Military Training and Personality Trait Development

Does the Military Make the Man, or Does the Man Make the Military?

Bibliographic Data

ID23360490
AuthorsJ J Jackson (0000-0002-9490-8890, Washington University in St. Louis), Felix Thoemmes (0000-0001-5689-2659, University of Tübingen), Kathrin Jonkmann (0000-0002-1102-250X, University of Tübingen), Oliver Lüdtke (0000-0001-9744-3059, University of Tübingen), Ulrich Trautwein (0000-0003-0647-0057, University of Tübingen)
Year2012
Volume23
Issue3
Pages270-277
Publication date2012-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychological Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0956-7976 • E-ISSN: 1467-9280
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0956797611423545
PMID22275337
OpenAlexW2157962563
LanguageEN
Citations received79
References cited30

Military experience is an important turning point in a person’s life and, consequently, is associated with important life outcomes. Using a large longitudinal sample of German males, we examined whether personality traits played a role during this period. Results indicated that personality traits prospectively predicted the decision to enter the military. People lower in agreeableness, neuroticism, and openness to experience during high school were more likely to enter the military after graduation. In addition, military training was associated with changes in personality. Compared with a control group, military recruits had lower levels of agreeableness after training. These levels persisted 5 years after training, even after participants entered college or the labor market. This study is one of the first to identify life experiences associated with changes in personality traits. Moreover, our results suggest that military experiences may have a long-lasting influence on individual-level characteristics.

Agreeableness · Big Five personality traits · Developmental psychology · Extraversion and introversion · Neuroticism · Openness to experience · Personality · Personality development · Trait · Clinical Psychology · Cognitive Abilities and Testing · Emotional Intelligence and Performance · Personality Traits and Psychology · Psychology · Social Psychology

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