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Most current studies in the psycholinguistic analysis of universal values have only focused on the representation of those values in everyday linguistic consciousness. Little attention has been paid to professional linguistic consciousness. This indicates a need to identify the strategies of understanding universal values used by different professional groups as well as the dynamics of linguistic consciousness. Consideration of the contents of the universal value "Safety" is of vital importance for any modern society. In today's world people feel anxious because of rapid social, economic and political changes. The aim of this study was to verbalize the contents of the universal value "Safety" on the basis of the data obtained in the course of free association experiments conducted at several universities, the Military Academy and from the materials of "The Russian Associative Dictionary". A comparative analysis of associative fields allowed to single out common and professionally determined components of the linguistic consciousness of different respondent groups and to identify linguistic consciousness dynamics. As for the differences, the impact of professional training was revealed in the perception of the universal value by cadets of the Military Academy. Moreover, the data analysis showed an increase in the professionally determined components in the associative fields of military graduates. Thus, the psycholinguistic analysis of universal values affords an opportunity to understand how one and the same concept may manifest in both everyday and professional consciousness and also draws attention to the need for deeper understanding of this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]