According to Bourne, what is the primary reason that not all soldiers become psychiatric casualties during combat?

• A. Individual differences in coping mechanisms and resilience protect some soldiers from psychiatric harm.
• B. All soldiers receive identical training that prevents psychiatric casualties.
• C. Exposure to combat automatically leads to psychiatric casualties in all soldiers.
• D. Psychiatric casualties are solely determined by the intensity of combat, regardless of personal factors.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context of the question: It asks why not all soldiers become psychiatric casualties during combat according to Bourne's perspective.
2. Identify the key concept: The question revolves around individual differences in psychological responses to combat stress.
3. Recall Bourne's theory or findings: He emphasizes that soldiers have varying coping mechanisms and resilience levels, which influence their mental health outcomes.
4. Contrast this with other options: Training, exposure, and combat intensity alone do not fully explain psychiatric casualties because they do not account for personal psychological factors.
5. Conclude that the primary reason is the individual differences in coping and resilience that protect some soldiers from psychiatric harm.