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Abnormal Psychology Essay
Abnormal Psychology Essay
Writing Assignment 5
Victoria M Freitas
Santa Fe College
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Writing Assignment 5
I believe the moral and ethical lines regarding the implementation of positive psychology
onto military soldiers have been fatally blurred. This is because the application of positive
psychology in the military functions under the assumption that war is unavoidable (and it is the
patriotic duty of psychologists to help soldiers become more resilient in combat), the fact that the
Army does not actually care about the soldiers mental health but rather their military goals,
and because training soldiers to undergo less distress when confronting death, destruction, and
efficient killers onto psychologists. War is not inescapable, and psychologists would actually be
perpetuating war and violence by making it easier for soldiers to execute in combat. I agree with
critics of this prospect who assert that we should encourage the use of positive psychology
principles to reduce conflict between nations, to prevent war, and to promote peaceRather than
Furthermore, the stress and reactions that combatants are experiencing completely
natural, normal, and humane feelings. War is morbid, and in war soldiers are exposed to
horrifying experiences and images. They are having healthy reactions to unhealthy
would essentially be teaching soldiers to feel better about murder. While that thought alone is
frightening, we must also remember that once these soldiers are discharged, they will still carry
these dangerous mentalities with them upon returning to regular civilian society.
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Writing Assignment 5
assisting the military to believe they are benefiting the human being in front of them, rather than
the Army itself. In fact, I would go as far to say that they are lying to themselves. Psychologists
lend their expertise to the military thinking they are doing the right, patriotic job that they have
been called upon but in reality, they are being pawned by the military to facilitate death, and to
In essence, I agree that war is unnatural, unhealthy, and pathological. Therefore, positive
psychology is being used to adjust soldiers to a "sick" situation and will inevitably be detrimental
References