The influence of emergency situations on the psychological state of the victims is shown. Their frequency, typical for the modern world, carries threats to life and personal dangers. The negative thing is that emergency situations occur suddenly and at night, are accompanied by disruption of communications, and in cases of natural disasters, a sharp deterioration in weather conditions occurs. It has been proven that 12-15% of persons in emergency situations retain self-control, the ability to rationally assess the situation, to act clearly and decisively even in the most difficult conditions. The basis for this is the level of psychological protection that is formed in everyday activities. The reaction (passive, active) of people to emergencies is revealed. In some, the sense of danger turns into feelings of doom and inevitability, they become completely helpless, confused, incapable of purposeful actions (for example, to protect). Others – under the influence of a threatening situation, they feel the rise of spiritual and physical strength, they can begin to act more persistently and tirelessly. In some people, the instinct of self-preservation causes a desire to escape, to avoid threatening circumstances, in others it mobilizes and tunes in to active actions. Speaking about assessing the negative impact of certain adverse factors that arise during emergencies, one should distinguish between normal and pathological reactions of people. In the first case, the psychological clarity of the reaction becomes important, its occurrence, as a result of an emergency, and mainly a short duration. The working capacity of a person is preserved (albeit reduced), there is contact with people around him, and a critical assessment of his actions remains. Six stages of behavior of people caught in an emergency situation are identified, the behavior of each stage is characterized. Under the influence of stress factors, there is a risk of pathological changes in the structure of the personality, which are the basis for the development of personal disharmony. To reveal individual and collective methods of protecting people in emergency situations (a person's desire to go beyond the influence of harmful factors (to avoid danger, to protect himself, etc.). Panic was revealed as the most dangerous and negative factor caused by real or perceived danger, which may involve one or more people.