> The burden of sustained combat or psychologically-informed training can increase the propensity of people to kill, but it's not a natural psychological state.

> The burden of sustained combat or psychologically-informed training can increase the propensity of people to kill, but it's not a natural psychological state. I believe observational studies of pre-industrial people's contradict this notion. There was a somewhat recent book (10-12 years old) that aggregated many studies and favored a Hobbesian outlook on this subject. I cannot remember the author or book though. Written by a Dane or a German I think. The topic is still in some debate. Regardless I specifically indicated that it is produced state not a natural one. I think it would be very hard to deduce how much a lack of combat efectiveness is due to fear of killing vs. fear of being killed. As a sniper or artilleryman you may take your time to fire. As a frontline soldier the longer you aim the longer you expose yourself.