Personal Predictors of Volunteering in Everyday and Extreme Conditions

Abstract

The special military operation carried out by Russia has caused an increase in the number of volunteers carrying out their activities in extreme conditions. Based on the analysis of scientific publications on the problems of volunteering, as well as the data of an empirical study on a sample of 40 people (20 volunteers of an extreme profile and 20 volunteers of a general humanitarian orientation), which included the results of a questionnaire and a comprehensive psychodiagnostic examination (“Questionnaire for assessing the propensity to volunteer activity” (V.E. Petrov); test “Altruism — egoism” (E.P. Ilyin), methodology “EDM Responsibility” (V.P. Pryadein), the method “Diagnostics of Acceptance of Others” (V. Fey), the method of diagnosing social empathy (A. Mehrabyan and N. Epstein)), psychologically significant predictors that determine people’s inclination to contrasting types of volunteer activities have been established. An assessment of the differences in the groups showed that “extreme volunteers” are characterized by increased responsibility for the results of their activities, and “volunteers of a general humanitarian orientation” are characterized by greater tolerance towards others. The psychological portrait of an “extreme volunteer” is distinguished by such characteristics of the value and motivational sphere of the personality as patriotism, participation, self-sacrifice, social involvement, and altruism. The material of the article allows us to clarify the methodological guidelines of psychological practice in the field of volunteering in extreme conditions, to detail the pattern of qualities of a successful volunteer and to individualize his professional training.