Cognitive dissonance in veterans?

Question

How likely are veterans to experience cognitive dissonance with regard to their role in a war that they might normally consider (and most others DO consider) unnecessary, baseless or otherwise unjust?

You might think this is a commentary on the Iraq war. I won't deny that the Iraq war inspired it, but that's not what I'm asking about in particular. I think it could apply in general.

I'm especially interested in what people know about veterans of armies whom we all KNOW were in the wrong. Like Nazi troops.

What portion of Nazi veterans still feel like the war they were drafted into was right, just because they had a part in it?

W.W.D. -- that is a dumb comparison and you know it. If surgeons didn't cut their patients open, then the patients would die slow and painful deaths.
If a person is really in danger from another person, then it's not hard to act in self-defense. Who wouldn't cap a mofo who broke into his house and started raping his wife or daughter before his very eyes (which DOES happen sometimes)?

And Soldier-man below WDD: You're saying that the only reason you fight is to finish your tour and go home? Essentially, to get yourself out of the bullshit that you got yourself into?
And when you say George and Martha, do you mean someone named George who fights next to you and is married to a Martha?

Or do you mean George the Oil Baron and former President who, even if you DO fail, will flee the U.S. in his helicopter with his wife Martha and never look back, much less at YOUR broken body?

Oh and SessyBtch: you realize that you ARE the epitome of Donovan's Universal Soldier.
If I know that Universal Soldier well enough, you'll probably take it as a compliment =(

Answer 1

One thing to consider as you look at the "Nazi" troops. German troops were not Nazi troops. Most of the Germans fighting in WWII were patriotic. They were fighting just as we fight here in Iraq. Not for some ideology, but for their brothers in arms to the left and right.
I dont fight everyday in Iraq for the freedom of the Iraqi people. That is not my decision to make. I do my best to insure that they have all the advantages that I can give them.
What I fight for, is to make sure that every American Soldier that I came over here with makes it home with me to their families.
I do not feel like I am fighting "for my country" over here. But I am serving my country the best that I can.
I serve my country by being the best Soldier and training my Soldiers to be the best so that if I ever have to defend my country, I will be ready. I have to fight in this country because I am told to. Even if it is wrong to be here, I am not sorry. If I dont do my job, George may not ever get to go home to Martha. Then, I have failed.

Answer 2

I don't think the majority are going to have major problems in that regard. PTSD is enough. You see, the troops have a little better idea of what 4th generation war is about, and the public largely haven't a clue, so that's an advantage. And what you call cognitive dissonance, though perfectly acceptable jargon, entails its own biases. It would ordinarily take a mean SOB to cut somebody open without being really angry, but surgeons learn to compartmentalize as a perfectly normal coping mechanism that's totally appropriate.

Answer 3

This is a great question. Had to tip my hat to you. I have no idea. Though I have not been through the process myself, it does seem like there is intense effort put into conditioning troops to view "the enemy" as non-human. As a de-personalized abstraction, particularly to avoid the type of cognitive response you are describing.

Check out the writings of Howard Zinn. He was a bomber in the Pacific theater, WWII. He said he went about it like a technician. It was like a science project or a math problem from such a great height. But, he said interestingly, that his overwhelming sense from dealing with his fellow brothers in arms in the Army, Marines, the front lines -- he said that even though the cause was just it took incredible energy to overcome the fear and terror and horror of war and to fight and kill other men.

So, that would suggest that this sort of cognitive dissonace happens irrespective of the sense of righteousness of the cause. Part of his argument involves the extraordinary measures that must be put in place to prevent soldiers from desertion. The penalties of desertion and abandonment must be very very harsh for soldiers to carry through on their jobs.

So, I find this to be very convincing that it is very unnatural for man to kill another man, despite the cynical arguments otherwise -- which are mostly propogated by men who have never been to war -- such as the entire crew responsible for the current fiasco.

Sort of rambling here. Good luck. Check out Zinn. It's good **** on this subject.

Answer 4

Yup. And in the general population.