Psychology And The Soldier

PSYCHOLOGY fcf THE SOLDIER PSYCHOLOGY AND THE SOLDIER, BY F. C. BART LETT, M. A. Fellow of St Jo7m s l allege Cambridge, Reader in Experimental Psychology and Director of the Psychological Laboratory of the University of Cambridge CAMBRIDGE AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS MCMXXVH PREFACE DURING the Great War of 1914 1918 every important belligerent country called upon its psy chologists for technical advice and assistance, and by common consent much of the work done proved of the greatest value. When the War was over and courses of Military Study were being re-organised in Cambridge, lectures dealing with psychology in relation to military problems were begun. They were due to the initiative of Dr C. S. Myers, C. B. E., F. R. S., who was then Director of the Cambridge Psychological Laboratory, and who had been Official Psychologist to the British Expeditionary Force in France, and Lieut.-Col. L. H. Thornton, C. M. G., D. S. O., who was then Director of Military Studies at Cambridge. These lectures have been continued since that time, and I have been respon sible for them for the last six years. The present book is a selection from the lectures delivered in connexion with this Course. It does not in any way pretend to be a complete treatment of the relations of Psychology to the soldier and to his life. It is merely an introduction to an important field of applied psychology which has in the past been unduly neglected. I am very greatly indebted to Brig.-Gen . E. W. Costello, V. C., C. M. G., C. V. O., D. S. O., Director of Military Studies at the University of Cambridge, PREFACE for his encouragement and help in the production of this small volume. He read through the whole of 4he typescriptand made a number of exceedingly valuable comments and criticisms, many, though not all of which, I have most gladly accepted. It will be obvious to every reader that some of the questions discussed, particularly in Part II, are of a controversial character, and for the opinions ex pressed or adopted therein I must accept all re sponsibility. I should also like to say that the plan and mode of discussion have gained greatly from the criticisms and difficulties freely expressed by many students during the years of my lectures. To them, also, I am grateful. That the treatment is, as a whole, expressed in general terms and may often appear somewhat theoretical is inevitable in a book of the present size, or, indeed, of any size short of a series of large volumes. There is no need to remind the soldier that every man must learn for himself how to apply that modification of general principles which will solve specific practical problems. F. C. BARTLETT CAMBRIDGE, September 24, 1927 CONTENTS Preface ....... page v General Introduction I PART ONE CHOOSING TRAINING THE RECRUIT Chap. I The General Examination Testing the Special Senses . . . . 13 II The General Examination Testing Intelligence . . . . .22 III Tests of Special Abilities . . - 38 IV Training Bodily Skill . . . .51 V Practice and Motives in Learning Bodily Skill 65 VI The Study of Fatigue . . . 77 PART TWO LEADERSHIP, DISCIPLINE MORALE I Appetite and Instinct Groups . . 91 II Interest, Sentiment, and Ideal Groups . 100 III The Nature and Importance of Social Change 108 IV Discipline and Punishment . . .118 V Discipline and Suggestion . . . 128 VI Leaders and Leadership . . . 138 VII Morale with special reference to Group Games 152CONTENTS PART THREE MENTAL DISORDERS OF WARFARE Chap. I The General Background . . .167 II The Normal Soldier in War . . 174 III Conversion Hysteria . . . .180 IV Anxiety Neurosis . . . .189 V Predisposing Conditions . . . 196 VI Methods of Treatment . . . 203 A Review and Some Suggestions . .216 via GENERAL INTRODUCTION IF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON had been accused of being a psychologist, his reply would probably have been brief but very emphatic. On one occa sion, however, he was trying to state the qualities of a great captain...