What studies have shown is that, whatever their reason for joining, soldiers fight for the other guys in their unit. To create that, it is necessary for the military to make the soldiers identify with each other and to assume responsibility for each other in an altruistic manner.
Giving them a "bogeyman" is one method, but it almost requires a continued element of outward antagonism to reinforce and maintain the group identity because that almost becomes the definition of the group's common factor.
I should think a better way to do the same thing is to reduce their individuality and then provide them with object lessons that require them to function only as a team based on the situation, both in situations with antagonists and without. Give positive and negative reinforcement as a group...
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momijizukamori and
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Date: 12 Oct 2006 02:42 (UTC)What studies have shown is that, whatever their reason for joining, soldiers fight for the other guys in their unit. To create that, it is necessary for the military to make the soldiers identify with each other and to assume responsibility for each other in an altruistic manner.
Giving them a "bogeyman" is one method, but it almost requires a continued element of outward antagonism to reinforce and maintain the group identity because that almost becomes the definition of the group's common factor.
I should think a better way to do the same thing is to reduce their individuality and then provide them with object lessons that require them to function only as a team based on the situation, both in situations with antagonists and without. Give positive and negative reinforcement as a group...