scholarly journals Identity Fusion in U.S. Military Members

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Hart ◽  
Steven L. Lancaster

Identity fusion, the visceral sense of interconnectedness between oneself and the members of a group, has been associated with military service anecdotally and examined among foreign military groups. However, no study to date has explored fusion and its relationship with functioning among U.S. military members. The aims of this study were (1) to examine the incremental predictive validity of fusion, (2) to examine the relationship between fusion and pro- and antisocial in-group behaviors, and (3) to determine how one’s attitude toward their military service may affect fusion. Data were collected via self-report using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk software. Results indicated that fusion predicted progroup beliefs and in-group helping behaviors above and beyond other indicators of military identity. Further, satisfaction with the military mediated the relationship between fusion and willingness to give time to other veterans. Identifying an important mediator of fusion expands upon earlier work in the field and suggests routes for future inquiry.

Author(s):  
Leana A. Bouffard ◽  
Haerim Jin

This chapter provides an overview of the literature examining the role of religion and military service in the desistance process. It also identifies outstanding issues and directions for future research. It first presents an overview of research examining the role of religion in desistance and highlights measurement issues, potential intervening mechanisms, and a consideration of faith-based programs as criminal justice policy. Next, this chapter covers the relationship between military service and offending patterns, including period effects that explain variation in the relationship, selection effects, and the incorporation of military factors in criminal justice policy and programming. The chapter concludes by highlighting general conclusions from these two bodies of research and questions to be considered in future research.


2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (13) ◽  
pp. 2237-2246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie A. Hom ◽  
Mary E. Duffy ◽  
Megan L. Rogers ◽  
Jetta E. Hanson ◽  
Peter M. Gutierrez ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundResearch is needed to identify the factors that explain the link between prior and future suicidality. This study evaluated possible mediators of the relationship between: (1) the severity of prior suicidality and (2) suicidal ideation severity at 3-month follow-up among a sample of high-risk military personnel.MethodsUS military service members referred to or seeking care for suicide risk (N = 624) completed self-report psychiatric domain measures and a clinician interview assessing prior suicidality severity at baseline. Three months later, participants completed a self-report measure of suicidal ideation severity. Three separate percentile bootstrap mediation models were used to examine psychiatric factors (i.e. alcohol abuse, anxiety sensitivity, hopelessness, insomnia, posttraumatic stress symptoms, suicidal ideation, and thwarted belongingness) as parallel mediators of the relationship between prior suicidality severity (specifically, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and overall suicidality – i.e. ideation/attempt severity combined) at baseline and suicidal ideation severity at follow-up.ResultsHopelessness, specifically, and the total effect of all mediators, each significantly accounted for the relationship between prior suicidality severity and subsequent ideation severity across models. In the models with attempt severity and overall suicidality severity as predictors, thwarted belongingness was also a significant mediator.ConclusionsHopelessness, thwarted belongingness, and overall severity of psychiatric indices may explain the relationship between prior suicidality severity and future suicidal ideation severity among service members at elevated suicide risk. Research is needed to replicate these findings and examine other possible mediators.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Tai Seih ◽  
Vi Thanh Tra ◽  
Marketa Lepicovsky ◽  
Yi-Ying Chang

The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused hundreds of millions of cases and millions of deaths, resulting in the development of COVID-19 phobia. To prevent getting COVID-19, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in many countries encourage people to protect themselves via several strategies, such as wearing face masks or using sanitizers when washing hands. However, at times, such supplies for preventing COVID-19 are limited. In this study, we examine the relationship between COVID-19 phobia and panic buying behavior from an economic perspective and test if identity fusion plays a buffering role for this phenomenon. Data was collected from September 4th to November 1st in 2020 across three countries (the United States, Germany, and Taiwan). A self-report measure of panic buying behavior was developed and culturally cross-validated. Moderation analyses were conducted focusing on the study objectives. Results show that the economic factor in COVID-19 phobia predicts panic buying behavior, and this effect is buffered by identity fusion. It is worthy to note that this buffering effect emerged only in the Taiwanese sample, not in the American or German samples. Implications of identity fusion theory in human behavior are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoe Fowler ◽  
Kyle Fiore Law ◽  
Brendan Gaesser

Empathy has long been considered central in living a moral life. However, mounting evidence has shown that empathy is often biased towards (i.e., felt more strongly for) close and similar others, igniting a debate over whether empathy is inherently morally flawed and should be abandoned in efforts to strive towards greater equity. This debate has focused on whether empathy limits the scope of our morality, with little consideration of whether it may be our moral beliefs limiting our empathy. Across two studies conducted on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (N= 604), we investigate moral judgments of biased and equitable feelings of empathy. We observed a moral preference for empathy towards socially close over distant others. However, feeling equal empathy for all is seen as the most morally and socially valuable. These findings provide new theoretical insight into the relationship between empathy and morality with implications for navigating towards a more egalitarian future.


2021 ◽  
pp. 001100002110513
Author(s):  
Kevin Delucio ◽  
Adrian J. Villicana ◽  
Monica Biernat

We examined the relationship between verbal disclosure of sexual orientation and mental health among gay Latino and gay White men. In Study 1, we recruited 164 gay Latino ( n = 81) and gay White ( n = 83) men via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Participants completed measures assessing the degree to which they verbally disclosed their gay identity to others, as well as their depression and anxiety symptoms. Increased verbal disclosure predicted better mental health among gay White men only; no statistically significant relationships emerged among gay Latinos. In Study 2, we recruited 281 gay Latino ( n = 130) and White ( n = 151) men via MTurk, in which feelings of shame and guilt independently mediated the relationship between verbal disclosure and mental health. Among gay White men, increased verbal disclosure predicted less shame and guilt, which predicted better mental health. These relationships did not emerge for gay Latinos.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-86
Author(s):  
Stanley Shernock

Most academic attention regarding military influence on policing has focused on critiques of the military model of policing and police militarization and has neglected to examine the relationship between the two institutions and the transferability of attributes and skills from the military to police. Military service itself, when examined, has been treated as an undifferentiated concept that has not distinguished the effects of organizational structure, leadership, and myriad roles and experiences on policing. This study, using data from a survey of law enforcement officers throughout a New England state, compares and analyzes how law enforcement officers and supervisors with and without military background and with and without deployment experience differ in their perspectives regarding both the positive as well as negative aspects of combat deployment on policing. As such, it has significant implications for both the reintegration and recruitment of combat-deployed veterans into police organizations.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ugur Orak ◽  
Alper Kayaalp ◽  
Mark H Walker ◽  
Kevin Breault

ABSTRACT Introduction Research indicates that military service involves stressors that may be related to depression. However, the military provides financial, educational, psychological, and social advantages that may help to mitigate the effects of service-related stressors. Because most prior research was based on cross-sectional data or small clinical samples, we explored individual-level trajectories of depression over time. Methods Data came from the restricted-use version of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) in four survey waves from 1994 to 2008, with a total of 1,112 service members, of whom 231 were female, and a total sample size of 13,544. Statistical estimation employed the multilevel growth curve modeling approach. Results Individuals who later served in the military had lower rates of depression than their civilian counterparts at year 1 of the study, and rates of depression decreased consistently for both groups throughout the study. Service members ended up with the same level of depression compared to civilians (year 14). Sex, race and parental education were unrelated to depression, and no evidence was found for the hypothesis that the military functions as a “bridging environment” to reduce depression by providing a more attractive alternative compared to civilian life. Conclusions Individuals who were less depressed at year 1 of the study were more likely to enlist into the military. While both civilians and service members displayed decreasing depression over the years of the study, military members had less decrease in depression over time beginning at a lower level of depression than civilian. Taken together, the minor differences in depression between the civilian and military samples and the lower level of depression among military members at the beginning of the study suggest that military service selects against higher levels of depression at the start of service and, given the known stressors related to the military, membership in the service may be associated with resilience to depression.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine Klussman ◽  
Nicola Curtin ◽  
Julia Langer ◽  
Austin Lee Nichols

Abstract The current research sought to better understand the effect of mindfulness on well-being by examining self-connection as a potential mediator. We define self-connection as: (1) an awareness of oneself, (2) an acceptance of oneself based on this awareness, and (3) an alignment of one’s behavior with this awareness. Based on this definition, we measured self-connection, mindfulness and well-being using two distinct samples and two different operationalizations of well-being. In Study 1, we recruited 101 people from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and asked them about their connection to themselves, mindfulness and flourishing. In Study 2, we surveyed an additional 104 people from MTurk, again measuring mindfulness and self-connection. However, this time we operationalized well-being as satisfaction with life. As expected, mindfulness predicted self-connection and well-being in both studies. Self-connection also predicted well-being and partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and well-being. These results suggest that mindfulness bolsters self-connection, which in turn increases people’s well-being.


Author(s):  
Mariana HASIAK ◽  
◽  
Maureen P. FLAHERTY ◽  
Nina HAYDUK ◽  
Sofiya STAVKOVA ◽  
...  

Introduction. While the military is viewed differently in Canada and Ukraine, inclusion of veterans into civil society is important for both countries. Transition from the military service to civilian life can be challenging. Therefore, the role of different institutions and organizations, that focus on trying to improve what is available for former soldiers and their families has to be discussed. The purpose of the article is to explore the role that higher educational institutions can and should play in assisting former military to better integrate into civilian society – civil society. Methods. Researchers conducted a literature review of journal articles and other relevant written materials as well as informal interviews with key informants. Results. Using the mixed methods of literature search, informal interviews with key informants, and observation, the article considers the way “veterans” are conceptualized in both Canada and Ukraine and how two particular universities in Canada and Ukraine now attempt to meet the needs of former military members, wondering how their needs may differ and be similar to other students of higher education. Originality. The article concludes that, since civil society in general has a responsibility to support veterans in their transition, and notes that there are gaps in both understanding of need and awareness/availability of appropriate resources, a full needs assessment is the next step. Conclusion. The authors recommend a pilot needs assessment at the LPNU in Lviv Oblast where a number of veterans have made their homes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 91-112
Author(s):  
Donghwan Lee ◽  
Yunyoung Jung

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the military service experience on the job experience. Although people have passionately focused on discussions on the transition of the conscription system, relatively few studies have been conducted on the relationship between the military service experience and the individual job experience. In addition, prior studies on the relationship between the military service experience and the job experience have produced inconsistent results, and have narrowly focused on quantitative labor market variables such as pay and employment status. To fill these research gaps, we conducted this study by simultaneously using the following quantitative and qualitative outcome variables: pay, employment status, job satisfaction, and perceived job-required capacities. In addition, we explained the study results using distinct halo and sigma effects from antecedent studies that used human capital theory and the screening effect for applying national differences between the USA and South Korea.


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