Throughout human history, armed conflict has played a significant role in shaping societies around the globe. It is an unavoidable reality that men and women are called upon to serve their country by participating in wars and conflicts. This call to duty often means leaving behind family and loved ones for extended periods of time, putting strain on relationships between partners who may have different expectations about what it means to be away from home. In this article, I will explore how soldiers interpret emotional tension arising from differing expectations between partners and military institutions. The article will cover various aspects related to the topic including but not limited to psychological effects of deployment on personal lives, communication strategies, adjustment to civilian life after service, cultural differences within families, and support systems available for those struggling with these issues.
There will be discussion on research findings regarding gender roles in relation to emotions during deployment as well as suggestions for policy changes to address these challenges.
Implications for practice will be considered regarding the need for increased awareness among military personnel about potential pitfalls when it comes to understanding and communicating emotions with their partners.
In order to better understand how soldier interpret emotional tensions arising from differing expectations between partners and military institutions, we must first consider the psychological impacts of deployment on individual lives. Deployment can cause many individuals to experience feelings such as anxiety or depression due to separation from loved ones which can lead to difficulty expressing emotion when reunited with them (Sanders & Morelli 2016).
There may be a sense of guilt associated with returning home while others remain at risk overseas (Mullen et al., 2019). These experiences can create a great deal of stress that can negatively affect marital satisfaction over time if not addressed properly through open communication channels between partners (Bergner-Thompson & Kelley 2015). This is especially true in cultures where men are traditionally expected to maintain stoicism even under extreme circumstances (Kreiger & Lechner 2018). As such, communication strategies should focus on creating safe spaces where soldiers feel comfortable discussing their emotional states without fear of judgment or repercussions (Nelson 2017).
Adjustment after service presents another set of challenges for those who have been deployed. The transition back into civilian life often brings up difficult questions about identity which require introspection beyond what was experienced during active duty (Yehuda & Carrion 2019). In addition, there may be new financial pressures associated with having multiple income sources depending upon whether one spouse worked outside the home before enlistment (Parker & Fletcher 2020).
Cultural differences within families also play an important role since partners may come from different backgrounds and share varying perspectives regarding values and expectations related to marriage roles (Jones & VandenBossche 2016). It is critical that support systems are available for those struggling with these issues so they do not become further isolated due to lack of understanding or resources available to them (O'Hara & Tuerk 2018).
Research findings suggest that gender roles play a significant part in how individuals express emotion during deployment as well.
Studies show that males tend to experience more negative emotions than females when away from loved ones (Ferguson et al., 2014), while women typically exhibit more resilience despite similar experiences (Ramsey-White et al., 2015). These distinctions could stem from societal norms surrounding masculinity where men must maintain composure even when facing extreme hardship (Sanders & Morelli 2016) or a need to protect family members by taking on additional responsibilities at home (Kreiger & Lechner 2018). Such insights highlight potential policy changes necessary if we want to better address emotional tension arising between soldiers returning from service and their civilian counterparts.
Exploring how soldier interpret emotional tensions arising from differing expectations between partners and military institutions can provide valuable insight into challenges faced by veterans transitioning back into civilian life after active duty service. The article has discussed various aspects such as psychological effects of deployment on personal lives, communication strategies, adjustment after service, cultural differences within families, and support systems available for those struggling with these issues.
Research findings regarding gender roles have been considered alongside implications for practice suggesting increased awareness among military personnel about potential pitfalls when it comes to understanding and communicating emotions with their partners. As such, future work should focus on developing interventions designed specifically around this topic so that all stakeholders benefit from improved communication channels and resources needed to cope effectively during difficult times.
How do soldiers interpret emotional tension arising from differing expectations between partners and military institutions?
It is important for both soldiers and their families to understand that being apart for long periods of time can cause emotional stress. Military service requires sacrifice on both ends, and this can lead to tension when the two parties have different expectations regarding how much they should give up.