Peculiarities of experiencing a midlife crisis in men taking part in military operations

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study aimed at studying the characteristics of midlife crisis experienced by men taking part in military operations. It has been found that a long stay in a combat zone changes a logic of crisis development, suspending or blocking the development of experiences in the direction of individuation. For combatants, in comparison with representatives of civilian professions, the need for identification with a group of their own becomes priority. The solution to the main task of this age period - the realization of generativity - becomes possible thanks to mentoring, support and care for those who are nearby. The authors emphasize the special importance of the time factor. In the context of military actions, subjectivity in the perception of the flow of time is especially evident in two polar strategies: full living (time as a container of life) and avoidance (killing time).