PSYCHOLOGICAL PERCEPTION OF TIME BY INDIVIDUALS IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL MANAGEMENT

Abstract

This article explores the psychological characteristics of individual time perception in the context of modern society, with a particular focus on temporal orientation within frameworks of social governance, intercultural communication, crisis situations, and armed conflict. The author reviews key theoretical approaches to the analysis of psychological time, including concepts of time perspective, chronopsychology, and neuropsychology, which highlight the interplay between temporal perception and emotional, cognitive, and behavioral functioning of the individual. Empirical evidence is presented to demonstrate how types of temporal orientation affect a person’s adaptability to social change, self-motivation, civic engagement, and mental wellbeing. Special emphasis is placed on examining temporal models in the context of the war in Ukraine. Four dominant types of time perception in Ukrainian society under martial law are identified – ranging from fixation on the past to constructive modeling of the future. The psychological nuances of experiencing time across different social groups – including politicians, military personnel, civilians, and individuals with PTSD – are discussed in detail. Substantiates the importance of incorporating the temporal dimension into public policy, systems of social support, and humanitarian practices. Ultimately, it represents an interdisciplinary attempt to conceptualize time as a resource for psychosocial development amidst profound societal transformation. The conclusion emphasizes the necessity of integrating a temporal approach into public policy, educational models, and psychosocial support programs for the population. Only through a profound understanding of the temporal mechanisms of motivation, memory, and self-reflection can we create a genuinely humane existential space, in which time ceases to be a burden or a source of trauma and instead becomes a resource for both personal and national development.