The exposure to humanitarian crises is one of the most challenging experiences for soldiers who have been trained to respond to extreme situations with courage, discipline, and perseverance. They are expected to be alert and ready to act quickly while protecting civilians from danger.
These same events can also affect their emotional state and long-term relational values such as empathy and compassion. In this article, I will explore how soldier's exposure to humanitarian crises alter long-term relational values such as empathy and compassion.
One way that exposure to humanitarian crises alters relational values is through increased awareness and understanding of others' suffering. Soldiers witness people facing extreme adversities daily, which can change how they view life and its meaning. This experience may lead them to become more aware of other people's needs and feelings, leading to an increase in empathy.
When soldiers see children starving or homeless due to conflict, they realize that there is much work to be done in their communities to improve social conditions. These experiences make them more compassionate towards those affected by similar situations in their personal lives. The soldiers learn to care deeply about helping others without expecting anything in return.
Another way humanitarian crises impact relational values is through exposure to trauma. Traumatic events like war or natural disasters often result in psychological damage that soldiers carry back home with them after deployment. As a result, they find it difficult to form healthy relationships based on love, trust, and intimacy due to the impact of PTSD or depression caused by combat stress. It would help if you considered how these experiences changed your perception of the world around you and affected your ability to relate with others authentically. You might have seen images from Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, or Haiti that moved you profoundly and made you reflect on your place in this world. These memories can remain in your mind long after the mission ends and may affect your future interactions with loved ones.
In addition to changes in emotional responses, soldier's exposure to humanitarian crises alters their behavioral patterns toward vulnerable populations. They develop a deep understanding of people's struggles and challenges as they help victims overcome obstacles every day. This experience allows them to identify common denominators among diverse groups of individuals who share similar needs or problems. Therefore, they become less judgmental about cultural differences, preferences, or lifestyles compared to civilians who don't face such life-threatening situations daily.
Soldier's exposure to humanitarian crises changes their perspectives on life itself – its fragility and preciousness. Soldiers witness firsthand what happens when institutions fail or collapse during emergencies; they also learn not to take things for granted anymore since anything could happen at any time. Thus, they appreciate small moments with family members more than before because they know how quickly everything can change without warning.
They are grateful for opportunities to give back to society through charitable organizations or volunteer work since it helps build resilience against adversity by developing coping strategies rooted in empathy and compassion rather than fear or anger over past traumas endured while serving abroad.
How does the soldier's exposure to humanitarian crises alter long-term relational values such as empathy and compassion?
The soldier's exposure to humanitarian crises can potentially have both positive and negative effects on their long-term relational values, particularly those related to empathy and compassion. On one hand, witnessing the devastating consequences of natural disasters or manmade conflicts can lead to a heightened sense of empathy for others who are suffering from similar situations.