Personality Change During Military Basic Training

摘要

Military basic training is a stressful situation that may influence the personality development of military recruits. Training personnel perceive substantial positive changes in recruits, but the limited empirical evidence suggests that training increases mild symptoms of psychopathology. This study used a combination of between-groups and within-subjects research designs to demonstrate that neuroticism decreased and conscientiousness increased during basic training. Extraversion, openness, and agreeableness were not affected by basic training. These findings support the view of training personnel that basic training fosters positive changes. Combined with the results of recent meta- analyses of personality and job performance, the results indicate that basic training graduates are better prepared psychologically to be effective service members than they were when they entered the service.