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Reactions and performance of Swedish peacekeepers in life-threatening situations

Wallenius, Claes ; Johansson, Curt R LU and Larsson, G (2002) In International Peacekeeping 9(1). p.133-152
Abstract
This study maps reactions activated in peacekeeping personnel by life-threatening situations and explores how these reactions affect psychological functioning. In-depth interviews were carried out with 30 informants from the Swedish peacekeeping force serving in Bosnia between 1993 and 1995. All participants had experienced shooting incidents or other highly threatening events. Two models were formed. A descriptive model structures the content of the interviews according to the phase and type of situation from which they were mainly reported, as well as whether they were mainly reported by officers or privates. A theoretical model forms the basis for a discussion about the individual and situational factors that affect the specific... (More)
This study maps reactions activated in peacekeeping personnel by life-threatening situations and explores how these reactions affect psychological functioning. In-depth interviews were carried out with 30 informants from the Swedish peacekeeping force serving in Bosnia between 1993 and 1995. All participants had experienced shooting incidents or other highly threatening events. Two models were formed. A descriptive model structures the content of the interviews according to the phase and type of situation from which they were mainly reported, as well as whether they were mainly reported by officers or privates. A theoretical model forms the basis for a discussion about the individual and situational factors that affect the specific reactions and how their interaction with role expectations affects performance. The informants were generally satisfied with their performance. Two factors associated with lower performance were either that the life-threatening situation implied loss of control or it demanded complex cognitive activity. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Peacekeeping Performance, Psychological Functioning, Life-threats, Stress, Swedish Peacekeepers
in
International Peacekeeping
volume
9
issue
1
pages
133 - 152
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:84986085880
ISSN
1743-906X
DOI
10.1080/714002701
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b4f3f244-ca74-44e7-9876-e9b199d0599d (old id 758344)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:15:14
date last changed
2022-02-26 03:57:30
@article{b4f3f244-ca74-44e7-9876-e9b199d0599d,
  abstract     = {{This study maps reactions activated in peacekeeping personnel by life-threatening situations and explores how these reactions affect psychological functioning. In-depth interviews were carried out with 30 informants from the Swedish peacekeeping force serving in Bosnia between 1993 and 1995. All participants had experienced shooting incidents or other highly threatening events. Two models were formed. A descriptive model structures the content of the interviews according to the phase and type of situation from which they were mainly reported, as well as whether they were mainly reported by officers or privates. A theoretical model forms the basis for a discussion about the individual and situational factors that affect the specific reactions and how their interaction with role expectations affects performance. The informants were generally satisfied with their performance. Two factors associated with lower performance were either that the life-threatening situation implied loss of control or it demanded complex cognitive activity.}},
  author       = {{Wallenius, Claes and Johansson, Curt R and Larsson, G}},
  issn         = {{1743-906X}},
  keywords     = {{Peacekeeping Performance; Psychological Functioning; Life-threats; Stress; Swedish Peacekeepers}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{133--152}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{International Peacekeeping}},
  title        = {{Reactions and performance of Swedish peacekeepers in life-threatening situations}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/714002701}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/714002701}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}