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'It has become traditional psychiatric practice to explain personality problems from the point of view of the individual life history and particularly the experiences of early childhood. An effort has been made in this paper to show that whereas the type of reaction in military psychiatry may be explained by the psychodynamics of the individual, there are important etiological factors which are based on the experience of the soldier in relation to the characteristic military setting.'
'One finds every type of personality variation among men who prove themselves capable of identifying with the military group. Schizoid, paranoid, cycloid personalities; overt homosexuals; hysterical and obsessive personalities; and even a good many psychopaths are able to find a place for themselves and do a satisfactory job in a military group.'
The company is the family group of the army. Ambivalent feelings are focused upon the leader and his ability to handle these tensions is vital for morale and for the development or prevention of psychiatric disabilities. In combat, the resentment is displaced to the enemy and the love is retained in the form of loyalty and sacrifice for the group.