Svetlana A. Filippova

The relevance of the article lies in clarifying and concretizing the content of the concept of «psychological security of the educational environment» taking into account new challenges and threats with an emphasis on the personal factor. It is shown that the definition of psychological security of the educational environment through the category of protection from various risks and threats does not meet new challenges and threats. The authors believe that in the modern digital world, combining real and virtual influence on children and young people, it is not possible to fully foresee all imaginable dangers and protect students from them, because even identical conditions for one student may be safe, for another – constitute a potential threat. The authors emphasize that the educational environment is characterized by dynamism, and its psychological security as an integrated part is based primarily on the ability of the subjects themselves to maintain stability, vigilance, show critical thinking, resist negative influences and overcome them on their own or by seeking help. The aim of the study was to examine the personal characteristics of modern students which can influence the psychological safety of the educational environment in a situation of new challenges and threats. The following personal qualities of students were studied: conformism, social pessimism, intolerance, nihilism, cynicism, destructiveness, attitude to the permissibility of aggression, the presence of a cult of strength, protest activity, etc. To do this, the multidimensional diagnostic technique by D.G. Davydov and K.D. Khlomov was used. According to the results of the work done, the personal characteristics of students that form the potential risks of both illegal activity and loyalty to its implementation on the part of other persons are revealed: social conformity, unwillingness to make independent decisions and take personal responsibility, a tendency to simplify the picture of the world, reduce complex parameters of the VUCA world to generalized models, attraction to idealized guarantees of social justice. The novelty lies in identifying the targets of socio-psychological work with students aimed at reducing the risks to the psychological safety of the educational environment. The results of the research can be used by the administration, university teachers, tutors of student groups, psychologists to organize educational, correctional, preventive work with students, as well as for psychological and pedagogical support of students, taking into account their individual characteristics at the stage of their personal development at the university.

The psychological resilience of the future teacher in changing conditions and stressful situations is an important quality that reduces the risks of professional burnout and deformation. The issue under discussion is focused on solving the current scientific problem – the study of the mechanisms, factors and conditions for adapting the future teacher in the VUCA-world: the authors present results of a psychological examination of students of a pedagogical university in the conditions of quarantine measures. The aim of the study was to assess the adaptive potential of students in conditions of forced distance learning; formation of ideas about personal characteristics contributing to adaptation of future teachers. The study involved 143 students studying in the areas of «Pedagogical Education», «Psychological and Pedagogical Education» aged 18 to 22 years. Monitoring was carried out through a diagnostic cross-section followed by data processing using mathematical statistics methods. The study made it possible to describe the personal profiles of students, characterize the psychological mechanisms of adaptation to the current situation, reveal the level of stress of students in pandemic conditions, and assess the potential risks to the psychological health and comfort of students. The study showed: the sample as a whole is characterized by quite high adaptive potential (students showed high indicators of resilience and moderate manifestations of stress, most of them had a balanced personal profile, which indicated personal resilience); personal characteristics affect the mechanism of the adaptation process, forming links with the symptom complex of resilience and level of stress; personal rigidity (accentuation) leads to the formation of typical rigid cognitive attitudes and behavioral patterns, which do not contribute to adaptation in changing conditions, negatively affecting resilience and increasing stress. The obtained data allow predicting the risks to the psychological health and comfort of students, more effectively planning and implementing psychological prevention and support for students during their studies at the university. The revealed trends make it possible to note personal flexibility as a key factor of adaptation and stress resistance.