Legal Psychology

Strategies to Support the Psychological Well-Being of the Individual in Conditions of Uncertainty

Yuliia BOIKO-BUZYL — 2025-06-16

Abstract. The relevance of the chosen topic is determined by the need to develop effective approaches for supporting the psychological well-being of the individual under conditions of uncertainty, particularly in the context of social and political transformations characteristic of modern Ukraine. In today’s world, where dynamic changes in the economic, political, and social spheres have become the norm, the development of such approaches is crucial for ensuring the stability and harmonious development of society. The aim of the article is to provide a theoretical and methodological justification for strategies supporting the psychological well-being of the individual in conditions of uncertainty. To achieve this goal, a generalization and systematization of scientific research from both foreign and domestic sources was conducted. The article elucidates the definition of «psychological well-being» and its multidimensional nature, which encompasses both the inner world of the individual and the external manifestations of behavior. It examines the peculiarities of uncertainty’s impact on the psycho-emotional state, particularly through the prism of hedonic and eudaimonic approaches, and identifies factors that contribute to adaptation, situational awareness, and the formation of resilience. The research methodology was based on the application of approaches to socio-psychological support in both individual and group settings, utilizing methods of analysis, generalization, systematization of scientific data, and the case method to study specific practical situations. Key strategies for supporting psychological well-being in crisis situations are proposed and justified, including the development of flexible thinking, emotional regulation, maintenance of social ties, transforming the perception of uncertainty from a negative threat into an opportunity for growth, strengthening awareness and acceptance of the situation, applying relaxation practices, fostering self-awareness and reflection, as well as optimizing planning and expectation management. The article aims to deepen the understanding of the psychological mechanisms that ensure individual resilience in the face of uncertainty and to establish a scientific basis for the development of effective measures to support mental health in modern conditions.

Keywords: psychological well-being; individual; mental health; conditions of uncertainty; strategy; psychological support; psychological assistance.

Peculiarities of the Emotional and Volitional Sphere of the National Police of Ukraine in the Period of Martial Law

Olena KUDERMINA — 2025-06-16

Abstract. For more than three years, the population of our country has been living under martial law. Behind the brief statement of this fact lies a great tragedy for the Ukrainian people as a whole and for each individual Ukrainian. The threat to the national security and sovereignty of the country, the ruthless terrorist activities of the Russian military, aggressive information and psychological pressure, constant danger to your own life and the lives of your loved ones, the impact of various external and internal stressors – all this leads to negative emotional states and can lead to disorganized behavior. Constant equilibration on the verge of explosive emotional reactions and adequate behavior under martial law is incredibly exhausting and can lead to certain transformations of the personality. Along with the general tense external circle of negative influences, certain requirements are put forward to the development of the emotional and volitional sphere of police officers' personality as a prerequisite for their adequate and effective behavior in situations caused by the performance of operational tasks. The development of emotional and volitional stability of the personality of representatives of the security sector ensures their ability to adaptively regulate and correct their own behavior in life-threatening conditions of professional activity. In order to assess the peculiarities of the emotional and volitional sphere of police officers, an empirical study of the peculiarities of the emotional and volitional sphere of the personality of police officers of the National Police of Ukraine was conducted at the end of 2024. The peculiarities of the emotional and volitional sphere of police officers' personality were identified using psychodiagnostic tools, namely: interpretation of the results of individual scales of the 16-factor questionnaire by R. Cattell and the methodology «V.I. Morosanov’s Style of Personality Self-Regulation». Summarizing the results of the empirical study of the peculiarities of the emotional and volitional sphere of police officers during martial law, we can state meaningful transformational changes in personality. Their emergence and direction are caused by the traumatic effect of full-scale Russian aggression and need to be taken into account in the process of determining the content of professional psychological training of police officers.

Keywords: law enforcement officer’s personality; emotional and volitional sphere of personality; martial law; personality transformation; style of self-regulation.

Psychology of the Behavior of the Researched Person during Polygraphy Testing

Oleksandr MOTLIAKH — 2025-06-16

Abstract. The scientific article is devoted to the analysis of a topical issue related to the psychology of the behavior of a person who voluntarily consented to undergo a psychophysiological study using a polygraph. The author of the scientific material focuses on the features that arise or may arise during this specific research procedure. The purpose of the scientific publication is to reveal the specifics of the psychological behavior of the subject during polygraph testing, which is to a certain extent interdependent on the behavior of the polygraph examiner. The focus is on certain behavioral aspects that arise from the properly organized communicative activity of the specialist conducting this study. Separate techniques of negative behavior of the studied individuals are identified and analyzed, which are aimed at obtaining the desired result for them and are reflected in the following components: manipulation, pity, bribery and blackmail. In the process of conducting the research, both general scientific and special methods were used: comparative psychological, systemic-structural, and the method of systems analysis. General approaches and conclusions have been formed in understanding the importance of studying the psychology of the behavior of the person being examined in order to effectively conduct a polygraph examination using a polygraph.

Keywords: psychology of the behavior of the person being studied; polygraph examination; polygraph examiner; communicative communication; psychological techniques; specific and nonspecific adaptation.

Current Directions of Application of Training Technologies in the System of Professional and Psychological Training of Police Officers

Oksana ROMANENKO — 2025-06-16

Abstract. The relevance of the topic is due to the need to strengthen the practical component in the system of professional and psychological training of police officers, taking into account the demands of modern life. The purpose of this article is to determine the current directions of application of training technologies in the system of professional and psychological training of police officers. In accordance with the purpose, the research tasks are outlined and the corresponding stages of working out the problem are carried out: the state of research into various aspects of professional and psychological training of police officers is analyzed; modern trends in the formation of professionally important personal qualities of police officers are considered; current directions of application of training technologies in the system of professional and psychological training of police officers are determined. The methodology for analyzing the problem was the general theory of personality changes, which is based on both differentiation and integration of existing knowledge in various fields, as well as psychological concepts of the influence of training technologies on the formation of professionally important qualities of a police officer’s personality. The feasibility of using training technologies in the system of professional and psychological training of police officers is substantiated, taking into account certain stages of professional development. The current areas of application of training are identified: psychological aspects of fire training; organization of professional cooperation with other services; improvement of the communicative competence of a police officer in the process of professional interaction with citizens; optimization of the use of legitimate aggression when performing official tasks; formation of stress resistance by modelling stressful situations; training in algorithms and scenarios for decision-making in conditions of uncertainty. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the systematization of knowledge about the role of training technologies in the system of professional and psychological training of police officers. The practical significance is represented by the definition of the content and methods of training in relevant areas, which allows improving the organizational, methodological and content principles of professional and psychological training.

Keywords: professional and psychological training of police officers; practical component; professionally important personal qualities; training technologies; professional identity of a police officer.

Conceptual Principles of Psychological Rehabilitation of Combat Participants

Maryna HALYCH — 2025-06-16

Abstract. The relevance of the study is due to the need to determine the basic principles of organizing and providing psychological assistance in the process of rehabilitation of combatants for further optimization of measures to preserve mental health. The purpose of the article is to determine the conceptual principles of psychological rehabilitation of combatants. Depending on this, the fundamental foundations and the state of theoretical and applied research on the rehabilitation process are determined. The methodological basis of the article is the fundamental approaches to the process of providing comprehensive assistance, the main task of which is the psychosomatic recovery of combatants, taking into account individual recovery tactics. The methodological tools are selected in accordance with the outlined goal, the specifics of the object and subject of the study. Research methods are analysis, comparison and generalization of the results of scientific research. The main conceptual and categorical apparatus, the laws of Ukraine used to define the rehabilitation process and its main provisions are considered. The importance of providing psychological assistance to combatants has been determined, depending on the level of influence of the stress factor on the personality, since being in war conditions and combat actions provoke the emergence of general distress. The principles and stages of the technology of providing comprehensive rehabilitation have been analyzed, the features of which indicate its specificity and a purely individual approach, which is defined as one of the basic principles of effectiveness. Foreign rehabilitation programs have been considered, among the common key aspects of which are identified: comprehensive physical, psychological and social rehabilitation; prevention of depressive episodes, anxiety disorders, treatment and prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder; availability of professional reintegration courses. The possibilities of using existing foreign rehabilitation programs are described exclusively on the condition of taking into account the specificity of the experience of combatants. Signs of the effectiveness of the rehabilitation process of combatants in combination with other health, physical education and sports, sanatorium and resort, medical and psychological and social services have been identified. The definition of the conceptual principles of the rehabilitation of combatants allows for a comprehensive and systematic study of existing achievements in this area and also to identify areas for further scientific exploration.

Keywords: psychological assistance; rehabilitation; combat stress; individual approach; recovery programs.

Attitudes to Law and Social Intelligence Security and Defense Forces Personnel

Volodymyr FILONENKO — 2025-06-16

Abstract. The relevance of the topic is stipulated by the need to study the personal transformations of military personnel in modern extreme conditions in order to further invent effective means and scientific methods to overcome the negative impact of war and develop measures to preserve the mental health of combatants. The purpose of this article is to empirically study the interrelationships between the components of social intelligence and the types of attitudes to law among personnel of the security and defense forces in wartime. In accordance with this goal, the author analyzes the state of foreign and domestic research on deviant behavior of military personnel who participated in hostilities. In addition, the role of socio-emotional competence of an individual in overcoming personal and professional challenges is investigated. An empirical study of the relationship between the components of social intelligence and the types of attitudes towards the law of combatants - offenders and those who have not committed an offense (norm group) is carried out. The methods of the study were the «Attitude to Law» methodology developed by D.S. Beznosov and the methodology for studying social intelligence by J. Guilford. It was found that servicemen who have not committed offenses, with an increase in the ability to build a strategy of their own behavior to achieve the goal, the ability to navigate the non-verbal reactions of participants in the interaction and knowledge of the rules governing human behavior, have a positive attitude to the law, a sense of the social value of law. It is determined that with the increase in the ability to understand others, doubts about the effectiveness or fairness of the legal system are actualized. In this group, the recognition of the authority of the legal system in society and the belief in the ability of the legal system to make changes in society have not been found to be related to any component of social intelligence. In servicemen who have committed offenses, with an increase in the ability to build a strategy of their own behavior to achieve their goals, the likelihood of disregarding legal norms, imposing their will on others, creating and establishing their own rules of behavior increases. It was found that in the group of offenders with an increased ability to understand others, doubts about the effectiveness or fairness of the legal system increase. It has been determined that in this group, with an increase in the ability to understand changes in human verbal reactions, the need to influence others, there is a growing desire to consciously deny the role of law in society, the belief that legal regulations are optional, and the possibility of imposing one's will on others. As the ability to predict human behavior increases, negative attitudes toward the law, denial of its social value, and a sense of law as an object of blind worship decrease. In the group of servicemen who committed offenses, a certain remoteness of a positive attitude to law from the ability to understand the intentions, feelings and emotional states of others by verbal and non-verbal manifestations was revealed.

Keywords: attitude to law; military personnel; combatants; social intelligence; deviant behavior; personnel of the security and defense forces; socio-emotional competence.

The Use of Service Dogs for Emotional Support of the National Police of Ukraine

Kateryna BІELIAIEVA — 2025-06-16

Abstract. The relevance of the study of the use of working dogs for emotional support of current officers of the National Police of Ukraine is due to the need to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their law enforcement functions during martial law. The purpose of the study is to analyze the foreign experience of involving specially selected and trained therapy dogs in the emotional stabilization of police officers, as well as to develop recommendations for the involvement of NPU working dogs that have been properly selected in the psychological and emotional support of active police officers in Ukraine. The research methodology is formed in accordance with its purpose, as well as the specifics of its object and subject. In particular, the study examines the impact of interaction with a dog on a person’s emotional state, the experience of involving therapy dogs in police departments in other countries, as well as the results of such involvement. Introductory meetings with specially selected working dogs were held in 7 district police departments of Kyiv region. By interviewing the participants of these meetings, the differences in their emotional state before and after interaction with dogs were identified. Recommendations were developed on scenarios for such meetings and their regularity. The practical significance of the study lies in the creation of new tools for the emotional stabilization of police officers during the discharge of their duties during martial law, as well as in expanding the possibilities of their psychological recovery.

Keywords: psychology; emotional support; emotional support dog; interaction with a dog; emotional stabilization.

Peculiarities of Self-Regulation of Police Officers with Different Professional Experience

Olha VOROBIOVA — 2025-06-16

Abstract. The relevance of the study is due to the need to study the psychological mechanisms of adaptation of police officers to the conditions of professional activity, which is accompanied by a high level of stress, extreme situations and increased demands on the personality of a law enforcement officer. Developed self-regulation skills are an important factor in the professional effectiveness of police officers, as they contribute to maintaining work capacity, prompt decision-making and preventing professional burnout. Self-regulation is considered as a holistic system that includes planning (determining goals and strategies of activity), modeling (forecasting the development of situations and possible consequences), programming (structuring actions in accordance with the chosen strategy), evaluation of results (analysis of the effectiveness of actions and their adjustment), flexibility (the ability to adapt behavioral strategies to changing conditions) and independence (autonomy in making decisions and responsibility for them). The results of the empirical study show that with increasing professional experience, police officers: 1) approach planning activities more consciously, more clearly define goals and ways to achieve them; 2) more effectively predict the development of situations, which contributes to the rapid adoption of optimal decisions in changing conditions; 3) improve the decision-making process, which reduces the likelihood of errors and increases the efficiency of actions; 4) better control their own emotional state, which ensures resistance to stress and prevents impulsive reactions. At the same time, with increasing professional experience, there is a tendency to reduce flexibility, assessment of results and independence in the self-regulation structure, which may indicate the formation of rigid response strategies, reducing the ability to adapt to non-standard situations. The results of the study indicate the importance of forming adaptive self-regulation mechanisms and justify the need to implement self-regulation development programs in the system of psychological support for professional activity to support police officers at different stages of their service.

Keywords: self-regulation; police officer; service activities; professional experience; psychological support.

Socio-Psychological Characteristics of a Person who Commits Fraud as Part of an Organized Group on the Internet

Andrii KRYZHEVSKYI — 2025-06-16

Abstract. The relevance of the topic lies in the fact that Internet fraud committed by an organized criminal group is a more serious and dangerous crime in terms of consequences, as it is long-term in nature, is committed on a particularly large scale, has detailed preparation and distribution of roles. It is possible to counteract this and recognize criminal manifestations only by knowing the socio-psychological portrait of a person who commits fraud as part of an organized criminal group through critical thinking through public awareness of modern, existing, fraudulent schemes that are built in accordance with the urgent needs of today. Comfortable conditions of the Internet space for committing fraud using electronic computing equipment, through online communication with a potential victim, the vulnerability and anxiety of citizens during the war, and the difficult financial situation enable members of an organized criminal group to invent various fraudulent schemes to seize funds, property, and valuables of other people. This poses a serious threat to the safety of citizens and can lead to serious financial losses for citizens and the state. The purpose of the article is to identify and study the features of the socio-psychological characteristics of individuals who commit fraud as part of an organized criminal group in the Internet space and to consider urgent issues that require research on this topic. The practical significance of the article is that establishing a typical socio-psychological portrait of an Internet fraudster who commits fraud as part of an organized group provides a basis for improving not only the methods of investigating such crimes, but also their prevention and organizational countermeasures. A generalized characteristic of a person who commits fraud as part of an organized group makes it possible to determine successful ways of exposure and improve methods of identifying from his environment individuals among whom members of an organized criminal group should be sought. The scientific novelty lies in establishing the socio-psychological characteristics of the fraudster as a member of an organized criminal group that commits fraud on the Internet. This makes it possible to determine a generalized socio-psychological portrait of an Internet fraudster as part of an organized criminal group in accordance with the type of Internet fraud committed and will increase the effectiveness of the investigation of such crimes. These and other components are the basis for the conclusion that the generalized socio-psychological characteristics of an Internet fraudster as a member of an organized criminal group will provide an opportunity to compile a socio-psychological portrait by the type of Internet fraud committed and to choose effective ways to expose the circle of individuals of such a group. The established socio-psychological portrait of such an Internet fraudster is the basis for organizing measures to counter such crimes. The socio-psychological characteristics of the behavior of an Internet fraudster as part of an organized group are outlined, which will contribute to the ideal investigation and timely recognition of criminal manifestations.

Keywords: fraud; socio-psychological portrait; criminal personality; Internet network; Internet fraudster; manipulation; electronic and computing equipment.

Factors of Professional Deformation of Police Officers: from Stress to Social Consequences

Viktoriia LYTVYN — 2025-06-16

Abstract. The relevance of the content of the article is due to the current social and departmental challenges regarding the spread of factors that determine the phenomenon of professional deformation of National Police employees in wartime conditions. In connection with the indicated important task, there is a modification of mechanisms and means of preventing deformational changes in the personality of a police officer. The article reviews the current scientific achievements in understanding the social and psychological conditions that contribute to the emergence of negative trends in the professional behavior of a police officer in relations with the population when solving operational and service tasks. The objectives, procedure and methodological basis for studying the levels of deformational changes in active police officers are outlined. Based on the statistical analysis of the research materials, it was found that the most characteristic features of the presence of deformational changes are professional exhaustion, stereotypy in certain actions and deeds, certain signs of aggressiveness, and the desire to avoid responsibility for professional mistakes. In general, the category of active police officers is not characterized by a high level of professional deformation; an average level of personal changes has been noted, caused by the need to perform a wide range of extreme professional actions that physically and morally exhaust law enforcement officers and cause excessive stress. A study of the level of personal anxiety among police officers revealed a fairly high tolerance for atypical changes in professional activities, but working in extreme situations often causes anxiety and fear. In police officers, the deformation sometimes manifests itself in pronounced workaholism and achievementism, or acquires signs of legal nihilism. The findings allow us to develop appropriate psychocorrectional approaches to prevent the further development of negative personality changes.

Keywords: professional deformation; police officer personality; psychological tension; professional psychological exhaustion; deformational personality changes; prevention and prophylaxis.

Features of Providing Psychological Assistance and Support to Police Officers – Combat Veteran Police Officers

Tetyana SNYATKOVA — 2025-06-16

Abstract. This article examines the features of providing psychological assistance and support to police officers who participated in combat operations. The specifics of psychological trauma experienced by law enforcement officers in armed conflict conditions are theoretically substantiated, characterized by their dual professional identity as both police officers and military personnel. Analysis of current research identifies the main psychological consequences of police combat participation: increased emotional reactivity, anxiety, sleep disorders, and risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. The key categories of psychological trauma among combat veteran police officers are systematized: basic combat trauma (loss of comrades, trauma from using lethal force), medical trauma, and moral-ethical trauma. A two-stage approach to psychological support is proposed, including psychoeducation and structuring of traumatic experiences. The effectiveness of a comprehensive therapeutic approach combining cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure techniques, and desensitization therapy is substantiated. The resource potential of law enforcement officers is outlined, encompassing spiritual-value, physical, motivational-purposeful, self-development, organizational-temporal, social-supportive, and regulatory components. The role of social support as a key protective resource against PTSD is defined, emphasizing the significance of emotional support. Special attention is paid to the importance of working with police officers' families and the role of leadership in creating an effective psychological support system. The article theoretically establishes that the effectiveness of psychological rehabilitation and reintegration of combat veteran police officers depends on a comprehensive approach combining professional psychotherapeutic assistance, administrative support, and the development of mutual support systems among police officers themselves.

Keywords: psychological assistance; combat veteran police officers; psychological trauma; psychological rehabilitation; post-traumatic stress disorder; social support; resource potential; reintegration.

Cognitive-Emotional Matrix of Anthropogenic Risk as a Tool for Enhancing Profiling

Oleksandr TYKHONENKO — 2025-06-16

Abstract. The article examines and analyzes the potential for improving the security profiling mechanism. A theoretical analysis of the author's cognitive-emotional matrix is conducted, illustrating the interaction of biological and sociocultural factors in shaping behavioral patterns. Special attention is given to identifying markers of deviant tendencies and refining methods for predicting dangerous behavior as a key element in security measures. The author emphasizes the importance of considering evolutionary, anatomical, and functional aspects in assessing anthropogenic threats, as these factors play a critical role in shaping the cognitive and emotional activity of an individual—specifically, an offender (anthropogenic risk). The study identifies key characteristics that can be classified as indicators of dangerous behavior. An in-depth analysis of the four key levels of human psyche – instinctive, emotional-social, cognitive, and ideal – is provided within the framework of the proposed matrix and offender profiling. Their interrelation with potential security risks is demonstrated. The findings indicate that the first level governs basic biological needs and reactions, the second regulates emotional responses and social adaptation, the third facilitates cognitive processes, and the fourth ensures the formation of intangible ideals and moral principles. The importance of balance among these levels for adequate behavioral regulation is highlighted. This study introduces a novel perspective and presents opportunities for refining the methodology of analyzing dangerous (deviant, delinquent) behavior. It expands the profiling toolkit within the framework of state security by integrating knowledge of the proposed four-level model of the human psyche and offender psychology. Particular emphasis is placed on applying matrix analysis results for monitoring, identifying, and preventing dangerous behavior in security contexts. The practical significance of the study lies in integrating the four-level psyche model into profiling tools within state security mechanisms, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of security measures for identifying both potential and actual dangerous individuals – offenders.

Keywords: profiling; offender; anthropogenic risk; state security; deviant behavior.