Study finds IDF combat soldiers temper views during service
Haifa University survey finds male soldiers become more dovish while serving, females more hawkish.
By DPAIsrael Defense Forces soldiers who serve in combat units become less hawkish and more open to compromise on security issues during the course of their service, a study released by Haifa University has found.
At the same time, women also undergo a political change, becoming more hawkish, a university spokesman said Thursday, confirming the findings.
The study, conducted by the university's School for Political Science, surveyed 490 male and female soldiers of every rank and in every branch of service.
Respondents were asked to answer the same series of questions before induction, six months into their service and immediately after mobilization.
Initial interviews found that a large percentage of soldiers began their service with clear right-wing views. They were more right-wing six months into their service, but after demobilization took on more dovish views and were more willing to compromise.
In addition, the study found these soldiers adopted more conciliatory views toward minorities in general and toward Israel's Arab minority in particular.
They also underwent a greater change in their views on human rights than soldiers who began their service with less extreme views on the subject.
Woman soldiers, while becoming more right-wing and hawkish, also increased their support for the regulation of non-conventional weapons compared to male soldiers.
"It is important to note that although men underwent a greater change, their values were almost identical to women's in terms of concern for human rights at the end of their service, as they began with more extreme views," said Dr Zvika Barkai, who conducted the research.
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IDF soldiers checking identification cards of Palestinians as they wait to cross the Hawara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus on Tuesday. (AP) |
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This is fascinating! Does the study indicate any possible reasons for the differences between genders? I recall reading that the Israeli Air Force determined women can withstand G forces better than men, which leads one to conclude women should dominate the ranks of pilots as modern jets become more maneuverable and thus subject their pilots to potential black outs. Or are the differences due to cultural factors? For example, does the results for women depend on whether they come from a traditional or non-traditional family? Whether they have borne children? And as Israel allows gays and lesbians to serve, does sexual orientation affect the results? I hope HU publishes an English translation of this study.
No, MG. Wiser. Perhaps more wiser than you.
As woman have been trying to tell us for years now, they are smarter than men. I would question the conclusions present here. It's not that men become more dovish. They become acutely aware of the horrible situation that the politician have created for them. The 'restraint policy' imposed on the IDF by the corrupt, puppet leadership of Israel has weakened their resolve to destroy, not police the enemy.
Hey, Itsik, whats wrong with eating cheeseburgers? How long did you serve?
Does that mean that most of the cases of abuse on Pals comes from young, inexperienced soldiers? Because if this is the case then maybe the IDF should take some notice of this study and produce regulations to safeguard against such incidents that may more often than not involve younger soldiers. Shalom Aleichem/Salam Aleikum
Now I understand why my wife is so dominant!
No great suprise here. The more you participate in the Army the greater your understanding becomes for the limits of the use of force. Also, when serving in the territories you get a more intimate feeling for the day to day difficulties faced by Palestinian civilians. What would be interesting would be to see the difference between soldiers serving in front line units and those serving as "jobnikim".
That is why you are not serving in the IDF and sitting in america filling your belly with cheese burgers...
Doesn't make any sense to me. On the contrary, they should become more aware of the futility of compromising against a genocidal enemy...
There is no wonder there! If you have an ounce of justice and you are forced to deal with seriously impossible situation you get filled with anger and frustration for being incompetent to resolve the situation through the means you were tought are the ways! While pationate ladies who don't see anything but what the media show us and lose friends are getting too emotional about it. In general!