Psychological characteristics of combatants personality ²¹⁴⁵

Results of a psychological examination of soldiers experiencing stress in combat situation indicate that extreme conditions directly related to the performance of professional tasks, cause specific personality disorders at various levels, from minor signs of maladjustment to pathological level of mental disorders, in almost all categories of military specialists. This paper describes a study of soldiers personality conducted by the author in the Amputation Department of a Military Hospital. The study identified two groups: military personnel who took part in fighting, and soldiers who did not participate in fighting. All of them faced the consequences of extreme situations and were adapting to civilian life. The study analyzed long-term effects of participation in combat, depending on period of stay in the zone of conflict.

Keywords: combat trauma, PTSD, combat stress, soldiers’ personality, combatants, long-term effects, neurotic state.

Column: Psychology of safety