THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO UNDERSTANDING PERSONALITY SELFPRESERVATION

Abstract

The article provides a theoretical analysis of the concept of personality self-preservation in the context of contemporary psychological science. Various approaches to understanding psychological self-preservation are presented: humanistic, cognitive, existential, and systemic-personal. Humanistic psychology interprets self-preservation not merely as an instinctive reaction, but as a conscious striving to maintain integrity, dignity, and existential meaning. According to the ideas of C. Rogers, A. Maslow, V. Frankl, and R. May, self-preservation is associated with authenticity, self-actualization, the preservation of the self-concept, and the meaning of life even under critical conditions. In the cognitive-behavioral approach (A. Beck, D. Dobson), emphasis is placed on the formation of adaptive cognitive schemas, the transformation of dysfunctional beliefs, and the development of emotional regulation skills, which enable psychological stability and prevent self-destructive behavior. The systemic-personal paradigm (R. Lerner, J. Virna, et al.) views self-preservation as an integrative capacity of the individual to maintain internal coherence, self-identity, and moral autonomy amid changing circumstances. Within this approach, special emphasis is placed on subjectivity, the multilevel organization of personality, and adaptation as essential conditions for preserving life balance. Ukrainian researchers highlight the importance of personal resources, self-regulation, reflection, and value orientation as mechanisms of self-preservation. Particular attention is given to professional self-preservation in helping professions, where chronic emotional strain may lead to burnout, disrupting mechanisms of psychological stabilization. Self-preservation is seen not as a passive defense but as an active internal process that combines flexibility, autonomy, and inner resilience. The necessity of integrating various theoretical approaches is substantiated in order to form a holistic understanding of psychological self-preservation as a factor of mental health.