IMPRESSION AS A PROBLEM IN MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY

Psychological problem of an impression seems to be one of the most important problems in military psychology, its correct understanding will mean successful reference-points both in military operations and in coping with consequences of participation in hostilities, particularly PTSD. We consider concept of «impression» as an artifact which has absorbed enormous amount of nuances of values and senses. It took its place within subtle process of human cognition of one’s own internal world. Research analysis must provide answers about psychological essence of impression, its origin, further fate, disappearance and connections with other elements of psyche. We cannot agree with concept of an impression being referred as an image. In any case, even if we can speak about an image (focus on spontaneity and integrity of an impression is definitely suitable here), then it couldn’t be neither visual nor auditory; even if the impression is an image, then it is an amodal image of the world (A. N. Leontiev). Impressions occur to be related to perception, but at the same time are not reduced to the latter. An impression has very close and obvious relations to emotions and feelings. Experience indicates about pronounced individual character of impressions. It is reflected in the fact that not every complex irritant can facilitate emergence of one’s impression. On the other hand, different people in the same impression-causing situation can get very different impressions. Impressions remain as memory traces and personal experience accumulators.