Young soldiers face unique pressures during their time serving in the military due to the strict rules and regulations that govern their behavior. One area where these expectations can have a particularly significant impact is in their ability to connect emotionally with others. In this essay, I will explore how the contrast between institutional expectations of emotional control and personal needs for connection can affect young soldiers' psychological adjustment.
Institutional Expectations of Emotional Control
The military places great emphasis on maintaining order and discipline among its members. This means that soldiers are expected to follow strict guidelines regarding everything from their appearance to their interactions with others.
They may be told not to express strong emotions such as anger or sadness, even when dealing with difficult situations. They may also be discouraged from forming close bonds with their fellow troops out of fear that it could weaken their loyalty to the unit or distract them from their duties.
Personal Needs for Connection
Despite these restrictions, many young soldiers still yearn for emotional connections with those around them. Research suggests that social support plays a critical role in promoting mental health and well-being, especially during times of stress. When soldiers feel isolated or disconnected from others, they may become more vulnerable to depression, anxiety, and other negative mental health outcomes.
Consequences of Contrasting Expectations
When institutional expectations conflict with personal needs for connection, young soldiers may experience psychological distress.
They may feel guilty about breaking the rules by forming close relationships with their peers or repress their feelings to maintain a facade of stoicism.
This can lead to burnout and resentment towards the military system. It can also contribute to difficulties in maintaining relationships once they return home, as they struggle to readjust to civilian life after years of suppressing their emotions.
Supportive Environments
There are steps that institutions like the military can take to create more supportive environments for young soldiers. This includes providing opportunities for socialization and emotional expression within regulated guidelines.
Some units may hold regular gatherings where members can share stories or talk through their experiences without breaching confidentiality protocols. Others may allow limited forms of emotional expression while on duty, such as letting troops cry together in times of tragedy. By acknowledging the importance of emotional connection and finding ways to accommodate it safely, institutions can help young soldiers adjust to military life and prepare for successful transitions back into civilian society.
The contrast between institutional expectations of emotional control and personal needs for connection can have significant impacts on young soldiers' psychological adjustment.
By creating supportive environments that recognize the need for emotional connections, institutions can help them navigate these challenges and achieve positive outcomes.
How does the contrast between institutional expectations of emotional control and personal needs for connection affect young soldiers' psychological adjustment?
The need for close social connections and support is a basic human need, and this is especially true for individuals who are experiencing traumatic events such as warfare (Coleman et al. , 2015). This need becomes problematic when military regulations dictate strict adherence to institutional norms that do not allow for open expressions of emotion, resulting in an apparent conflict between one's personal needs and professional expectations.