By: Alexandria Addesso
Ah militarism, it is the basic bread and butter of the United States and many other modern and premodern states. To join a branch of the military and “serve” one’s country is perceived as one of the most honorable and noble professions among the masses. Recruiting officers visit high schools and start junior ROTC programs to get students in the militaristic spirit early while video games and movies involving war scenarios further familiarize and normalize the waring lifestyle. But what are the psychological ramifications of a state that is not just militarized on the battlefield, but the home-front as well?
The U.S. spends more money on the military than on any other department. They fund many hours of basic training that conditions soldiers to become killing machines devoid of “cowardice” and low on compassion.
“The secret about basic training is that it’s not really about teaching people things at all. It’s about changing people so that they can do things they wouldn’t have dreamed of doing otherwise,” said the commentator of “Anyone’s Son Will Do”, a PBS special on basic training.
But basic training is just the introductory steps that teaches soldiers to be loyal to the state and its interests above all else, to hate their enemies with a passion, and perceive themselves as superior to civilians. Yet, this is only the beginning. Major psychological changes are not usually perceived until a soldier comes home from serving. Between 11 and 20 percent of soldiers who served during Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and or Operation Enduring Freedom, the last two major military campaigns, reported suffering from ‘Post Traumatic Stress Disorder’ (PTSD) according to the Veterans Administration (VA). War veterans may also suffer from substance abuse, depression, and thoughts of suicide. According to a study released by the VA an average of 20 veterans commit suicide daily.
While militarism is devastating to the soldier, it also reach home and affects civilians. Due to a surplus of funds from the war on drugs and domestic post- 9/11 operations, many police departments were able to outfit their officers with paramilitary gear and weapons meant for the battlefield. The “weapons effect” suggests that when individuals have access to weapons they are more prone to using them and acting violent in situations that could otherwise end peacefully.
“Guns not only permit violence, they can stimulate it as well. The finger pulls the trigger, but the trigger may also be pulling the finger,” said Leonard Berkowitz, an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin and one of the proponents of the weapons effect.
This seems to be the case in many cities across the U.S. that deal with police brutality.
Communities that protest such violence seem to be affected by it all the more as police officers suit up in combat gear. Ferguson, MO seems to be a perfect example of this. Such militarization of the police leads to only more distrust from the public being that they are treated more like they are under strict occupation rather than holders of citizenship and inalienable rights.
Ah militarism, it is the basic bread and butter of the United States and many other modern and premodern states. To join a branch of the military and “serve” one’s country is perceived as one of the most honorable and noble professions among the masses. Recruiting officers visit high schools and start junior ROTC programs to get students in the militaristic spirit early while video games and movies involving war scenarios further familiarize and normalize the waring lifestyle. But what are the psychological ramifications of a state that is not just militarized on the battlefield, but the home-front as well?
The U.S. spends more money on the military than on any other department. They fund many hours of basic training that conditions soldiers to become killing machines devoid of “cowardice” and low on compassion.
“The secret about basic training is that it’s not really about teaching people things at all. It’s about changing people so that they can do things they wouldn’t have dreamed of doing otherwise,” said the commentator of “Anyone’s Son Will Do”, a PBS special on basic training.
But basic training is just the introductory steps that teaches soldiers to be loyal to the state and its interests above all else, to hate their enemies with a passion, and perceive themselves as superior to civilians. Yet, this is only the beginning. Major psychological changes are not usually perceived until a soldier comes home from serving. Between 11 and 20 percent of soldiers who served during Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and or Operation Enduring Freedom, the last two major military campaigns, reported suffering from ‘Post Traumatic Stress Disorder’ (PTSD) according to the Veterans Administration (VA). War veterans may also suffer from substance abuse, depression, and thoughts of suicide. According to a study released by the VA an average of 20 veterans commit suicide daily.
While militarism is devastating to the soldier, it also reach home and affects civilians. Due to a surplus of funds from the war on drugs and domestic post- 9/11 operations, many police departments were able to outfit their officers with paramilitary gear and weapons meant for the battlefield. The “weapons effect” suggests that when individuals have access to weapons they are more prone to using them and acting violent in situations that could otherwise end peacefully.
“Guns not only permit violence, they can stimulate it as well. The finger pulls the trigger, but the trigger may also be pulling the finger,” said Leonard Berkowitz, an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin and one of the proponents of the weapons effect.
This seems to be the case in many cities across the U.S. that deal with police brutality.
Communities that protest such violence seem to be affected by it all the more as police officers suit up in combat gear. Ferguson, MO seems to be a perfect example of this. Such militarization of the police leads to only more distrust from the public being that they are treated more like they are under strict occupation rather than holders of citizenship and inalienable rights.
