Even Without Combat, Military Service Changes Personality, Makes Vets Less Agreeable

From the 20 February Medical News Today article

“Military recruits are a little less warm and friendly to begin with and the military experience seems to reinforce this – as after service, men score even lower on agreeableness when compared to individuals who did not go into the military,” Jackson says. “Interestingly, this influence appears to linger long after the soldier has re-entered the workforce or returned to college.”
Jackson points out that being less agreeable is not always a negative human trait. While it may make it more challenging to maintain positive relationships with friends and romantic partners, it can be seen as a positive influence on career success.

“On the flip side,” he says, “people with lower levels of agreeableness are often more likely to fight their way up the corporate ladder and to make the sometimes unpopular decisions that can be necessary for business success.”

 

Related articles

• Military service changes personality, makes vets less agreeable (eurekalert.org)
• Military service changes personality (scienceblog.com)
• Does The Military Make The Man Or Does The Man Make The Military? (medicalnewstoday.com)
• Does the military make the man or does the man make the military? (eurekalert.org)