The Psychology of Conflict and Combat: [Hardcover]

Ben Shalit (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0275927539 | ISBN-13: 978-0275927530 | Publication Date: March 25, 1988

Shalit draws on the research he conducted as field psychologist in the Israeli military to offer an original behavioral model of combat that accounts for the fighting potential of an individual or group. His model is based on the appraisal process that the individual undertakes in combat conditions to assess a situation, whether it concerns him or not and regardless of his role. It is through this process that the individual makes a judgment, taking into consideration his past experience, knowledge, and expectations, that in turn leads to a course of action. Shalit pinpoints and describes specific aspects of the psychology of combat and conflict including the motivation to act in combat with special reference to the aggression drive; the definition of an enemy and the effects such appraisals have on behavior; the situational factors in heroic acts; and discipline and its affects on combat efficiency.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The author, a battle-experienced psychologist, presents a highly theoretical analysis of such conflict/combat concepts as aggression, courage, and discipline. Chapters deal with the important concept of aggression and assessing soldier coping and combat potential; one chapter is titled 'Lebanon - The Face of Battle.' Although the volume begins with a riveting personal description of the author's battle experience. Shalit's engrossing writing style is quickly replaced by a pedantic dissertation mode of writing. It is a solid academic work, yet few social science students will be greatly informed about the psychology of conflict and combat when the author resorts to symbols and equations for explanation. Contains an excellent bibliography.”–Choice

About the Author

BEN SHALIT was an Associate Professor at the National Defense Research Institute in Sweden.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 215 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (March 25, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275927539
• ISBN-13: 978-0275927530
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,450,502 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for the layman, July 11, 2006

By 

Nate Wright (Fort Collins, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Psychology of Conflict and Combat: (Hardcover)

[...]

Shalit's work is written specifically for psychology and military professionals. His detailed categorization and impulse to construct word formulas can be tough to wade through. It is also quite old, published in 1988.

From the title, I was hoping for a more comprehensive look at psychological issues within and surrounding conflict and combat. Instead, it was focused heavily on detailing and categorizing the types of aggression, while analyzing their value in producing effective soldiers and units.

Shalit does take an interesting look at the process of coping and provides some interesting statistics on Israeli soldiers' differing attitudes towards Syria/Egypt/Jordan - including former POWs' attitudes of each army. But in the end, none of this is really enough to make the book worthwhile.

[...]