Positive Psychology in the Military

Given that VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) is a reality on the world stage, specifically military forces must regularly grapple with such situations and deal with potentially harmful consequences. These serving members must be able to cope effectively with the inevitable stressors associated with demanding circumstances or suffer significant physical and psychological consequences. Twenty-three scholars from eight countries provide well-reasoned and empirically sound guidance on best navigating these inevitable and pervasive uncertainties. Although there are no universal solutions, the advice presented in this volume offers hope and wisdom to allow our serving members to emerge victorious despite excessive pressures and challenges.

Allister MacIntyre, Ph.D., is a Psychology Professor and former Department Head at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), with 31 years of experience as a military psychologist in the Canadian Forces. He has participated in several international leadership and psychology panels and is a co-editor of several books. He has been an executive member of the Canadian Psychological Association since 2002 and has a long history with the International Military Testing Association (IMTA), including serving as the Chair of IMTA’s Management Board since 2021. His scholarly activities focus primarily on leadership and ethics and he co-chaired a multi-nation research project for NATO examining ethical leadership within NATO and Partners for Peace (PfP) countries from 2017 to 2022. Danielle Charbonneau, Ph.D., is an emeritus professor at the Royal Military College where she was a member of the department of Military Psychology and Leadership for 25 years. Her research interest included mainly emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, resilience and military culture. Hubert Annen, Ph.D., is a professor of Psychology, the head of Military Psychology and Pedagogy Studies at Military Academy/ETH Zurich, and the director of the Swiss Army assessment centers for prospective Defense Attachés, General Staff Officers, and Professional Officers and NCOs respectively. He is also a reserve officer in the Swiss Armed Forces with the rank of colonel. His research interests include evaluating and validating assessment and selection procedures for military leaders, motivational aspects in the military context, military education, military values and virtues, and the trainability and measurability of individual resilience.