Deployments are periods when military personnel is away from their families for an extended amount of time, usually due to war or peacekeeping missions. During these times, it can be difficult to maintain emotional closeness, trust, and commitment.
There are several psychological processes that help sustain such feelings even when apart from loved ones.
One process is called social penetration theory. This theory states that people gradually reveal more personal information about themselves through different stages of intimacy as they get closer to each other. When soldiers communicate regularly while deployed, they may feel closer than ever before because they share more intimate details about their experiences during this stressful time. They may also share feelings of anxiety, fear, loneliness, and homesickness, which creates a bond between them. Sharing these thoughts and emotions helps build trust and commitment, allowing both parties to rely on each other more deeply than usual.
Another process is mirroring. Mirroring involves mimicking another person's behavior, body language, or tone of voice unconsciously. It has been shown to strengthen relationships by making both parties feel understood and validated. When soldiers experience deployment, they may find themselves in unfamiliar situations with little support outside of their unit. By mirroring one another, they show understanding and compassion, which helps foster a sense of connection and belonging. This type of empathy-building allows couples to stay close despite being physically separated.
Self-disclosure plays a role in sustaining emotional closeness, trust, and commitment during deployments. Self-disclosure involves sharing personal information voluntarily. When deployed soldiers open up to their partners about their worries, frustrations, and challenges, it shows vulnerability and builds trust.
Sharing stories of successes and accomplishments can boost confidence and create a stronger bond.
The combination of social penetration theory, mirroring, and self-disclosure help maintain strong ties even when apart from loved ones.
Which psychological processes support sustained emotional closeness, trust, and commitment during deployments?
Sustaining emotional closeness, trust, and commitment during military deployments can be achieved through different psychological processes. Firstly, maintaining open and frequent communication between partners is essential to keep the relationship strong despite distance. Regular check-ins via phone calls, video chats, emails, letters, etc. , help couples stay connected and avoid feeling disconnected.