The Psychology of Killing: The Combat Experience of British Soldiers during the First World War

Abstract

The hypothesis that soldiers took pleasure in killing during the first world war is assessed in the light of particular forms of evidence and the reports of military psychiatrists. The impersonal nature of combat and motives of snipers are also explored. An analysis of admissions to a shell-shock treatment unit suggested that soldiers exposed to the greatest risk of being killed were particularly prone to breakdown in battle. An outlet for aggressive instincts did not protect individuals against psychological disorders. Because of the taboo surrounding killing even when sanctioned in war, personal motives and emotional responses remain areas of uncertainty.