It’s the question that has intrigued psychologists since the 1940s: are all humans capable of killing someone?
Perhaps the most famous exploration of this debate came from the infamous post-Holocaust experiments on obedience by American researcher Stanley Milgram.
The Jewish researcher wanted to know whether a unique quality among the German population could explain why so many complied with Hitler’s violent demands.
He was shocked by the findings: Under the right circumstances, each of us is capable of blindly following orders, no matter how aggressive.
This is a phenomenon that psychologist Dr. David Shanley knows all too well.
The Denver-based therapist has spent most of his career supporting the mental health of both civilians and veterans trained to kill on the battlefield.
Rates of mental illness among active military personnel have fluctuated over time, but peaked in 2012, a year after the end of the Iraq War
Basic training for all branches of the military includes core discipline and leadership lessons on top of physically grueling exercises and marksmanship
“Officers force the idea of kill or be killed on their recruits as part of basic training,” he told DailyMail.com.
“And then they end up in these chaotic war zones where it’s just them and the other guy.
‘There is a natural protective instinct that takes over. They don’t debate the morality of battlefield issues.”
Dr. Ryan Fuller, a Psychologist from New Yorkagrees that the action in war zones proves that ‘if they are in a certain situation, they can be deadly.
“I don’t think without the training that the military provides, someone wouldn’t be able to pull the trigger as easily.”
Humans were evolutionarily primed to do whatever maximizes their chances of survival. When the human body is confronted with a threat, it goes into the fight or flight response.
Signals are sent throughout the body to optimize it for survival; either by running as quickly as possible in the opposite direction, or by fighting the threat head-on.
However, studies show that the flight response is more common in such situations, with most people choosing to avoid the risk associated with fighting back.
But experts told DailyMail.com that military training – including drills and disciplinary measures – is intended to temper soldiers’ immediate impulse to drop weapons and run in the opposite direction of the enemy.
These training methods prioritize quick, instinctive reactions over deliberate, conscious decision-making.
Basic training procedures vary depending on the military branch. The Army’s protocol consists of physical fitness programs, obstacle courses, combat skills, weapons and marksmanship.
Dr. Ryan Fuller, a New York-based psychologist, told DailyMail.com that with the right training, such as what members of the military undergo, almost anyone could be capable of killing another.
Dr. William Smith, a graduate psychotherapist in Georgia who works with veterans, told DailyMail.com: ‘Some people say that they did very well in basic training, that they were recognized for their leadership skills, that they became a platoon leader, something like that.
“And then other people will say it was absolutely miserable. Some feel that the way some of the training is conducted is tantamount to emotional abuse.”
While much attention is paid to the catastrophic impact that war zones have on soldiers’ mental health, experts say that many of those who kill in combat actually have relatively little fascination with their actions.
One Vietnam veteran told psychologists that killing others was ‘no big deal’.
“I didn’t feel anything negative at all,” he said. “It was exciting and I couldn’t wait to get out there and do it again.
“I never really thought about, you know, they trained us great and you go out there and do your training. . . . I don’t feel bad.’
Another former soldier said it was “not that difficult” to kill someone. ‘It It didn’t bother me when I was in that situation,” he said.
‘For us it’s kill or be killed; your friends were murdered. If you’re going to kill me, I’m going to kill you. So for me it was easy. Actually, I don’t feel any guilt about it.’
Experts say some of this relaxed attitude may be partly explained by the type of person drawn to a battlefield career.
Particularly, a person who has a tendency toward aggression or violence, and is fiercely patriotic.
Dr. Smith said: “I’ve talked to a lot of people who do things like special operations, infantry, artillery, they probably have a profile that likes to take charge.
“I honestly think some people kind of enjoy it, probably those who join the military for that exact job.”
Selena Soni, op clinical social worker Arizona, who often sees combat veterans, added, “I feel like the soldiers entering basic training come with the idea that I can do whatever is asked of me for the service of my country, my platoon.
“I don’t know what kind of personality type that dedication to country and service has. But it’s definitely there.’
A sense of camaraderie can also motivate people to do acts that make them uncomfortable.
Jonathan Lubecky, an Iraq war veteran, has used psychedelics to overcome his PTSD
According to official U.S. military guidelines: “The strongest motivation for sustained combat, especially for American soldiers, is the bond that develops between members of a squad or platoon.”
For many veterans, however, the guilt, shame and mental turmoil after pulling the trigger leads to serious mental health and relationship problems.
Jonathan Lubecky, an Army and Marine Corps veteran, has done just that found relief from his PTSD in the field of psychedelics, the latest development in the treatment of mental disorders and the consequences of traumatic brain injury.
Lübecky was stationed in Iraq when, while using the toilet, an enemy mortar fell on him. He was left with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury.
And Prince Harry revealed he has also struggled with PTSD since childhood when his mother died.
In 2020, approximately 5.2 million veterans are believed to have behavioral disorders, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. And PTSD may affect as many as 20 percent of Iraqi war veterans.
Prince Harry revealed he has suffered from PTSD since the death of his mother when he was a child. His wife Megan Markle helped him through it
The number of active duty service members experiencing mental illness fluctuates over time and may be linked to certain military operations.
For example, the prevalence of mental illness among military personnel has risen steadily since 2005, two years after troops invaded Iraq and a year after they were involved in a six-week offensive in Fallujah, Iraq.
It was the bloodiest battle of the war, killing about 110 coalition troops and wounding 600.
Those numbers rose steadily until 2012, a year after all troops left Iraq and the war there ended.
A 2013 report from researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, who recruited 227 veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, found that those who died in combat were twice as likely to be among the most symptomatic PTSD sufferers. belong, compared to those who did. don’t kill.
They said: ‘The combination of threat to life, loss of comrades and murder can understandably lead to greater difficulties in recovery from combat exposure.’
There is evidence that killing in combat can cause significant psychological distress. And according to Dr. Smith, more often than not, the veterans he meets do it out of a sense of obligation rather than a sense of zeal to kill the enemy.
‘I’ve talked to people about it who were quite indifferent. I don’t know if anyone has said they openly enjoy it, but some people will say they are proud of doing what they had to do.”
But feelings of guilt and shame are common among this group, according to psychologists who study veterans.
One of the veterans interviewed said: ‘I think you are ashamed of what you did. You know you were trained for that and it sticks with you. I think sometimes I feel very sad.
“I’m proud to be a soldier who tried to do something I thought was good for the country. But it’s hard to be a soldier. It tears you loose from your moral fiber. It changes your life.’
Another vet put it this way: “I didn’t know why I would feel so bad if I didn’t do anything wrong. I wasn’t a baby killer. I wasn’t, I was doing my job. I did what everyone else did. But always that nagging question: why am I in so much pain?’
The experts say that those who seek their help have usually reached the point where they are finally ready to talk about their experiences.
Ms Soni said: “They are a truly resilient group of individuals.
“I think we’re seeing so much about the higher rates of mental illness. And I know that’s all true, but I think sometimes we also forget to talk about all their strengths.”
