Affiliative behaviours among soldiers during war‐time

Abstract

This study analyses the development of social interaction in a non-combat military unit, which was stationed in a war-zone during the October 1973 Middle East war. Like previous studies it points out that interpersonal relationships in military units stationed in war-zones are characterized by informal and intimate relations. However, this study brings into focus the stages preceding the formation of intimacy. Following Schachter's emotional comparison theory and Foa's theory of interpersonal resources it was hypothesized that (a) first patterns of affiliative behaviour to occur among soldiers would be the exchange of information, which would help them to clarify the threatening situation; and (b) as time elapses exchanges of particularistic resources would take place. As predicted, the first exchange pattern to occur was of non-particularistic resources - information. Exchanges of particularistic resources (friendship, affection, support) emerged only at a later stage. An approach which proposes a sequence of motivations underlying affiliation is presented and discussed.