S3 Ep1 The Psychological Profile of an Operator with Dr. Art Finch
Oct 24, 2022
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Dr. Art Finch, a retired colonel and licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience in Special Operations, shares his insights into the mindset of high-stakes professionals. He discusses why some individuals gravitate toward chaos and unconventional paths. The conversation explores the unique cognitive profiles of special operators and their challenges with traditional intelligence metrics. Finch also emphasizes the significance of emotional compartmentalization in post-military life and the vital need for support and understanding in their transitions.
Individuals drawn to mission-critical roles often possess high intelligence but struggle in traditional educational settings, leading them to thrive in high-stakes environments.
Operators in high-pressure roles exhibit low anxiety levels and strong emotional compartmentalization, which aids performance but can hinder personal relationships.
Effective communication and mutual understanding between operators and their families are crucial for navigating emotional differences and improving family dynamics during transitions.
Deep dives
Understanding Mission Critical Teams
Mission critical teams (MCTs) consist of small groups, typically four to 12 members, trained to tackle complex problems in high-pressure environments where decisions must be made quickly. They operate in situations with severe consequences, such as death or catastrophic failure, emphasizing the importance of effective teamwork and communication. The podcast discusses the unique psychological profiles of individuals drawn to these roles, many of whom prefer this urgent lifestyle over a conventional, mundane existence. This exploration provides insight into the motivations and characteristics that separate MCT members from the general population.
Profiles of Operators and Learning Styles
The psychological assessment of operators reveals that many possess high intelligence, often reflected in above-average IQ scores, yet they thrive outside traditional academic settings. These operators often encountered challenges in conventional education, feeling out of place and disengaged due to a mismatch between their learning styles and traditional teaching methods. Their cognitive strengths manifest in adaptability and problem-solving within immersive environments, which fuels their preference for high-stakes professions such as emergency medicine or special operations. Recognizing these unique traits can enhance training and selection processes for mission-critical teams.
The Impact of Emotional Regulation
Individuals in mission-critical roles generally exhibit low anxiety levels and a remarkable ability to compartmentalize emotions, enabling them to perform effectively under pressure. This capacity allows them to stay calm during crises while others may panic, ultimately enhancing operational effectiveness. However, the same trait can lead to emotional disconnect in personal relationships, creating challenges when these individuals return home and must engage with family members who have different emotional processing needs. Understanding this dynamic is essential for fostering healthier familial relationships and reducing misunderstandings when transitioning from the operational environment back home.
Navigating Relationships with Operators
The podcast emphasizes the necessity of mutual understanding between operators and their families, especially regarding emotional processing styles. Operators often require external structure to help manage their attention and memory challenges, leading to potential frustration in family dynamics. Communication strategies, such as encouraging operators to repeat instructions, can significantly improve information retention and enhance family functioning. It is recommended that family members actively engage in discussions about emotional needs and expectations to foster stronger bonds and reduce relational friction.
Embracing Transition and Change
Transitions, whether they occur when entering the military or moving back into civilian life, require acknowledgment and support to ensure successful adaptation. The podcast highlights the need for skills that help individuals navigate these changes, as they are often accompanied by emotional turbulence and uncertainty. Rituals and ceremonies can serve as important bookmarks in life transitions, providing individuals with opportunities to reflect and connect with their evolving identities. Creatively addressing these transitions through discussion and support can improve personal relationships and enhance well-being during times of change.
In this episode, Dr. Preston Cline and Dr. Art Finch talk about the types of people who choose the hard path. Where do they excel, where do they struggle, and why don’t they quite fit in with “normal” People. We focus on different learning and motivation profiles as well as the transitions between the routine and critical worlds.
COL(R) Art Finch, Ph.D., spent over 23 years providing psychological insight to the leading Special Operations and Tactical Law Enforcement organizations in the world. He is a graduate of U.S. Army Airborne, SERE, and Ranger Schools with more than 20 combat deployments to both Afghanistan and Iraq. He retired at the rank of colonel. created personality profiles for more than 10,000 candidates in support of assessment and selection events. Art continues to be licensed to practice psychology in North Carolina and in addition to serving as the Director of the newly formed Mission Critical Psychology Division at MCTI, he also serves as a Research Scientist with IHMC and The Gauge Group, a psychological consulting and executive coaching firm and is the founder and president of The Gauge Group has led leadership consultation and executive coaching for Fortune 100 tech companies; led assessment and selection support for Major League Baseball and National League Football; conducted high-stakes, high-performance psychological support for elite athletes; and assessment and selection psychological support for FBI, HRT and New York State Police SWAT team.
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