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 common experience is, that the man fits himself as well as he can to the customary details of that work or trade he falls into, and tends it as a dog turns a spit. Then he is part of the machine he moves; the man is lost.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882)
“There is a striking dichotomy between the behavior of many women in their lives at work and in their lives as mothers. Many of the same women who are battling stereotypes on the job, who are up against unspoken assumptions about the roles of men and women, seem to acceptand in their acceptance seem to reinforcethese roles at home with both their sons and their daughters.”
—Ellen Lewis (20th century)
“In early times every sort of advantage tends to become a military advantage; such is the best way, then, to keep it alive. But the Jewish advantage never did so; beginning in religion, contrary to a thousand analogies, it remained religious. For that we care for them; from that have issued endless consequences.”
—Walter Bagehot (18261877)
“When the ground was partially bare of snow, and a few warm days had dried its surface somewhat, it was pleasant to compare the first tender signs of the infant year just peeping forth with the stately beauty of the withered vegetation which had withstood the winter ... decent weeds, at least, which widowed Nature wears.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)