EMOTIONAL STATES IN THE CONTEXT OF TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE: CONTEMPORARY THEORETICAL APPROACHES

Abstract

The article examines the peculiarities of emotional states in the context of traumatic experience from the perspective of contemporary theoretical approaches. It is shown that psychotraumatic events affect not only the intensity of affective manifestations but also the mechanisms of their regulation and cognitive processing. Particular attention is given to the cognitive appraisal theory of R. Lazarus, the circumplex model of affect by J. Russell, R. Plutchik’s model of basic emotions, and L. F. Barrett’s theory of constructed emotions. Comparative analysis revealed that Lazarus explains individual differences in responses through event appraisal and coping resources, Russell identifies the universal structure of emotions along the dimensions of valence and arousal, and Plutchik highlights the evolutionary functions of basic emotions. Barrett, in turn, proposes an integrative framework that combines cognitive, bodily, and cultural factors. Her key concepts–emotional granularity, “body budget,” categorization, and interoception–explain how traumatic experience leads to the generalization of experiences into globally negative categories and the depletion of physiological resources. Consequently, the combined theoretical lens offers a coherent rationale for targeted psychological interventions in war conditions. In the war context of Ukraine, this is reflected in sudden emotional breakdowns, difficulties in recovery, and reduced ability for flexible regulation. The article concludes that effective psychological assistance should be based on the development of emotional granularity, restoration of categorization accuracy, and the formation of interoceptive awareness. These findings outline prospects for designing new psychotherapeutic strategies for individuals with post-traumatic experience and open opportunities for implementing valid psychometric instruments into Ukrainian practice.