This is the question that has intrigued psychologists since the 1940s: are all humans capable of killing someone?
Perhaps the most famous exploration of this debate came from the infamous post-Holocaust obedience experiments conducted by American researcher Stanley Milgram.
The Jewish researcher wanted to know if a unique quality within the German population could explain why so many people obeyed Hitler’s violent demands.
He was shocked by the results: under the right circumstances, any of us are capable of blindly obeying orders, no matter how aggressive they may be.
It’s a phenomenon that psychologist Dr. David Shanley knows all too well.
The Denver-based therapist has spent most of his career treating the mental health of civilians and veterans trained to kill on the battlefield.
Rates of mental illness among active-duty military personnel have fluctuated over time, but peaked in 2012, a year after the end of the Iraq War.
Basic training for all branches of the military includes lessons in basic discipline and leadership in addition to physically grueling drills and marksmanship.
“Officers impose on their recruits the idea of kill or be killed as part of their basic training,” he told DailyMail.com.
“And then they end up in these chaotic war zones where it’s them and the other guy.
“There is a natural protective instinct that takes over. They do not debate the morality of issues on the battlefield.
Dr. Ryan Fuller, a psychologist based in New York, agrees that action in war zones proves that “if they’re in a certain situation, they can be deadly.”
“I think without the training the military provides, a person would not be able to pull a trigger as easily.”
Humans have been prepared during their evolution to do whatever maximizes their chances of survival. When faced with a threat, the human body enters into a fight or flight response.
Signals are sent throughout the body to optimize it for survival; either by running as fast as possible in the opposite direction, or by fighting the threat head on.
However, studies show that the flight response tends to be more common in such situations, with most people choosing to avoid the risk of fighting back.
But experts told DailyMail.com that military training – including drills and disciplinary measures – aims to curb the immediate impulse for soldiers to drop their weapons and run in the opposite direction of the enemy .
These training methods emphasize quick, instinctive reactions rather than deliberate, conscious decision-making.
Basic training procedures vary depending on the military branch. Army protocol includes physical fitness programs, obstacle courses, combat skills, weapons and marksmanship.
Dr. Ryan Fuller, a New York-based psychologist, told DailyMail.com that almost anyone, with the right training, such as that members of the military undergo, could become capable of killing another.
Dr. William Smith, a licensed psychotherapist in Georgia who works with veterans, told DailyMail.com: “Some people say they did very well in basic training, were recognized for their leadership skills , that they were section chief, something like that.
“And then others will say it was absolutely miserable. Some believe that the way some of the training is delivered amounts to psychological abuse.
While much attention is paid to the catastrophic impact of war zones on soldiers’ mental health, experts say many of those who kill in combat are actually relatively impervious to their actions.
A Vietnam vet told psychologists that killing others “wasn’t a big deal.”
“I didn’t feel anything negative at all,” he said. “It was exciting and I couldn’t wait to go back and do it again.
“I never really thought about it because… you know, they trained us really well and you go out there and you do your training. . . . I don’t feel bad.
Another former soldier said it was “not that difficult” to kill someone. ‘He It didn’t bother me when I was in that situation,” he said.
“For us, it’s kill or be killed: your friends were being killed. If you want to kill me, I will kill you. So for me it was easy. I really have no guilt about it.
Experts say some of this relaxed attitude could be explained in part by the type of person drawn to a career on the battlefield.
Specifically, a person who has a tendency toward aggression or violence and is fiercely patriotic.
Dr Smith said: “I’ve talked to a lot of people who do things like special operations, infantry, artillery, they probably have a profile that likes to take the lead.
“Honestly, I think some people like it more or less, probably those who join the military for this specific job.”
Selena Soni, a clinical social worker in Arizona who often sees veterans, added: “My feeling is that soldiers who come into basic training have the idea that I can do whatever I’m asked to do for the service of my country, my platoon.
“I don’t know what type of personality is that has that commitment to country and service. But it’s definitely there.
A sense of camaraderie can also motivate people to commit acts that make them uncomfortable.
Jonathan Lubecky, an Iraq War veteran, used psychedelics to overcome his PTSD
According to official U.S. Army guidelines: “The strongest motivation to continue fighting, especially for American Soldiers, is the bond formed between members of a squad or platoon. »
However, for many veterans, the guilt, shame, and spiritual turmoil after pulling the trigger leads to serious mental health and relationship problems.
Army and Marine Corps veteran Jonathan Lubecky found relief from his PTSD through psychedelics, the new frontier in treating mental disorders and the effects of traumatic brain injuries.
Lubecky was stationed in Iraq when, while going to the bathroom, an enemy mortar crashed into him. He was left with post-traumatic stress disorder and a head injury.
And Prince Harry revealed he also suffered from PTSD since childhood, when his mother died.
In 2020, approximately 5.2 million veterans suffered from behavioral health disorders, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. And PTSD could affect up to 20% of Iraq veterans.
Prince Harry has revealed he has suffered from PTSD since the death of his mother when he was a child. His wife Megan Markle, right, helped him through the ordeal
The number of active duty military personnel suffering from mental illness has fluctuated over time and may be linked to certain military operations.
For example, the prevalence of mental illness among service members increased steadily beginning in 2005, two years after troops invaded Iraq and a year after they engaged in a six-week offensive in Fallujah, Iraq. .
It was the bloodiest battle of the war, killing some 110 members of the coalition forces and wounding 600.
These rates increased steadily until 2012, a year after all troops left Iraq and the war ended.
A 2013 report by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, who recruited 227 veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, found that those who killed in combat were twice as likely to be listed among patients who were more symptomatic of PTSD, compared to those who did. not kill.
They said: “The combination of death threats, loss of comrades and killing can understandably lead to greater difficulties in recovery after combat exposure. »
Evidence suggests that killing in combat can cause significant psychological distress. And according to Dr. Smith, more often than not, the veterans he meets “do it out of a sense of obligation” and not out of a zeal to kill the enemy.
“I talked to people about it who were pretty indifferent. I don’t know if anyone has said they openly appreciate that, but some people will say they’re proud of doing what they had to do.
But feelings of guilt and shame are common among this group, according to psychologists who study veterans.
One of the veterans interviewed said: “I think you are ashamed of what you did. You know you are trained to do this and it stays with you. I guess I feel very sad sometimes.
“I’m proud to be a soldier who tried to do something I thought was good for the country. But it’s hard to be a soldier. It tears out your moral fiber. It changes your life.
Another veterinarian put it this way: “I didn’t know why I would feel so bad if I hadn’t done anything wrong. I wasn’t a baby killer. I wasn’t, I did my job. I did what everyone else did. But always this nagging question: why do I hurt like this?
Experts say those who seek their help have usually reached the point where they are finally ready to talk about their experience.
Ms Soni said: “They are truly a resilient group of individuals.
“I think we’re seeing a lot about higher rates of psychiatric disorders. And I know all of that is true, but I think we also sometimes forget to speak up.
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