The study of how emotions and cognition interact is a relatively new field that has been studied since the late 19th century. It started as an attempt to understand why people feel certain emotions when they do, but it has since evolved into more nuanced investigations into how those emotions affect thought processes. One area of research that has seen significant growth in recent years is the effect of stress on cognitive performance. Stress can be broadly defined as a physical or mental reaction to an adverse event, such as a threat or challenge. When someone experiences stress, their body responds physically by releasing hormones such as cortisol and norepinephrine, which prepare them for action. This preparation process includes increased heart rate, dilated pupils, and a heightened state of alertness. The resulting feelings are often described as anxiety, fear, anger, or excitement.
When it comes to combat situations, soldiers face unique challenges due to their environment and role requirements. In addition to the physical danger they may encounter, they must also make quick decisions under extreme pressure while maintaining situational awareness. This combination of factors makes understanding the effects of relational stress on cognitive performance crucial for military personnel.
One study conducted on US Marines found that higher levels of relationship satisfaction were associated with better performance on tasks related to memory recall and decision-making. Specifically, married or cohabiting marines performed better than single marines during simulated combat scenarios involving small arms fire.
Those who had recently received mail from home performed better than those without any contact from loved ones.
This study did not consider other potential confounding variables, such as age or training level.
Another study looked at the impact of different types of stressors on cognitive functioning among Israeli Air Force pilots. They found that individuals experiencing social stress (i.e., feeling lonely or isolated) had worse cognitive performance than those facing physical stress (i.e., being in danger). Similarly, cognitive ability was lower among pilots who reported high levels of workload compared to low levels of workload. These findings suggest that both social and physical stress can have negative effects on cognition, but the type of stressor matters.
Research suggests that emotions play an important role in cognitive performance under conditions of stress, including in combat environments. The specifics of how these relationships play out will likely depend on the individual's experiences and context. Future studies should investigate the effects of various types of stressors and identify ways to mitigate their effects.
Providing opportunities for social support or engaging in relaxation techniques may help improve cognitive performance among soldiers.
How does relational stress interact with cognitive performance under combat conditions?
Relational stress is defined as "the extent to which an individual experiences strain in their social relationships" (Goldberg & Kern, 2016). It can affect cognitive functioning by increasing feelings of anxiety, tension, and distress that lead to heightened arousal levels and impairment of attention and memory retrieval processes (Smyth et al. , 2013).