Exploring the Relevance of the Systems Psychodynamic Approach to Military Organizations

Abstract

The psychological demands of the military profession have been a focal point of reflection in military studies, yet not from the perspective of organizational science. This chapter explores the relevance of the systems psychodynamic perspective for the military organization. It discusses historical examples to reflect on the differences between armed forces that sustained both a form of social psychological integration and operational effectiveness and those that did not. Subsequently, it focuses on contemporary missions and considers how their characteristic structural configurations influence the ability of operators to deal with the psychological demands of such missions. In doing so, it considers the relationship between structural features of military organizations and the means available to operators for dealing with the psychological demands intrinsic to their profession.