Understanding the Psychology of War

shahhian
5 hours ago
3 min read

Psychology of War:

The psychology of war explores how human thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are shaped and influenced by warfare, conflict, and violence. It is a multidisciplinary field drawing from social psychology, cognitive psychology, political science, neuroscience, and trauma studies.

Below are some of the core psychological themes and phenomena associated with war:

1. Possible Motivations for War

In-group vs. Out-group dynamics: War often arises from strong group identities, leading to us vs. them thinking (social identity theory).
Aggression and dominance: Some theories argue that humans have an innate tendency toward aggression (Freud, Lorenz).
Resource competition: Evolutionary psychology suggests that wars can be driven by the need for territory, resources, or reproductive advantage.

2. Combat Psychology

Desensitization: Repeated exposure to violence can reduce emotional responses, helping soldiers function in combat but harming long-term mental health.
Dehumanization: Viewing the enemy as less than human makes it psychologically easier to kill or harm.
Obedience and authority: Following orders (even immoral ones) is often explained through Milgram’s obedience studies and the “agentic state.”

3. Psychological Effects on Soldiers

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Re-experiencing trauma, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, and nightmares are common among veterans.
Moral injury: The inner conflict from violating personal ethics in war can lead to guilt, shame, and depression.
Resilience and bonding: Soldiers often report intense camaraderie (“brotherhood”) that helps them cope during conflict.

4. Civilian Psychology in War

Collective trauma: Entire populations can suffer long-term psychological effects from war (e.g., survivors of genocide or bombings).
Displacement and refugee stress: Being forced to flee leads to loss, uncertainty, and identity crises.
Children and developmental disruption: War exposure in childhood can cause attachment disorders, aggression, anxiety, and learning difficulties.

5. Propaganda and Psychological Warfare

Manipulation of belief: Propaganda alters public opinion, boosts morale, and dehumanizes the enemy.
PsyOps (Psychological Operations): Tactics designed to influence the perceptions and behaviors of adversaries or civilians.
Fear, control, and misinformation: Warfare often involves spreading fear and confusion to weaken resistance.

6. Peace Psychology

Focuses on conflict resolution, reconciliation, and restorative justice.
Examines how empathy, communication, and cooperation can prevent or resolve conflict.
Promotes understanding of how structural violence (poverty, oppression) contributes to war.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event — especially common among those exposed to war, combat, violence, or disasters. It affects soldiers, civilians, survivors of assault, refugees, and others who’ve lived through extreme psychological stress.

Core Symptoms of PTSD

PTSD is categorized into four primary symptom clusters:

1. Intrusion (Re-experiencing the Trauma)

Flashbacks (reliving the trauma)
Nightmares
Unwanted and distressing memories
Intense emotional or physical reactions to reminders (triggers)

2. Avoidance

Avoiding thoughts, conversations, or people that remind one of the trauma
Numbing of feelings
Avoiding places or activities associated with the trauma

3. Negative Changes in Thoughts and Mood

Guilt or shame
Persistent negative beliefs (“I’m broken,” “The world is dangerous”)
Emotional detachment or isolation
Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities

4. Hyperarousal and Reactivity

Irritability or angry outbursts
Difficulty sleeping
Hypervigilance (constantly on alert)
Exaggerated startle response

Causes and Risk Factors

Intensity and duration of trauma
Type of trauma: War and combat are especially high-risk.
Previous mental health issues
Lack of social support
Early childhood adversity or abuse

PTSD in War Veterans

May involve moral injury: deep spiritual or ethical distress from violating personal values.
Combat veterans often suffer from survivor’s guilt or identity disorientation.
Some veterans may also experience comorbid conditions: depression, substance abuse, or traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Brain and Body Effects

CONSULT WITH A PSYCHIATRIST

Amygdala becomes overactive (increased fear response).
Hippocampus shrinks (affects memory and context processing).
Prefrontal cortex becomes less active (reduced emotional regulation).
Chronic PTSD can dysregulate the nervous system and hormonal responses (e.g., cortisol).

Treatment Approaches

Psychotherapy

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Prolonged Exposure Therapy
Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Somatic Experiencing

Medications