THE SOCIAL VACUUM & THE LOSS OF SOLIDARITY FOR VETERANS EXPERIENCED IN CIVILIAN REINTEGRATION

Gary Senecal (gsenecal@holycross.edu)
Visiting Professor of Psychology at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.
MaryCatherine McDonald (gsenecal@holycross.edu)
Richard LaFleur (gsenecal@holycross.edu)
Charles Coey (gsenecal@holycross.edu)
Amelia Keane (gsenecal@holycross.edu)

Abstract

The difficulties many veterans experience upon reintegration into civilian society have been thoroughly documented over the last fifteen years. Though traditional diagnosis such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are undoubtedly a contributing factor to these difficulties, the data show that American soldiers struggle to reintegrate at a much higher rate than soldiers from other nations. Limiting the concept of these difficulties so narrowly on trauma exposure is too narrow. In this research, 25 veterans were interviewed and described their experience of transition from military life to a civilian career. The participants' responses revealed that there was a significant social dimension to the struggles faced upon leaving their military careers and culture. Among these, the loss of solidarity and a perceived sense of trust and unity among their civilian peers was at the epicenter of participants' struggles in their civilian lives.

Keywords: veteran reintegration, isolation, loss of solidarity, loss of structure, career transition

Author Biography

Gary Senecal received his PhD in psychology from the University of West Georgia in 2015. For the last three years, he has worked as a visiting professor of psychology at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. During this time, he has taught courses ranging from Introduction to Psychology, History and Theory of Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Sports Psychology, and Military Psychology - the Social Reintegration of Veterans. His research focuses on the social psychology of violence, the theoretical psychology of violence, masculine identity, and the career transitions of individuals who have retired from or been deselected from careers that exposed them to regular violent endeavors (in particular, contact sport athletes and military veterans). He is a current member of the Army Reserves and sports psychology consultant, as well as a former collegiate football player and former college football coach. He currently resides in Worcester, MA with his wife and two children.

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