Head Strong: How Psychology is Revolutionizing WarPsychology is the science that will determine who wins and who loses the wars of the 21st century, just as physics ultimately led the United States to victory in World War II. Changes in the world's political landscape coupled with radical advances in the technology of war will greatly alter how militaries are formed, trained, and led. Leadership under fire - and the traits and skills it requires - is also changing. Grant, Lee, Pershing, Patton - these generals would not succeed in 21st century conflicts. In Head Strong: How Psychology Is Revolutionizing War, Michael D. Matthews explores the many ways that psychology will make the difference for wars yet to come, from revolutionary advances in soldier selection and training to new ways of preparing soldiers to remain resilient in the face of horror and to engineering the super-soldier of the future. These advancements will ripple out to impact on the lives of all of us, not just soldiers. Amputees will have "intelligent" life-like prosthetics that simulate the feel and function of a real limb. Those exposed to trauma will have new and more effective remedies to prevent or treat post-traumatic stress disorder. And a revolution in training - based heavily in the military's increasing reliance on immersive simulations - will radically alter how police, fire, and first-responder personnel are trained in the future. At its heart, war is the most human of endeavors. Psychology, as the science of human behavior, will prove essential to success in future war. Authored by a West Point military psychologist, this book is one of the first to expose us to the smarter wars, and the world around them, to come. |
Contents
1 Psychological Science and the Art off War | 1 |
2 The Right Soldier for the Right Job | 12 |
3 Turning Civilians Into Soldiers | 33 |
Soldiers and Systems Th at Outthink the Enemy | 53 |
Building Resilient Soldiers | 69 |
6 Winning Hearts and Minds | 90 |
7 This Is Not Your Fathers Army | 108 |
Leading in Combat | 128 |
Other editions - View all
Head Strong: Psychology and Military Dominance in the 21st Century Michael D. Matthews Limited preview - 2014 |
Common terms and phrases
ability adaptive killing Afghanistan African Americans air force aptitude army assess basic behavior brain cadets challenges character strengths civilian cognitive combat stress command and control complete Comprehensive Soldier Fitness context cultural decision deployed develop effective emotional enemy experience extremis fight future military goal grit human impact important improve individual infantry Iraq Land Warrior leadership Martin E. P. Seligman Martin Seligman Matthews MDMP Michael D mili military leaders military psychology military training mission nations negotiation officers OODA loop operations organization organizational peace percent personnel Photo courtesy physical fitness pilot platoon positive psychology psychologists PTSD recruit resilience response role Seligman serve Shutterstock simulations situational awareness skills social strategies tactical tasks terrorists tests tion today’s traditional trauma Trisha Meili twenty-first century understanding Vietnam warfare wars weapons West Point women World World War II