The concept of «civil defense» in mass consciousness (on the example of students/residents of specific regions)

Abstract

In the mass consciousness of Central Russia residents, the concept of civil defense appears as a dynamic multilevel mental structure integrating cognitive representations, emotional-evaluative attitudes, and behavioral patterns. Its content has undergone a radical transformation from an integral component of everyday life in the Soviet period, supported by systematic training exercises and visual propaganda, to a marginalized phenomenon of the post-Soviet era that is particularly evident in the consciousness of the younger generation. Associative fields demonstrate contrasting configurations: students are dominated by visually stereotypical reactions borrowed from mass culture (gas mask, bomb shelter, siren, war, EMERCOM), whereas representatives of older age groups are dominated by functional and activity-related elements (population protection, exercises, evacuation, warning, assistance). This reflects differences in historical memory, media images, and practical experience of interaction with the system. Quantitative indicators of awareness reveal a stable intergenerational decline in the cognitive component – from 67,1% correct answers among respondents aged 46-65 to 36,2% among students aged 18-25 – with the largest gaps observed in knowledge of shelter locations (36.2 p.p.) and the procedure for actions in case of chemical contamination (43.2 p.p.). The only comparable parameter is awareness of emergency service numbers, which is explained by digital literacy. The emotional-evaluative component is characterized by pronounced depersonalization among young people (a gap between state and personal significance of 1.23 points on the Likert scale), a tendency to perceive civil defense as a Soviet relic (average score 3.12), and a paternalistic orientation (3.67 points regarding the statement about the state’s exclusive responsibility), which correlate negatively with the level of knowledge. The behavioral component records an extremely low self-assessment of readiness to act in emergency situations (19,3% on average) and minimal participation in exercises and voluntary formations (10,2%). At the same time, regional differentiation (the leadership of the Tula region due to its military-industrial complex and hazardous production facilities) is less significant than age and educational factors. Analysis of the channels through which ideas are formed underscores the decisive role of systematic organized training in educational institutions and at enterprises compared to the fragmentary influence of the Internet, feature films, and personal experience. Cluster analysis makes it possible to identify three stable types of the concept – archaic (prevailing among 43% of students), functional (characteristic of older cohorts), and paternalistic – which illustrate different models of engagement with the security system. The data obtained indicate a systemic loss of intergenerational knowledge and motivation transfer. This determines the need for a qualitative transformation of educational practices toward practice-oriented modeling, the updating of contemporary threats including hybrid and informational ones, and the strengthening of environmental factors in order to form an adequate concept of civil defense as the foundation of a culture of life safety under conditions of increasing risks.