Soldiers are individuals who serve in military organizations and have specific roles and responsibilities within them. Their identities are shaped by their experiences in the military, which can include training, missions, deployments, and interactions with fellow soldiers.
Their personal identities may also shape how they relate to others. This can create tension when there is a conflict between personal and institutional identities, such as when a soldier's romantic relationship clashes with military regulations.
Personal identity refers to an individual's self-image, values, beliefs, and attitudes that are unique to themselves. These identities may be based on factors like race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, socioeconomic status, education, culture, family background, physical appearance, personality traits, interests, hobbies, and more. Institutional identity, on the other hand, refers to the norms, expectations, and values of the organization or group to which an individual belongs. In this case, the military has its own set of values, rules, and expectations for behavior and conduct.
When personal and institutional identities come into conflict, it can impact the decisions made by soldiers in their relationships.
If a soldier has strong religious or cultural beliefs about dating and marriage, but the military requires them to live on base with someone else, this could lead to tensions in their relationship. If a soldier falls in love with someone outside of their unit, they may face pressure from both sides to choose one over the other.
One common area where this conflict arises is sexuality and intimacy. Soldiers may have different preferences and desires than those allowed within the military, leading to feelings of guilt, shame, or isolation. They may feel pressured to hide aspects of their identity or engage in behaviors that contradict their personal values.
Soldiers who serve alongside close friends and colleagues may develop emotional bonds that challenge traditional ideas about friendship and loyalty.
The complex interplay between personal and institutional identities can create challenges for soldiers' relational decision-making. They must navigate competing loyalties, prioritize conflicting demands, and balance their individual needs with the requirements of the military. It is important for organizations like the military to recognize and support soldiers' diverse identities while also maintaining standards and regulations for conduct and behavior.
How does conflict between personal and institutional identity influence soldiers' relational decisions?
The question suggests that there is some sort of conflict between the soldier's personal identity (their beliefs, values, attitudes) and their institutional identity (the military rules, regulations, norms). This can have various effects on their decision-making process when it comes to relationships with other people. One possibility is that they may feel torn between these two identities and struggle to make sense of them both.