Book SummaryOn Combat, by Dave Grossman and Loren W. Christensen

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of On Combat

In On Combat, Dave Grossman and Loren W. Christensen explore the psychological and physiological effects of combat on soldiers and law enforcement officers. They argue that understanding these effects is crucial for preparing individuals to perform effectively in high-stress situations and for mitigating the negative consequences of combat stress. The authors draw on research from psychology, physiology, and military history to provide insights into how the human body and mind respond to the extreme stress...

On Combat Summary The Physiology and Psychology of Combat Stress

Grossman and Christensen explain that combat stress can lead to psychiatric casualties. They define a psychiatric casualty as someone temporarily debilitated by the strains of serving in the military.

They note that in every 20th-century war involving American soldiers, the likelihood of becoming a psychiatric casualty was higher than the risk of death from enemy fire. For example, during the Second World War, psychiatric collapse caused 504,000 American troop casualties. In unusual instances where soldiers faced uninterrupted combat for 60 to 90 days, 98% experienced psychiatric collapse.

The Origins of “Psychiatric Casualties”

In A War of Nerves, Ben Shephard explains that the concept of “psychiatric casualties” in 20th-century warfare grew out of the First World War shell-shock crisis. The unprecedented scale of psychological breakdowns among soldiers forced armies to recognize mental collapse as a central problem of manpower, not just a medical curiosity. Shephard argues that the new diagnostic labels—“war neurosis,” “shell-shock,” “exhaustion,” and later “battle fatigue”—were created as much for administrative...

On Combat Summary Mitigating Combat Stress: Training, Tactics, and Societal Support

Now, we will explain how to mitigate combat stress by examining internal strategies, then external systems and societal support.

Building the Resilient Warrior: Internal Strategies

Grossman and Christensen argue that mental preparation helps warriors handle the psychological impact of combat. They explain that if you believe that killing will traumatize you, it probably will. But if you rationalize and accept it in advance, then lawfully and legitimately applying lethal force needn't cause trauma or harm yourself. By getting ready to kill before the event, you decrease the chance of panicking, increase the likelihood of deterring your opponent, and reduce the possibility of killing inappropriately. You’ll be more ready to manage the consequences and less inclined to end your own life.

(Shortform note: Some psychologists disagree with the authors’ assertion that rationalizing killing in advance can prevent trauma and suicidality. In Perpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress, psychologist and pacifist Rachel MacNair argues that killing others is inherently traumatizing, even when it’s legal and rationalized in...

Shortform Exercise: Understanding the Impact of Combat Stress

Explore the concept of "psychiatric casualties" and the factors leading to such outcomes during wartime as discussed by Grossman and Christensen.

How does the concept of "psychiatric casualties" challenge the traditional understanding of combat injuries?