Psychophysiological peculiarities of combat activities in the mountains

Introduction. The paper contains some data explaining psychophysiological specifics of combat activities in the mountains. In the late 20th - early 21st century the world witnessed some military events which took place in the mountainous landscape. Natural geographical, weather and climate conditions and the mountainous landscape significantly influence soldiers’ feelings, perceptions, motor activity, motivation, psychic states and combat interaction. The functioning of the soldier’s psyche on different heights has significant peculiarities. The ability to adjust to height, prevent and overcome unfavourable impact of the symptoms of mountain sickness is the advantage in combat confrontation. It is the complex of various psychophysiological factors caused by the conditions in the mountains and entailing the specifics of combat activity and military servicemen performance in the mountains that is the subject-matter of the research. Materials and Methods. The following methods were employed to achieve the goal: methods of studying documents and scientific literature. The methodological basis for the research were individual social activity approach (Dyachenko M. I., Fedenko N. F., Korchemny P. A.) and resource approach (Karayani A. G.) to the analysis of the psychological side of combat activity; provisions on laws of changes in functioning of the soldier’s psychophysiological system in the highlands (Platonov K. K.). Methods of formal and dialectical logics and comparative methods were used. Results and Discussion. Highlands create specific, extremely hard conditions for combat activity. The impact the mountains have on the military servicemen’s physiological processes, psyche and behaviour is determined by the specifics of their geographical and climate conditions, landscape features. Not infrequently specific and severe conditions of highlands are no less a challenge than counteracting the enemy. The mountainous environment and landscape influence the soldiers’ perception of the combat situation, bring additional physical load, cause psychic tension and unfavourable symptoms of mountain sickness which hinder their carrying out combat tasks. Conclusions. Commanders and military psychologists are to anticipate, thoroughly consider psychophysiological specifics of the conditions in the highlands, focus on the optimization of the military servicemen’s psychological aptitude to combat in the mountains. When training the squads to perform in the mountains it is necessary to create the conditions similar to the real combat environment.