Psychology 2990A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Modern Warfare, Nuclear Weapon, Dcf Interframe Space
30 Apr 2018
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Chapter 10- Military Psychology:
The nature of conflict:
• We are species engages violent behavs against each other= aggressive, combative, social
animal
• Wars start when side A cannot agree w side B, over some issue, and are unable/
unwilling, use non-agg comm to resolve our difs- decide agg conflict way forward, form
strats and execute plan hope results us winning dispute
• Decide how much willing sacrifice, how many lives willing lose secure victory
• Want to ensure have nec means win another conflict- should need arise/ least protect and
defend what have left
• Gen context planning and dev strats conflict and peace- war room (real world truces and
formal military orgs)
The psychology of war versus military psychology:
• Psych of war- concerned all elements combat- psych principles applied within context
combative env where casualties anticipated= necessity include highly specific topics ex:
being among casualties part of job and soldier must become immune emotional effects
but seeing ones friend die might have dif effect= specialized psych treatment
• Military psych more gen- application psych principles and methods to military needs,
military psych not so much separate field psych, but def area application: military
personnel and organizations ex: effects combat env on soldier and research regarding
effects env factors present everyday, non-combat life ex: effects fam at base/
reassignments
The historical context of psychology and war:
• Discipline psych not emerged until late 19th cent, application psych to war been common
since ancients ex: Sun Tzu (c.500 BC) argued that central leadership and psych
manipulation elements of success- lure through advances and take control by confusion
• Importance healthy morale among soldiers noted by Greek mercenary Xenophan 2
millennia ago- Napoleon reinforced centuries later
• Many topics pertinent war room today as imp were 2000 years ago, in spite changes tech,
weaponry and combat practices
The intimate relationship between technology and war:
• Metal one most important elements tech during ancient times= armour (used early 7th
cent BCE)- iron first transformed chain armour, by 1500s full bodysuits
• Iron expensive and many resources poor qual, leather and skins still used as protective
gear
• Modern warfare around 1500 coincides w dev gunpowder and architectural mastery
shipbuilding
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• Tech dev explosives, aircrafts and ships such as submarines transformed nature war, part
in 20th cent, culminating in nuclear bomb
• Recent tech advancement changed 21st cent combat= drone warfare- reduce casualties
and facilitates combat in area zones otherwise not access but excessive collateral damage
civilian life and rel ease w which anyone can dev crude drones, making readily avail any
gov/ terrorist group
Assessment, selection and training:
The first world war:
• Starting point modern military psych Allied military forces needed answers to important
qs ex: assessment and selection- prob discovering, efficient and speedy manner, recruits
unfit military service ex: intelligence and training recruits weapons and realities combat
• First formal opp psychs fit worker to job
• Task analyses- way ident actions task required and could devise series standard qs
discrim b/w recruits make good fighters and those good pilots- couldn’t guarantee
reliability and validity b/c no expertise research design and data analysis
• Limit extent could guarantee accurate prediction recruit’s ability perf standardized test-
caution against over-interp recruit’s fitness perform military task basis perf exam alone
• Easy devise tests det unfit, but dif det fit candidate- don’t take into account other factors
may have effect recruit’s ability perf military task
• Many factors should be considered if selection and training to be eff, including
temperament- doesn’t reflect single trait and det variety personality factors, such as
ability and popularity, ease new sits etc= make building and training eff army simplified
The beginnings of personal selection:
• Result in Army Examinations Alpha, those recruits could read and Army Examinations
Beta, those recruits couldn’t read, used screen million recruits- starting point many pop
areas psych inquiry, esp those now considered under trad headings org and occupational
psych
The second world war:
• Tech advancements changed manner war conducted, selection tests had to change,
progressively more sophisticated- new probs allocation, how match to job= priority-
classified ability learn new tasks and ability work w others and under stressful sits
• WWI major model training soldier= apprenticeship/ vicarious learning= compatible w
notion on-the-job training, and effective all learn much everyday skills through social,
vicarious learning
• More succ repeated opp learn, and not under stress- war conds don’t afford new recruit
• 2 goals military training: equip recruit w some mastery skills nec perf military duties and
prepare recruit for conds of war
• Quick-kill training method- silhouettes pop up unexpectedly and soldier has to make
quick decisions fire/not (imp feedback on perf= help promote target accuracy)
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