Individuals have different motivations in putting themselves into dangerous professions such as military service. Why do soldiers, today and in the past, decide to join the military particularly when a country is at war? Wars have been occurring for as long as mankind has been on this Earth and yet we continue to fight even though we know the potential individual consequences could be death. What possesses them to want to make such a sacrifice? The reasons can be explained through the theory of Extrinsic Motivation. This is when an outside force drives one’s motivation to do certain things, i.e. join the military, in order to receive “tangible rewards”, such as health insurance or a promise of a brighter future which the military offers (Extrinsic Motivation).
For many, there is much more to joining the military than their dream of being a soldier or even their choice. Men during the Civil War and the Vietnam War had no say in whether they wanted to go to war or not. They were drafted. So, one reason for a government to get men to go to war is to give them no choice at all.
During World War I, many men went to war to protect their country’s pride. There was a significant amount of nationalism and patriotism. However, today it is much different than it was during the Civil War and World War I. Today, there is no draft, and because of the media we experience the immediacy of war’s consequences. So how are modern governments able to still recruit so many soldiers?
In most countries now, militaries give their personnel accommodations and special privileges in order to gain more soldiers. If militaries didn't give such benefits, there would be a smaller amount of people who would be willing to join. One soldier, recently deployed to Afghanistan, joined because he had lost his job and health insurance. Through the U.S. military, he had a job and full health insurance for him and his family (Killed After One Month in Combat). He was only over there for a month before being killed. The sad thought is that the military offers such enticing incentives knowing what is required to attract people who cannot find such benefits elsewhere. Such behavior falls under the Acquired Needs Theory. The Acquired Needs Theory explains that one’s needs can greatly affect one’s behavior (Acquired Needs Theory). Another example is the U.S. military’s offer to pay for a soldier to go to college. Many soldiers in America, during recent wars, have been young men and women fresh out of high school. Many young adults have nowhere else to turn. They may not have made the grades in high school to get into a university or they may not have the financial support necessary to attend college. Therefore, they join the military which gives them ample opportunities for their future. If they survive.
Some soldiers fight because of their religious views. Some to live out a dream. Some join for an adventure. Some out of pride and nationalism. And some do it to protect the people and interests of their country. Most, however, join for the incentives and benefits military service provides (Ginexi, Miller, Tarver). These soldiers are willing to risk their life for these benefits. The gratification of immediate needs and wants outweigh the vague, possible future consequences of going to war.
"Extrinsic Motivation". Changing Minds. October 3, 2009
"Killed After One Month in Combat". CNN. September 6, 2009
<http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2009/09/07/acosta.soldier.sacrifice.cnn>.
"Acquired Needs Theory". Changing Minds. October 3, 2009
Ginexi, Elizabeth, Tarver, Steve, and Alison Miller. "A Qualitative Evaluation of
Reasons for Enlisting in the Military. Interviews with New Active-Duty Recruits.."Storming Media
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