Common Roles of Military Psychologists On The Ground
The military by nature finds its truest purpose in chaotic and trauma filled situations. These situations can include the front-lines of battle or the disaster scenes they are providing relief-aid for. Though many psychologists may have an understanding to a humans response to traumatic situations. Many military psychologists shine here. While the soldiers may be providing psychical aid to the victims of events, the military psychologists are providing aid to both soldiers and victims as they cope with the circumstances of whatever has transpired.
Keeping along the the same intensity lines as the previous example, military psychologists often study, train people in, and consult on hostage negations. Though the psychologists might not be the one directly handling the situation, many principles used are psychology principles straight from the playbook of the military psychologists.
Another highly common area for Military psychologists is in Fit for Duty evaluations. Due to the fact that military life poses a set of unique challenges, fit for duty evaluations seek to allow the military to maintain its structured workplace by maximizing retention of incoming service men and women while minimizing violence. There are both basic entry examinations and examinations conducted when individuals are seeking higher clearance status, specialized working conditions, and when commanders become concerned about the mental state individuals working under their command. These evaluations must be conducted by non-biased individuals and need to examine as much of past history as possible.
Another use of military psychology is in interrogation of prisoners who may provide information that would enhance outcomes of friendly military operations or reduce friendly casualties. Psychology principles applied here allow the interrogator to get as much information without crossing the Geneva Convention's guidelines.
Read more about this topic: Military Psychology
Famous quotes containing the words common, roles, military and/or ground:
“The aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be, first to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of the society; and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous whilst they continue to hold their public trust.”
—James Madison (1751–1836)
“A concern with parenting...must direct attention beyond behavior. This is because parenting is not simply a set of behaviors, but participation in an interpersonal, diffuse, affective relationship. Parenting is an eminently psychological role in a way that many other roles and activities are not.”
—Nancy Chodorow (20th century)
“Weapons are an important factor in war, but not the decisive factor; it is people, not things, that are decisive. The contest of strength is not only a contest of military and economic power, but also a contest of human power and morale. Military and economic power is necessarily wielded by people.”
—Mao Zedong (1893–1976)
“To say that authority, whether secular or religious, supplies no ground for morality is not to deny the obvious fact that it supplies a sanction.”
—A.J. (Alfred Jules)