Comments on: Whiplash Transition And Stress Of Drone Wars http://conflicthealth.com/whiplash-transition-and-stress-of-drone-wars/ Armed Conflict, Public Health, Human Security, Health Diplomacy, and Medical Intelligence Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:00:12 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Patrick http://conflicthealth.com/whiplash-transition-and-stress-of-drone-wars/comment-page-1/#comment-789 Patrick Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:32:55 +0000 http://conflicthealth.com/?p=1540#comment-789 I was thinking of what the other Peter Singer (the philosopher) might say about this. In our evolutionary past, the only means of killing another person would have been up close and personal, and would have had a great psychological impact. On the other hand, impersonal killing from great distances via projectiles allows a degree of separation and is an extremely new phenomenon, falling outside the purview of our innate moral grammar (1). It seems to me that drone pilots seem more like the first type of killing (direct and personal). By watching their targets, pilots can see some aspect of their personalities, and may be unable to psychologically distance themselves, as Col. Aimar suggested. It would be fascinating to see how blood pressure or stress hormone levels fluctuate in drone pilots over the course of a day. Just a thought. 1) http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~mnkylab/publications/recent/HauserNurtureNotNature.pdf I was thinking of what the other Peter Singer (the philosopher) might say about this. In our evolutionary past, the only means of killing another person would have been up close and personal, and would have had a great psychological impact. On the other hand, impersonal killing from great distances via projectiles allows a degree of separation and is an extremely new phenomenon, falling outside the purview of our innate moral grammar (1). It seems to me that drone pilots seem more like the first type of killing (direct and personal). By watching their targets, pilots can see some aspect of their personalities, and may be unable to psychologically distance themselves, as Col. Aimar suggested. It would be fascinating to see how blood pressure or stress hormone levels fluctuate in drone pilots over the course of a day. Just a thought.

1) http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~mnkylab/publications/recent/HauserNurtureNotNature.pdf

]]> By: Christopher Albon http://conflicthealth.com/whiplash-transition-and-stress-of-drone-wars/comment-page-1/#comment-786 Christopher Albon Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:21:46 +0000 http://conflicthealth.com/?p=1540#comment-786 Agreed Ryan. The mental health literature on emergency services personnel probably has some good insights. Agreed Ryan. The mental health literature on emergency services personnel probably has some good insights.

]]> By: Ryan Erickson http://conflicthealth.com/whiplash-transition-and-stress-of-drone-wars/comment-page-1/#comment-785 Ryan Erickson Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:17:58 +0000 http://conflicthealth.com/?p=1540#comment-785 As I started reading this the first thing I thought of was exactly what Col. Aimar notes; though these pilots might not be "in it" over in the box day in and day out their daily routine of watching the destruction live on camera will eventually take its toll. I would also have to agree with you Chris that it may not be as stressful- but going to bed at night in your own bed with the images they have burned into their minds can't be a picnic either. Just my early morning thought. As I started reading this the first thing I thought of was exactly what Col. Aimar notes; though these pilots might not be “in it” over in the box day in and day out their daily routine of watching the destruction live on camera will eventually take its toll. I would also have to agree with you Chris that it may not be as stressful- but going to bed at night in your own bed with the images they have burned into their minds can’t be a picnic either. Just my early morning thought.

]]>