DIAGNOSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON THE PROCESSES OF PERSONALITY HARMONIZATION

Abstract

The article examines the problem of the destruction of the integrity of the inner world of the individual under the influence of prolonged psychotraumatic events caused by military aggression. It is argued that in conditions of mass traumatization, traditional adaptation mechanisms prove insufficient, requiring the search for internal resources of self-regulation. Emotional intelligence plays a central role in this process, interpreted not simply as a cognitive skill, but as a fundamental mechanism of psychological defense and a mediator of personality harmonization.
Empirical research was conducted at a rehabilitation center for Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel using a set of diagnostic techniques: N. Hall’s questionnaire (EI), K. Riff’s psychological well-being scale, the PCL-C distress scale, S. Maddy’s resilience test, and mathematical statistics methods (Pearson’s correlation coefficient). Analysis of the research results revealed a specific “traumatized personality profile” of military personnel, characterized by a deficit of emotional awareness (45%) and empathy (50%). It was established that the phenomenon of “emotional sealing” is a protective reaction that is adaptive in combat but becomes a barrier to harmonization in peacetime. It was found that the “Self-motivation” scale is the highest (30%), acting as the main “driver” of integrity restoration. A statistically significant influence of emotion management on affect balance (r = 0.51; p ≤ 0.01) and self-acceptance has been confirmed. A link between emotional intelligence and resilience (r = 0.48) has also been proven, indicating the role of emotional competence in maintaining engagement in life despite traumatic experiences.
The stress-protective and adaptive functions of emotional intelligence in conditions of extreme trauma are detailed. It has been proven that a high level of emotional intelligence allows military personnel to transform “silent pain” into verbalized emotion, which is the first step towards overcoming PTSD symptoms. The dominance of the “Avoidance” (45%) and “Intrusion” (35%) strategies, which directly correlate with low emotional awareness, has been revealed. The need for the systematic development of emotional literacy as the foundation of resilience has been substantiated.