THE ROLE OF RESILIENCE IN PREVENTING CONFLICT ESCALATION IN CONDITIONS OF SOCIAL INSTABILITY

Abstract

The article examines resilience as a key psychological resource that ensures the adaptation of individuals and social groups under conditions of social instability and prevents the escalation of conflicts. It is shown that contemporary society functions in the context of profound socio-political transformations, economic crises, military events, and increasing uncertainty, which intensify social tension and the conflictogenic nature of interpersonal and group interactions. Under such conditions, changes in value-normative orientations, the disruption of established social ties, and the weakening of social control mechanisms increase the risk of conflict behavior. Resilience is conceptualized as an integrative characteristic that combines cognitive, emotional, and behavioral components and ensures effective self-regulation, psychological stability, and flexibility of social identities. The article emphasizes that the development of resilience contributes to maintaining constructive forms of interaction, restraining impulsive and aggressive reactions, and reducing the risk of social destabilization. An analysis of contemporary studies demonstrates that a high level of resilience is associated with a decrease in anxiety, aggressiveness, and conflictproneness, as well as with greater emotional stability and cognitive flexibility. Particular attention is paid to the socio-psychological mechanisms of conflict during periods of transformation, including identity changes, the intensification of the us – them dichotomy, and the influence of economic, political, and informational factors. It is emphasized that resilience is not limited to passive recovery from stress but represents an active resource that enables the transformation of crisis experience into opportunities for personal and social development, supports constructive interaction, and counteracts conflict escalation. The generalization of current research indicates that resilience functions as a systemic mediating resource between social instability and conflict behavior, ensuring effective adaptation, social cohesion, and a reduction in social tension in contemporary society.