We Are Warriors: The Psychology of Men at War

Abstract

Military service is a uniquely demanding occupation, requiring individuals who are able to execute difficult tasks under intense pressure. The benefits of strong masculine beliefs around strength, honour and courage to prepare a force for war are readily apparent, but such beliefs may have negative consequences when the time for conflict has passed. This chapter provides a brief insight into the British Armed Forces’ psyche by exploring the current and historic thinking and practice that underpins these masculine beliefs, and their effects on help-seeking and adjustment processes in current and former service personnel. The authors hope that the chapter will be of interest to a general audience, especially professionals working with male service and ex-service personnel in healthcare, social and welfare settings.