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Seven general behavior patterns exhibited by recruits during their first month in the army have been selected by Janis as typical 'adjustive reactions'. They are 'goldbricking', derogatory gossip about superiors, mimicry of superiors, joking about impotence, homosexual buffoonery, use of taboo words, and 'griping'. 'Goldbricking' is analyzed as an attitude which enables the recruit to deny to himself that he is at that moment a garbage man, a street cleaner, or a janitor. Derogatory gossip and mimicry of superiors have a similar function: they reduce the recruits' intense inferiority feeling engendered by middle class morality which teaches that those at the bottom of the social hierarchy are unworthy persons deserving of their fate. The unavailability of beloved persons towards whom erotic impulses had previously been directed frequently causes an overidealization of the loved object and the well known salacious attitude of soldiers towards 'pin up' girls. One of the most important adjustments in army life is that towards the increased homosexuality stimulated by the military environment. An awareness of affectionate tendencies towards other men is at first deeply disturbing. This leads to 'kidding' rationalized by: 'I really have no homosexual inclinations. Otherwise I would never be so free about kidding around in this way.' Within a few days after entering the army the recruit starts seasoning his speech with 'filthy' language. Actually only a few taboo words are used and the so-called 'colorful' army language amounts to the repeated use of a very limited number of obscene words, which are so overworked that they soon become meaningless. In this way the soldier is able to prove to himself that he can violate the standards of his superego to which he adhered in the past so that he will be less inhibited about later 'dirty fighting'. 'Griping' is one reaction to the total deprivational situation. It is usually not intended to be taken at its face va