Relational trust is a cornerstone of military success. It enables soldiers to rely on one another under pressure, coordinate their actions, share vital information, and make decisions quickly without micromanagement.
Emotions and impulses can negatively impact this trust. This research explores how relational trust buffers against these negative influences and supports high performance in demanding situations. By examining the psychological factors that contribute to trust and distrust, the study suggests practical strategies for fostering healthy relationships among team members. The findings have important implications for military leadership development programs and combat readiness training.
The military is a highly stressful environment where individuals must perform physically and mentally demanding tasks under extreme conditions. Emotional dysregulation, such as anger, fear, anxiety, and depression, can interfere with decision-making, communication, and cooperation. Impulsivity, or acting without deliberation, may result from these emotions and lead to poor judgment and dangerous behavior. To counteract this threat, soldiers must develop strong interpersonal bonds based on relational trust. Trust is a shared belief that others will act favorably towards them despite conflicting interests. It implies loyalty, dependability, honesty, openness, commitment, and reliability.
The study examined the relationship between relational trust and emotional regulation in two samples. In Sample A, participants completed measures of relational trust, emotional dysregulation, and impulsivity before completing a task involving cognitive processing under time constraints. Results showed that relational trust was positively associated with lower levels of emotional dysregulation and impulsivity. In Sample B, participants completed similar measures before engaging in a virtual reality simulation of combat with their peers. Relational trust was negatively related to emotional dysregulation but not impulsivity. These findings suggest that trust buffers against negative effects of emotions and impulses, but it does not eliminate them entirely.
Further research should investigate how leaders can promote healthy relationships among team members. Leaders should prioritize building trust through positive behaviors like listening, recognizing contributions, sharing information, and fostering a culture of collaboration. They should also address conflicts quickly and fairly to maintain high standards for trustworthiness.
Training programs should teach practical techniques for managing emotions and impulses, such as deep breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, and cognitive reframing. By combining these strategies, military organizations can create an environment where soldiers feel safe, supported, and empowered to perform at their best.
Relational trust is critical for success in military contexts, particularly when emotions and impulses threaten performance. This study provides evidence for its buffering effect on these factors and suggests practical applications for leaders and trainees. Future research should explore the nuances of relational trust, including its development, maintenance, and breakdown, and examine how other psychological variables may interact with it.
By understanding and leveraging this powerful force, military organizations can enhance readiness and resilience in demanding situations.
Can relational trust buffer against emotional dysregulation and impulsivity in military contexts?
In recent years, researchers have explored how relational trust may impact individuals' behavioral tendencies towards emotional regulation and self-control. Specifically, some studies suggest that trust may play an important role in regulating emotions and impulses in various military settings such as war zones (e. g. , Gillespie et al. , 2017; Hatcher & Zangeneh, 2019).