, measured by individual life expectancy, depends not only on his behavior, but also on the level of security of society. The behavior of a particular individual only allows him to realize (or not to realize) the level of security achieved by society. The growth of security levels for both the individual and society was the result of a transformative life activity.

Conclusion

The continuous interaction of man with animate and inanimate nature is realized through the flows of masses of substances, energy and information. In those cases when these flows exceed the maximum permissible levels of their values, they acquire the ability to cause damage to human health, harm nature, destroy material values and become dangerous to the world around them. Hazard sources are of natural, anthropogenic or technogenic origin. The world of dangers at the beginning of the 21st century reached its highest development. The continuously growing deterioration in health and the death of people from exposure to hazards objectively requires the state and society to take extensive measures using a scientific approach in solving problems of human life safety. Achieving an acceptable level of safety in the "man-environment" system is inextricably linked with the need for a deep analysis of the reasons for the growth in the number and level of existing hazards; study of the causes of forced loss of health and death of people; development and wide application preventive protective measures at work, at home. An important role in preserving the health and life of people in the present and future is called upon to play the information activity of the state in the field of predicting the dangers of the environment. Competence of people in the world of dangers and ways to protect against them - necessary condition to achieve the safety of human life at all stages of his life. Psychological states - essential component the human psyche. Relatively simple psychological states underlie the whole variety of mental states both in normal and pathological conditions. In their origin, psychological states are mental processes in time. States, as formations of a higher level, control the processes of lower levels. The main mechanisms of self-regulation of the psyche are emotions, will, emotional and volitional functions. The direct mechanism of regulation is all forms of attention - as a process, state and personality traits. It is necessary to reduce the negative impact of unfavorable conditions on human activity and strive to ensure that the emotional state of a person is positively colored.

Bibliography:

1. Life safety. Textbook for universities (SV. Belov and others. Under the general editorship of S.V. Belov) 3rd ed. M, High School. 2003

2. Rusak ON et al., Life safety. Study guide 3rd ed. SPb Ed. "Lan" 2005

3. Ushakov et al. Life safety. Textbook for universities. M. MSTU. 2006

4. Ilyin E.P. Psychophysiology of human states. - St. Petersburg: Peter, 2005.

5. Belov S.V. "Life safety", M., 2004

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