Is the Idea of Futility a Coping Mechanism?

At the end of 19 17, soldiers genuinely feel that there is very little chance of the war being fought to a successful conclusion. The idea of futility just is bubbled bubbling up at this point. You see in the censorship reports a increasing fear soldiers are looking for a negotiated peace. And all those things crumble with passion. But it's the first year they enter not believing that that's possible and neither did the british government or many generals.