Socio-Psychological Interpretation of War in Society: Psychological Factors in the Structure of Governance During War and Post-War Periods

Goal. To examine the socio-psychological aspects of understanding the war in society, in particular the methodology for assessing its consequences in everyday life from the perspective of ordinary citizens. To identify the possibilities of integrating psychological factors into the structure of governance during wartime and post-war transformation. To analyze the influence of the collective on the formation of individual consciousness, as well as the typology of social reactions to war. To formulate practical recommendations for incorporating socio-psychological factors into the activities of public administration bodies. Results. An analysis was conducted of the motivations guiding discussion participants and actors of interaction, depending on their level of knowledge of the research subject and access to informational resources. Factors leading to the imitation of socially useful activities in key spheres of informational life were identified. The destructive impact of neglecting the development of highly moral and humanistic scientific traditions—based on the principles of truth, objectivity, historicity, and scientific justification—was revealed. It was shown that in wartime and post-war society a reorientation of value priorities is taking place: from material prerogatives toward the development of the spiritual potential of individuals, strengthening faith in truth and justice. Four models of social reactions to war were found to dominate in Ukrainian society: negative passive, negative active, positive proactive, and moderately trusting. The phenomenon of “ritual patriotism” was identified as a form of imitative activity that distorts the real perception of social moods. A framework was developed for transforming social emotions into components of managerial functions (planning, forecasting, communication, delegation). Scientific novelty. The novelty lies in the conceptualization of the socio-psychological understanding of war as an integral element of the model of public governance. For the first time, a differentiation of social reactions to war has been proposed as a tool for managerial forecasting. The necessity of changing the paradigm of development inherited from the post-totalitarian period and reorienting it towards European vectors has been substantiated. Practical significance. The results can be applied to improving the system of public governance by integrating psychological factors into the processes of strategic planning and decision-making. The proposed practical recommendations may serve as a basis for the work of humanitarian ministries, regional administrations, as well as educational and communication structures, aimed at strengthening social unity and developing effective mechanisms for post-war reconstruction.