CLINICAL FEATURES OF CONFLICT BEHAVIOR IN PERSONALITY UNDER CHRONIC STRESS CONDITIONS

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of psychological and clinical determinants of individual conflict behavior under conditions of chronic stress and social instability caused by the war in Ukraine. Based on data from sociological surveys conducted by Gradus Research and contemporary interdisciplinary scholarly sources, the role of emotional exhaustion, heightened anxiety, frustration, irritability, and anger is revealed as key affective states that significantly increase the likelihood of escalation of interpersonal and group conflicts. It is shown that prolonged exposure to threat, uncertainty, and loss of control activates psychological defense mechanisms, reduces frustration tolerance, and intensifies the polarization of social perception. A conceptual distinction is substantiated between aggressiveness as a relatively stable personality trait and aggression as a situationally determined behavioral reaction formed under the influence of stressogenic factors and cognitive-emotional distortions. It is demonstrated that acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and complex post-traumatic stress disorder act as powerful modifiers of conflict dynamics, contributing to emotional dysregulation, narrowing of the cognitive field, the development of dichotomous thinking, and the formation of persistent “enemy images” that block empathic understanding of the opponent. Within the framework of conflictological expertise, the significance of clinical mental health markers for predicting destructive interaction scenarios, assessing the risks of repeated escalation, and selecting adequate interventions is analyzed. The necessity of integrating communicative, mediation, and psychotherapeutic approaches aimed at restoring the capacity for reflection, self-regulation, and mentalization is emphasized. Special attention is paid to the potential of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as a tool for shifting from strategies of domination (“power-over”) to a collaborative interaction model (“power-with”), oriented toward awareness of one’s own and others’ needs, reduction of affective tension, and restoration of empathic resonance. It is demonstrated that the integration of clinical knowledge into the system of conflictological expertise provides a scientifically grounded basis for fostering long-term community conflict resilience and for developing adapted de-escalation strategies under conditions of war and large-scale social transformations