A Model for the Analysis of Fighting Spirit in the British Army

Military human groups can be considered special in many ways because of the unique requirement that they should operate effectively under extreme stress, and indeed continue to do so even after suffering sudden and traumatic reduction through casualties. Military sociology and military psychology are well-established academic disciplines. However, one potentially fruitful area has largely been neglected: this is the approach of the social anthropologist. Social anthropology is an evolving discipline which had its origins in the late nineteenth century, and can no longer be thought of as a single body of theory and practice. The chapter presents a model for describing, analysing and predicting British soldiers' behaviour. This model initially appears less than helpful in that it provides a potentially bewildering collection of variables.