Okay sorry the past couple of days have been busier than I anticipated but I finally got around to finding the specifics.
First of all keep in mind the book doesn't make any sort of condemnation of the military itself. It just says it's a place where a sociopath's ability to harm others without remorse is an asset. And don't forget sociopaths are masters of disguising their natures, chances are they will know what reactions they are "supposed" to give in order to avoid detection.
I may have initially misread what you were asking, if it's for what the rate of sociopaths are in the military it doesn't give numbers. I had thought you were asking more about the soldiers rate of fire. Here's what it says on the matter:
First it cites the controversial statistics of Brig. Gen. S.L.A. Marshall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.L.A._Marshall) and his book Men Against Fire, where he claimed in WW2 up to 75% of soldiers never fired their personal weapons with the intent the kill, even when engaged in combat.
The book goes on to cite On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society by Lt.Col. Dave Grossman who adds to Marshall's research with his own among law enforcement as well as military, and not just American military.
The whole point of it was to show that rate of fire may be far lower than popular perception (although the exact numbers are often the cause of controversy). That despite training most of us wouldn't kill at the "moment of truth" whereas a sociopath would have no such struggles with harming another. Which is why it's an environment where they'd be able to thrive.
But that's not to say that the military is chock full of sociopaths or that they're allowed to just kill anyone whenever they want, but I wouldn't be surprised if many of our war crimes were committed by sociopaths. I admit it's pure speculation on my part, just a conclusion I've drawn.
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Date: 20/7/11 14:11 (UTC)First of all keep in mind the book doesn't make any sort of condemnation of the military itself. It just says it's a place where a sociopath's ability to harm others without remorse is an asset. And don't forget sociopaths are masters of disguising their natures, chances are they will know what reactions they are "supposed" to give in order to avoid detection.
I may have initially misread what you were asking, if it's for what the rate of sociopaths are in the military it doesn't give numbers. I had thought you were asking more about the soldiers rate of fire. Here's what it says on the matter:
First it cites the controversial statistics of Brig. Gen. S.L.A. Marshall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.L.A._Marshall) and his book Men Against Fire, where he claimed in WW2 up to 75% of soldiers never fired their personal weapons with the intent the kill, even when engaged in combat.
The book goes on to cite On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society by Lt.Col. Dave Grossman who adds to Marshall's research with his own among law enforcement as well as military, and not just American military.
The whole point of it was to show that rate of fire may be far lower than popular perception (although the exact numbers are often the cause of controversy). That despite training most of us wouldn't kill at the "moment of truth" whereas a sociopath would have no such struggles with harming another. Which is why it's an environment where they'd be able to thrive.
But that's not to say that the military is chock full of sociopaths or that they're allowed to just kill anyone whenever they want, but I wouldn't be surprised if many of our war crimes were committed by sociopaths. I admit it's pure speculation on my part, just a conclusion I've drawn.