Cognitive and emotional features of decision-making by military personnel under combat stress (literature review)

In the context of combat operations, military personnel are constantly in situations that require psychological resilience. Encountering combat stress is an integral part of military activity, accompanied by significant physical and psycho-emotional strain, and often leads to the deterioration of soldiers' mental health, complicating the decision-making process. This creates an urgent need to develop effective strategies for psychological support and adaptation after combat stress exposure. The aim of this study is to search for and analyse modern scientific literature to systematise data concerning the cognitive and emotional features of decision-making by military personnel under combat stress. In the process of research, the method of system analysis, comparative and bibliosemantic methods were used. The cognitive and emotional characteristics of decision-making under combat stress were examined. The study highlights the complexity and variability of behavioural, cognitive, and emotional reactions to combat stress. It was found that cognitive and emotional factors are key components of the decision-making process, emphasising the importance of timely and effective psychological support following combat stress. It is emphasised that personal traits of military personnel – such as psychological resilience, adaptability, resilience (hardiness), internal potential, emotional regulation, motivation and persistence, as well as high levels of positive emotions and low levels of anger, impulsivity, anxiety, and vulnerability – contribute to effective decision-making in stressful conditions. It was established that the effects of combat stress can vary significantly depending on individual traits and the cognitive and emotional characteristics of the military personnel. Further research will focus on studying the effectiveness of various psychological interventions aimed at reducing the negative consequences of combat stress, as well as analysing their impact on the cognitive and emotional characteristics of military personnel. Keywords: post-traumatic stress disorder, stress management, stress resistance, individual characteristics.