PSYCHOLOGICAL PHENOMENON OF EMERGENCY

Abstract

The article deals with the problem of the definition of the phenomenon of emergency. The author shows that there is terminological confusion in the characteristic of the nature of emergency. The different terms that describe an emergency are used as synonyms.
It is shown that terminological confusion in science leads to inadequate interpretation of a number of legislative and normative documents which regulate the activity in risk conditions. It also prevents adequate assessment of the effects of emergency (physical, mental, social, economic, etc.). The victims feel the impact of these effects and it complicates the process of organizing and providing of necessary psychological help.
The article gives a detailed analysis of the classifications of emergencies which exist and are defined by law in the country. It is noted that these classifications ignore the specific or multiplicative criterion. It highlights two of the main characteristics of emergencies: a multilevel and a variety of consequences: social, political, environmental, economic and, especially, psychological.
The category of «threat» is proposed for determine the psychological content of an emergency.
Its main characteristics are: vital threat as a threat to the physical existence of the individual and existential threat as a threat to the continued existence of a qualitatively consistent state.
It is noted that vital threat acts until the person is not aware of what happens to him in an emergency situation where the instincts of self-preservation dominate. The existential threat acts when comes the understanding of what is happening.