In contemporary Russian perinatal psychology, the theory of gestational dominance is used as a model for understanding how pregnancy reorganizes a woman’s attention, emotions, and behavior. The idea goes back to A. Ukhtomsky’s theory of the dominant – a stable focus of excitation that directs behavior – and was later applied to pregnancy by the physiologist I. Arshavsky. I. Dobryakov then described the psychological component of gestational dominance as a system of mental self-regulation mechanisms shaping a woman’s attitude towards pregnancy, the unborn child, and childbirth.

In perinatal psychological practice, the physiological aspect is important, but the psychological component of gestational dominance is especially useful. Dobryakov distinguished five variants: optimal, anxious, euphoric, hypogestognostic, and depressive. The optimal variant is associated with a responsible yet not excessively anxious attitude to pregnancy: the woman accepts bodily and life changes, follows medical recommendations, and emotionally engages with the future child. Non-optimal variants differ from one another: the anxious type is marked by fear and expectation of danger; the hypogestognostic type by a tendency to “ignore” the pregnancy; the euphoric type by unrealistic idealization; and the depressive type by low mood and feelings of helplessness.

Empirical studies suggest that this typology has practical value. Research on coping strategies and the crisis of pregnancy has linked the optimal type to greater hardiness, more productive coping, and lower anxiety, whereas non-optimal types were more often associated with avoidance, rigid psychological defenses, and emotional distress. Some observational studies also report associations between non-optimal types and a more complicated course of pregnancy and childbirth, while the optimal type tends to coincide with a more favorable subjective and clinical background. Nevertheless, the concept should be treated not as a universal diagnosis, but as a clinical-psychological model for assessing adaptation to pregnancy.

Thus, the theory of gestational dominance is valuable because it connects the physiology of pregnancy with a woman’s psychological life and gives specialists a language for identifying psychological difficulties early. Today it is used in counseling, childbirth education, and perinatal support programs, especially when professionals need to understand what kind of support may help form a steadier and more caring attitude towards pregnancy and future motherhood.