PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF INFORMATION PERCEPTION: HISTORY OF FORMATION AND SIGNIFICANCE FOR SERVICE MEMBERS OF THE UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES

Abstract

The article presents a historical overview of the development of concepts regarding information perception as a complex psychological process originating from antiquity and subsequently elaborated upon within philosophicaland psychological sciences. Through an analysis of classical philosophical ideas and scholarly research – from theviews of ancient philosophers such as Aristotle and Epicurus, proceeding through the theoretical insights of RenéDescartes and John Locke, and encompassing the empirical contributions of Wilhelm Wundt, Gestalt psychologists, as well as contemporary psychophysiological and cognitive theories – the paper elucidates the evolving perspectiveson the nature and mechanisms of perception. Special attention is paid to the pioneering research of Wilhelm Wundt, who was among the first to experimentallydemonstrate that perception is not a passive reception of sensory inputs, but rather involves an active integration of incoming information with an individual’s prior experiences through the process of apperception. Additionally, thesignificant contributions of Gestalt psychology representatives are highlighted, particularly their explanations of how diverse sensory signals are organized by the brain into unified perceptual structures guided by the principles of figure-ground relationship, proximity, similarity, and other Gestalt laws.The article underscores that modern psychology views perception as a multilevel process involving not merelythe reflection of objective attributes of the environment, but also the active utilization of prior knowledge, cognitiveschemata, anticipations, emotional-motivational states, and socio-psychological factors. A particular emphasis is placed on the critical importance of accurate information perception for service members of the Armed Forces ofUkraine, as it directly influences the precision of operational and tactical analyses, timely decision-making, the preservation of human lives, and the maintenance of high combat effectiveness within military units. It is noted that perceptual errors under combat conditions can lead to severe consequences, resulting in significant humancasualties and material losses. Consequently, psychological training for military personnel should comprehensively incorporate cognitive, emotional, and socio-psychological dimensions of perception.