It’s a question that has intrigued psychologists since the 1940s. “Can all humans kill others?”
Perhaps the most famous exploration of this argument comes from American researcher Stanley Milgram’s infamous post-Holocaust experiment on obedience.
The Jewish researcher wanted to know whether the unique characteristics of the German people could explain why so many people complied with Hitler’s violent demands.
He was shocked by the discovery. Under the right circumstances, we can all blindly follow orders, no matter how aggressive.
This is a phenomenon that psychologist Dr. David Shanley is familiar with.
The Denver-based therapist has spent the best years of his career supporting the mental health of civilians and veterans trained to kill on the battlefield.
Rates of mental illness among active-duty military personnel fluctuated over time, but peaked in 2012, the year after the Iraq war ended.
Basic training for all branches of the military includes physically demanding drills and marksmanship, as well as core discipline and leadership lessons.
“Police officers force recruits to think kill or be killed as part of their basic training,” he told DailyMail.com.
“And they end up in a chaotic war zone with themselves and another man.
“The natural defensive instinct takes over. They’re not debating the morality of the issue on the battlefield.”
Dr. Ryan Fuller, a New York-based psychologist, agrees that war zone behavior proves that “people can be killers in certain situations.”
“I don’t think people can pull the trigger as easily without the training that the military provides.”
Humans have been evolutionarily primed to do anything to maximize their chances of survival. When faced with a threat, the human body goes into a fight or flight response.
Signals are sent throughout the body to optimize it for survival. Either run as fast as you can in the opposite direction or fight the threat head-on.
However, research shows that the flight response tends to be more common in such situations, and most people choose to avoid the risks associated with fighting back.
But experts told DailyMail.com that military training, including drills and disciplinary actions, is aimed at suppressing soldiers’ immediate urge to drop their weapons and run in the opposite direction of the enemy.
These training methods prioritize quick, instinctive reactions over deliberate, conscious decision-making.
Basic training procedures vary by military branch. Army protocols consist of physical fitness programs, obstacle courses, combat techniques, weapons, and marksmanship.
Dr. Ryan Fuller, a New York-based psychologist, told DailyMail.com that with proper training, such as that received by military personnel, just about anyone could become capable of killing another person. .
Dr. William Smith, a licensed psychologist who works with veterans in Georgia, told DailyMail.com:
“And others would say it was truly harrowing. Some feel the way some trainings were conducted amounted to mental abuse.”
While much attention has been focused on the devastating effects of combat zones on soldiers’ mental health, experts say many of those killed in combat are actually relatively unfazed by their actions. It has said.
A Vietnam veteran told a psychologist that killing others was “no big deal.”
“There were no negative emotions at all,” he said. “It was very exciting and I couldn’t wait to get out there and do it again.
“I never really thought about it, you know, they train us great and you go out and train. . . . I don’t feel bad. ”
Another former soldier said it was “not that difficult” to kill someone. ‘that “When I was in that situation it didn’t bother me,” he said.
“For us, it’s kill or be killed. Your friends were being killed. If you’re going to kill me, I’ll kill you. So for me it was easy. Really guilty. There is no.”
Experts say some of this relaxed demeanor may be partially explained by the type of people attracted to careers on the battlefield.
Specifically, it refers to a person who has aggressive or violent tendencies and a strong sense of patriotism.
Dr. Smith said: “I’ve talked to a lot of people who are in special forces, infantry, artillery and other activities, and they probably have a profile where they like to take charge of things.
“Honestly, I think there are some people who enjoy it to a greater or lesser extent, probably the ones who joined the military for that very job.”
Selena Soni, a clinical social worker in Arizona who frequently sees veterans, says, “My sense is that soldiers entering basic training are not doing what is expected of them for the military. I think he has the idea that he can do anything,” he added. My country, my platoon.
“I don’t know what type of personality is so dedicated to country and service. But it’s definitely there.
Fellowship can also motivate people to engage in behaviors that make them feel anxious.
Iraq war veteran Jonathan Lubecki used psychedelics to overcome PTSD
According to official U.S. military guidelines, “The greatest motivator for enduring combat, especially for U.S. soldiers, is the bond formed between members of a squad or platoon.”
But for many veterans, the guilt, shame, and emotional anxiety that follows a trigger lead to serious mental health and relationship problems.
Jonathan Lubecki, an Army and Marine Corps veteran, found relief for his PTSD with psychedelic drugs, the latest in the field of treating mental disorders and the effects of traumatic brain injury.
Lubecki was stationed in Iraq when an enemy mortar shell fell on him while he was using the restroom. He was left with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury.
Prince Harry also revealed that he suffered from PTSD as a child after his mother died.
In 2020, approximately 5.2 million veterans are said to be suffering from behavioral health disorders such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And PTSD may affect as many as 20 percent of Iraq War veterans.
Prince Harry has revealed that he has suffered from PTSD since losing his mother when he was young.His wife Megan Markle (right) helped him get through it.
The number of active-duty military personnel with mental illness has fluctuated over time and may be correlated with specific military operations.
For example, rates of mental illness among military personnel have steadily increased since 2005, two years after the military invaded Iraq and one year after the six-week offensive in Fallujah, Iraq.
It was the bloodiest battle of the war, with approximately 110 Allied troops killed and 600 wounded.
These rates rose steadily until 2012, a year after all troops withdrew from Iraq and the war in Iraq ended.
A 2013 report by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, who recruited 227 veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, found that those who died in combat had the most symptoms of PTSD compared to those who died in combat. It turns out that they are twice as likely to be included in a patient. Don’t kill.
They said, “The combination of threat to life, loss of comrades, and killings may understandably make recovery after exposure to combat more difficult.”
There is evidence that homicidal acts in combat can cause significant psychological distress. And Dr. Smith says the veterans he meets often “do it out of a sense of duty,” not out of a passion to kill the enemy.
“I’ve talked to people about this and they’ve been indifferent. I don’t know if anyone would say they’re overtly enjoying it, but they’re saying they’re proud of doing what they’re supposed to do. There will be people.”
But psychologists who study veterans say feelings of guilt and shame are common in this group.
“I think he’s ashamed of what he did,” said one veteran interviewed. You know you’ve been trained to do that, and it stays with you. I think it can be very sad at times.
“I’m proud to be a soldier who tried to do what he thought was right for his country. But being a soldier is hard. It tears at your moral fiber. It changes your life. ”
Another vet said: “I didn’t understand why I felt so bad when I hadn’t done anything wrong.” I wasn’t the baby killer. I wasn’t. I did my job. I did what everyone else was doing. But I always wonder, why am I hurting so much?”
Experts say people who seek help usually reach a stage where they are finally ready to open up about their experiences.
“They’re a really resilient group,” Soni said.
“I think we know a lot about the high prevalence of mental illness. And while we know that’s all true, we sometimes forget to talk about their strengths. I think there is.”
