Changes in Soldier Attitudes

As part of a study of methods for increasing motivation and preventing attitude deterioration of the enlisted man, responses to specific items in a 1970 HumRRO attitude survey conducted at Fort Knox were compared with responses to the same items in several surveys conducted by the U.S. Army Troop Attitude Research Branch during and immediately following World War 2. Caution is necessary in making such comparisons since responses to attitude items can be affected by many factors, including sample composition, outdated phrasing, willingness to respond candidly, influences from other items, administrative procedures, unit or post differences, and likelihood of combat participation. A review of the literature dealing with the process of attitude change gave special attention to the dissonance and functional theories of attitude change for possible implication with reference to changing soldier attitudes.