The PsyCreative Column

  There is a thin, often overlooked line existing between research and ethics.  If you ever took the time to sit and read about all the clandestine and heinous acts of crimes that military officers were put through, you’d be in for a real surprise. The stories of these experiments were buried deep inside the pages of history, undisclosed to the eyes of most, until recently; the more you dive into the depths of these experiments, the more you’ll start questioning the reality that you live in. Let’s turn back time to the mid 90s to get an idea about where it all began. With the World Wars, came a surge in the need to develop different areas of research using experimentation. Although it seemed like a way to bring about improvement in the world, its aftermath resulted in more damage than it did good. The mid 20th century marked the birth of once secretive, but now infamous experiments which led to military destruction. Given the countless number of unethical experiments to pick f...

       Military deployment is not only a challenge faced by the soldiers themselves, but also by their families. The toll it takes on family dynamics, mental health, and overall well-being is profound. In this blog, we'll delve into the multiple aspects of the impact of deployment on soldiers’ families, combat stress, resilience, effective treatments, family dynamics, stress during deployment, and the intricate reasons why some individuals facing unstable home situations may find solace in joining the military. Every coin has two sides, and similarly, when a soldier is deployed it's not merely a journey for him but rather  a collective experience their family members also go through. The relationships within a family are heavily affected when a loved one is deployed. The physical absence of a family member during deployment leads to emotional distance and strain, which leaves members longing for connection.  There is a constant fear of losing a loved one an...

  Since World War II, militaries have employed psychologists in a range of important roles - job classification, morale studies, military research, and the provision of mental health services. As warfare changes, psychologists increasingly have been embedded in military units to address dynamic mental health needs. Military psychologists often find themselves compelled to compromise their professional ethics. The military environment presents several unique situations infrequently encountered in most traditional healthcare settings, creating the potential for several conflicts. Ethical challenges in military psychology are multifaceted and include issues related to confidentiality, informed consent, potential harm to participants, and the dual loyalty dilemma where psychologists may be torn between their duty to the military and their ethical obligations to individual well-being. A breach of the provider-client relationship compromises the objectivity and effectiveness of the helpi...

  The role of leadership has a profound influence in the field of military psychology and  on the mental well-being and performance of soldiers. This blog delves into the diversity of leadership styles in a military context, exploring the psychological impact that it has on the individuals serving under a command. Each leadership style plays a unique role in influencing the behaviour of military personnel in terms of motivation, psychological well-being, performance, etc. The four major ones are authoritative, transformative, laissez-faire and adaptive.It's important to understand and adapt leadership styles based on the nature of military operations, so commanders can create a resilient and motivated force who would be capable of navigating the complexities of modern warfare.   Authoritative leadership is characterized by clear directives and a strict adherence to discipline. This approach is commonly found in traditional military structures, where orders needed to ...

  Throughout history, LGBTQ+ members of the military have faced discrimination and exclusion. Through 2010, it was against the Department of Defense policy to openly identify as gay or lesbian in the US military. Transgenders were not allowed to serve until 2016 and were prohibited again under the Trump administration until 2021. In the last decade, societies have witnessed a significant change in their attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community and have become more accepting. This positive change can be seen in various fields, including the military. However, In India, Despite the Supreme Court’s judgment in 2018 striking down a part of Section 377 and decriminalizing homosexual activity, homosexuality continues to be considered an offense in the Indian armed forces. In January 2019, former Army Chief General Bipin Rawat insensitively stated at a press briefing that "LGBT issues are not acceptable in the army."  The military presented a unique set of obstacles for LGBTQ+ individu...