PSYCHOLINGUISTIC DIMENSION OF WAR METAPHOR: FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL DEFENSE MECHANISMS TO SELF-REGULATION STRATEGIES

Abstract

The article explores the psycholinguistic dimension of war metaphor as a tool of psychological defense and
self-regulation in the context of armed conflict. The authors argue that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has
radically transformed the national linguistic landscape, turning metaphor from a stylistic trope into a fundamental cognitive mechanism of adaptation. The theoretical framework combines cognitive linguistics (G. Lakoff,
M. Johnson) and psychoanalytic tradition (A. Freud), which conceptualize metaphor as a way of structuring
reality and defense mechanisms as unconscious strategies of coping with trauma. War metaphor functions as a
“cognitive shield”, enabling servicemen to distance themselves from traumatic experiences, reduce anxiety, and
mobilize inner resources. The empirical part is based on a survey of National Guard of Ukraine servicemen (n=40),
which revealed specific linguistic models in collective consciousness. The findings demonstrate the dominance
of strategies of mindful presence (42.5%), goal-setting and planning (22.5%), cognitive reappraisal (17.5%),
and social support (15%). Dehumanizing nominations of the enemy (“orcs,” “meat,” “fertilizer for Ukrainian
soil”) combine mechanisms of intellectualization, projection, and rationalization, thus reducing inner conflict in
performing violent actions. Self-regulation metaphors (“compressed spring,” “autopilot,” “recharging”) reflect
the soldiers’ attempts to manage their psychophysiological states. Comparative analysis of media discourse and
military speech highlights the contrast between heroic models (“War is a path,” “War is a struggle for life”) and
pragmatic frontline models (“War is work”). The practical value of the study lies in the possibility of applying
metaphorical modeling as a tool for preventing secondary traumatization and maintaining mental health of defense
forces personnel. The article offers a novel interdisciplinary approach to analyzing linguistic practices under combat
conditions, integrating cognitive-linguistic and psychological perspectives, and opening new avenues for further
research in psycholinguistics, military psychology, and communication studies.