The article is called "How do extreme situations influence shifts in sexual preferences or interests among soldiers?"
In many movies and books, there are scenes where soldiers form romantic relationships while being deployed to serve their country. These stories usually depict these love affairs as short-lived because they end when the soldier returns home.
It has been reported that some soldiers continue such relationships after returning from deployment. This phenomenon has prompted researchers to investigate whether extreme situations can influence shifts in sexual preferences or interests among soldiers.
Research studies have found that extreme situations like warfare lead to soldiers engaging in risky behavior due to boredom, stress, and exposure to death and trauma. Such behaviors include substance abuse, gambling, reckless driving, and unprotected sex. Unprotected sex can expose soldiers to diseases and pregnancy. Thus, they may choose to practice safer sex by engaging in same-sex intercourse instead of heterosexual intercourse.
Soldiers also tend to develop intimate bonds during deployment, which could explain why some continue dating after deployment. When soldiers go through an intense experience together, they forge strong emotional ties that make them feel comfortable with each other. This bond leads to a sense of security, support, and trust. Once back at home, they want to maintain this connection, leading to long-distance romances between two people who share a unique life experience.
Not all soldiers who engage in homosexuality do so out of necessity. Some soldiers have always preferred men over women but never acted on their desires until extreme circumstances forced them to.
Some soldiers report having crushes on male comrades before deployment. The closeness of living conditions during deployment pushes these individuals to act upon their feelings, resulting in temporary same-sex relationships.
Other soldiers report engaging in bestiality while deployed to cope with the horrific sights they encounter daily. They find comfort in animals' companionship, viewing them as nonjudgmental creatures that accept them regardless of their actions. Animal copulation helps these soldiers deal with their sexual frustration without feeling guilty or ashamed. It is a common occurrence among soldiers who are not interested in humans anymore due to trauma experienced during warfare.
Further research should explore why some soldiers turn to prostitution while on duty. Soldiers may use prostitutes to release stress and relieve themselves of the pressures of war.
It remains unclear whether such behavior is driven by a need for intimacy or just pure pleasure.
Extreme situations like war can influence shifts in sexual preferences or interests among soldiers. These changes occur due to boredom, stress, trauma, and exposure to death. While some soldiers choose safer sex practices, others experiment with homosexuality, bestiality, and prostitution for various reasons. Future research should investigate how military leaders handle these changes to create policies and interventions that help soldiers maintain their emotional and physical wellbeing.
How do extreme situations influence shifts in sexual preferences or interests among soldiers?
The extreme situation of being deployed as a soldier may result in changes in one's sexual preferences or interests due to various factors such as separation from loved ones, stressors related to the war environment, and socialization with other soldiers.