The long-held belief that military veterans should be called “heroes” may relegate them to less lucrative jobs, a study has found.
A study conducted by Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, surveyed 6,500 people and found that many veterans feel they must take lower-paying jobs that are considered “selfless” because of their service.
Military veterans often have lower employment rates and earn less than their counterparts who never served—despite being viewed favorably by society at large. However, these positive feelings towards them may inadvertently harm them.
Lower pay has significantly hurt veterans, with a recent report finding that more than one in four are struggling to support their families.
People expected that military veterans would find jobs more closely related to altruism, be more attractive and better suited for jobs more or less closely related to altruism, and be better suited for jobs more related to altruism.
Veteran unemployment is relatively low compared to a previous peak at the end of the financial crisis
Dr. Matthew Stanley, a neuroscience and psychology researcher at Duke University, said, “We know that veterans face unemployment and underemployment issues, but we also know that the public has overwhelmingly positive views of veterans as a group. The public opinion of veterans is so positive that the whole group is often awarded the label of heroes.”
The team of Dr. Stanley teamed up with scientists at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma to conduct 11 experiments.
In a poll, 293 Americans were asked if they thought veterans were heroes – 74 percent responded.
Another study took 149 people with 32 jobs in the US and asked them to rate themselves on a scale of one to seven on how selfish they were.
People who work as real estate agents, collection agencies, private bankers, insurance agents and private wealth managers identified themselves as the most selfish.
They also happened to be better-paid jobs than the least selfish, such as home nurses, firefighters, fundraisers, paramedics, and college teachers.
Those who worked in jobs that were considered less selfish also said they believed their jobs would fit better with the veterans’ culture.
The military personnel’s recruitment intentions were also of public interest.
More than 400 online participants were introduced to a fictional veteran named Peter Miller for a study.
The fictional Mr. Miller received formal training in information technology while serving in the military and transitioned to a civilian career.
The man applied for IT jobs with similar starting salaries at global investment firm Goldman Sachs, an organization described by participants as selfish, and Habitat for Humanity, an organization described as altruistic.
Participants were given a variety of reasons why he served in the military – some were told he did it for IT training, while others were told it was out of a sense of duty.
Those who said Miller joined the military specifically for IT training were less likely to describe him as a hero and said the job at Goldman Sachs would suit him well.
Respondents said he joined the army to serve his country, although he would be better suited to humanitarian groups.
Researchers say the results may come as a shock because it’s hard to imagine that a positive label like “hero” would hurt anyone, but it could actually land them in lower-paying roles (file photo).
Researchers note that pay for work at the two institutions could not be more unequal.
The median salary for a Goldman Sachs employee is approximately $404,000, while the median salary for a Habitat for Humanity employee is approximately $53,000.
Dr. Stanley said, “We don’t usually think that describing groups in such extremely positive terms (as heroes) can actually have negative effects on group members… But in the case of veterans, people see them as better suited for jobs . , roles.” and organizations they associate with altruism, which usually pay less.’
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For many veterans, returning to civilian life can be a difficult transition, marked by both culture shock and lingering mental or physical effects of service.
And a significant proportion of war veterans were abandoned due to lack of preparation to return to civilian life.
Veterans who have the hardest time leaving active duty often have traumatic experiences that make daily life difficult.
For example, a 2019 Pew Research survey found that veterans who reported having emotionally traumatic experiences in the military were significantly less likely to say they felt well prepared for the transition than those who had not. not. 39 percent versus 59 percent.
Unemployment among veterans is relatively low at just over 3 percent in December 2022.
But in 2011, it approached 9 percent, which is about the same as the entire national unemployment rate.
Meanwhile, at 13 percent, veterans make up the majority of the homeless population in the United States.
Dr. Stanley said, “There are many reasons why Americans enlist in the military, and we should not assume that veterans want to advance their careers by serving others, especially at the expense of others’ needs and wants.
“By directing veterans to specific jobs, organizations and careers that involve selflessness, we can limit their choices and options.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
