The Conditioning of Men for War: The Traits of masculinity and a good soldier are the same

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Getting men to fight is not a natural thing, so historically, many cultures have resorted to conscription and the use of drugs to motivate soldiers. Societies often raise boys to be tough and suppress their emotions, emphasizing that participating in war is a way to prove their manhood. This idea challenges the notion that men are naturally violent, suggesting that cultures create the need for violence and associate it with traits of a good man.

Do nations fight wars because men are naturally violent? Or do societies condition men to embrace violence so they’ll fight the nation’s wars?

Along with co-hosts John Biewen and Celeste Headlee, this episode features reporting by Barry Lam of the Hi-Phi Nation podcast, with scholars Joshua Goldstein of American University, Tom Digby of Springfield College, and Graham Parsons of the United States Military Academy, aka West Point.

Music by Alex Weston, and Evgueni and Sacha Galperine. Music and production help from Joe Augustine at Narrative Music. Song fragment, “Men,” by Loudon Wainwright III.