Aviation and Operational Psychology: Applications

Aviation and Operational Aviation and Operational Psychology: ApplicationsPsychology: Applications

Alan Ogle, Maj, USAF, BSCAlan Ogle, Maj, USAF, BSC

Military Psychology PSY4990Military Psychology PSY4990

University of West Florida, Spring 09University of West Florida, Spring 09

Disclaimer: information in this briefing was compiled from Disclaimer: information in this briefing was compiled from multiple sources in the US military medical services. Many have multiple sources in the US military medical services. Many have been modified or shortened to fit the educational purpose, format been modified or shortened to fit the educational purpose, format and training time available. Views expressed are those of the and training time available. Views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Air Force, Department of Defense, or the U.S. United States Air Force, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.Government.

31 Jan 0131 Jan 01

As Seen By...

Behavioral Health in Behavioral Health in AviationAviation

Human Factors in Human Factors in AviationAviation

The Role of Behavioral Health: The Role of Behavioral Health: What’s needed?What’s needed?

Flight Surgeons want input on casesFlight Surgeons want input on cases• Evaluations, recommendations, tx, summaryEvaluations, recommendations, tx, summary

Commanders want input on situationsCommanders want input on situations• Crew rest, human factorsCrew rest, human factors

Commanders want input on individualsCommanders want input on individuals Individuals want information/educationIndividuals want information/education

• Kids’ development, relationships, etc.Kids’ development, relationships, etc.

ConsultationConsultation

Consult with commanders, safety Consult with commanders, safety officers, and flight surgeons officers, and flight surgeons • Human factors affecting readiness, Human factors affecting readiness,

safety, performance, and retention safety, performance, and retention Provide Psycho-education Provide Psycho-education

• Stress & Fatigue, human factors, etc.Stress & Fatigue, human factors, etc. Survey unit stress, morale and Survey unit stress, morale and

cohesion and provide feedback to cohesion and provide feedback to commandcommand

We offer more than this…We offer more than this…

Selection: Necessary Pilot Selection: Necessary Pilot AbilitiesAbilities

Psychomotor (stick & rudder)Psychomotor (stick & rudder)

Judgment and decision makingJudgment and decision making

AttentionAttention

MemoryMemory Prioritization of tasksPrioritization of tasks

Cockpit communicationCockpit communication

WWII Psychomotor TestWWII Psychomotor Test

Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Complex Coordination Test

Pilot Candidate Selection MethodPilot Candidate Selection Method

Paper-and-pencil AFOQT Basic Attributes Test

Previous Flying Experience

•g•Verbal•Math•Spatial•Aircrew Interest/ Knowledge•Perceptual Speed

•Psychomotor•Cognitive•Attitudes

+ +

NEO-Personality Inventory-NEO-Personality Inventory-RevisedRevised

(NEO-PI-R)(NEO-PI-R) Neuroticism (Neuroticism (NN) - Level of emotional stability) - Level of emotional stability Extraversion (Extraversion (EE)- Sociability, assertiveness, activity)- Sociability, assertiveness, activity Openness (to experience; Openness (to experience; OO) - Imagination, aesthetic ) - Imagination, aesthetic

sensitivity, attentiveness to inner feelings, preference for sensitivity, attentiveness to inner feelings, preference for variety, intellectual curiosity, independence of judgmentvariety, intellectual curiosity, independence of judgment

Agreeableness (Agreeableness (AA) - Altruism, sympathetic to others and ) - Altruism, sympathetic to others and eagerness to help, belief that others will be sympatheticeagerness to help, belief that others will be sympathetic

Conscientiousness (Conscientiousness (CC) - Self-control, determination) - Self-control, determination

Personality patterns of USAF flight students, Personality patterns of USAF flight students, experienced Army pilots, and elite soldiers experienced Army pilots, and elite soldiers

compared to general populationcompared to general population

USAF Student PilotsUSAF Student PilotsRetzlaff and Gibertini, 1987Retzlaff and Gibertini, 1987

3 distinct personality clusters (MCMI 3 distinct personality clusters (MCMI and PRF)and PRF)• aggressive, dominant, exhibitionistic, aggressive, dominant, exhibitionistic,

self-aggrandizing self-aggrandizing (21% right stuff)(21% right stuff)• achievement oriented, dominant, achievement oriented, dominant,

affiliative, high endurance and order, low affiliative, high endurance and order, low aggression aggression (58% typical stuff)(58% typical stuff)

• high harm avoidance, low achievement, high harm avoidance, low achievement, dominance, exhibition, affiliation, and dominance, exhibition, affiliation, and change change (21% wrong stuff)(21% wrong stuff)

Summary of Pilot Personality PatternsSummary of Pilot Personality Patterns

Military pilots are:Military pilots are:• moremore achievement-oriented, outgoing, active, achievement-oriented, outgoing, active,

competitive, dominant, and competitive, dominant, and • lessless introspective, emotionally sensitive, and introspective, emotionally sensitive, and

self-effacing than their non-flying counterpartsself-effacing than their non-flying counterparts Pilots are more like each other than their Pilots are more like each other than their

referent group; holds for gender as wellreferent group; holds for gender as well Female pilots differ from male pilots Female pilots differ from male pilots

mainly on the domain of openness to mainly on the domain of openness to experienceexperience

Marital/Family Role ConflictsMarital/Family Role Conflicts

Pilots/AircrewPilots/Aircrew• Soldier/Warrior vs Husband/FatherSoldier/Warrior vs Husband/Father

Somatization of emotionsSomatization of emotions Denial/minimization of difficultiesDenial/minimization of difficulties Not sharing emotionally difficult experiencesNot sharing emotionally difficult experiences

• Work pressures vs. Home pressuresWork pressures vs. Home pressures• Unrealistic expectations of self and spouseUnrealistic expectations of self and spouse

Role ConflictsRole Conflicts

Female PilotsFemale Pilots• Tend to get married later in lifeTend to get married later in life• Often married to another military Often married to another military

membermember• Potential for unequal distribution of Potential for unequal distribution of

domestic tasks related to domestic tasks related to parenting/child careparenting/child care

• Perception they may have to work Perception they may have to work harder at times to earn same scoresharder at times to earn same scores

Role ConflictsRole Conflicts

Aircrew SpouseAircrew Spouse• Military spouse vs. independent lifestyleMilitary spouse vs. independent lifestyle• Spouse’s perception of the risk vs. reward of Spouse’s perception of the risk vs. reward of

occupational hazardsoccupational hazards• Spouse’s support of pilot’s role in the warSpouse’s support of pilot’s role in the war• Spouse’s support/ability to serves as a Spouse’s support/ability to serves as a

single parent during TDYs and deploymentsingle parent during TDYs and deployment• Competing for time w/ unit friends/social Competing for time w/ unit friends/social

activitiesactivities

Communication DifficultiesCommunication Difficulties

Pilots/AircrewPilots/Aircrew• Problem & fact focusedProblem & fact focused• Check-list approach to conflictCheck-list approach to conflict• Difficulty attending to & identifying emotionDifficulty attending to & identifying emotion• Emotions expressed are usually anger & Emotions expressed are usually anger &

frustrationfrustration• Generally avoid or withdraw from discussing Generally avoid or withdraw from discussing

emotionsemotions

Communication DifficultiesCommunication Difficulties

SpouseSpouse• Spouse may have to make extreme Spouse may have to make extreme

efforts to raise awareness to problemefforts to raise awareness to problem• Pilot speak to wife as a subordinate or Pilot speak to wife as a subordinate or

co-workerco-worker• Competitive approach to conflictCompetitive approach to conflict• Judgmental, critical, patronizing Judgmental, critical, patronizing

approachapproach• Minimizes spouses stressors or needsMinimizes spouses stressors or needs

Psychological Assessment and Psychological Assessment and TreatmentTreatment

Evaluate crew members referred by Evaluate crew members referred by command and/or flight surgeoncommand and/or flight surgeon

Evaluate, monitor, and protect aircrew Evaluate, monitor, and protect aircrew from psychological stresses of flight from psychological stresses of flight environmentenvironment

Treat aircrew membersTreat aircrew members• Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse• Adjustment DisordersAdjustment Disorders• Fear of FlyingFear of Flying• Stress ManagementStress Management

EducationEducation Safety Stand-Down Days Safety Stand-Down Days

• Stress and Fatigue briefingsStress and Fatigue briefings• Suicide prevention briefingsSuicide prevention briefings• Other topics as relevant or requestedOther topics as relevant or requested

Educating “in the hangar”Educating “in the hangar”• Parenting, relationships, Parenting, relationships,

hypothetically…hypothetically…• ““My 13-year-old is…..Is that normal?”My 13-year-old is…..Is that normal?”• ““Is it normal for……” Is it normal for……”

Mishap InvestigationMishap Investigation

Human FactorsHuman Factors

StressStress Fatigue Fatigue Physical considerationsPhysical considerations EquipmentEquipment EnvironmentsEnvironments

Performance Under Performance Under “Stress”“Stress”

AttentionAttention• Perceptual tunneling Perceptual tunneling • Cognitive tunneling – narrowing mental Cognitive tunneling – narrowing mental

clarity or comprehension (missed radio call)clarity or comprehension (missed radio call)• Task shedding – entire tasks abandonedTask shedding – entire tasks abandoned

PsychomotorPsychomotor• Decreased tracking abilitiesDecreased tracking abilities

Performance Under “Stress”Performance Under “Stress”

MemoryMemory• Memory Capacity Declines (Short-term memory)Memory Capacity Declines (Short-term memory)

• Memory Strategies CompromisedMemory Strategies Compromised Over SimplificationOver Simplification Speed/Accuracy TradeoffSpeed/Accuracy Tradeoff

• New Learning Declines – Stress Related New Learning Declines – Stress Related RegressionRegression

Performance Under “Stress”Performance Under “Stress”

Judgment/Decision MakingJudgment/Decision Making

CommunicationCommunication

• Speech production (articulation, pitch, syntax)Speech production (articulation, pitch, syntax)

• ComprehensionComprehension

• Group ThinkGroup Think

Impact of Fatigue in the Impact of Fatigue in the CockpitCockpit

Reaction time increases• Errors in timing and accuracy

• Not as smooth

• Slow and irregular motor inputs

Attention is reduced• Lapse or “microsleeps”

• Tunneling

• Need enhanced stimuli

• Reduced audio-visual scan

Impact of Fatigue in the Impact of Fatigue in the CockpitCockpit

Diminished memory• Recall declines

• Learning declines

Greater tolerance for error• Overall poor and careless performance

Impaired communication, cooperation, and crew coordination• Repetitive and fragmented conversations

• Misinterpretations

Organizational Influences

Unsafe Supervisory Practices

Preconditions for Unsafe Acts

Unsafe Actions

Accident

Flying Hour Program. Optempo issues.

Failed to Correct a Known Problem. Integrate Risk Management into Avn Opns..

CRM training. Support Failure.

Failure to Follow Procedure. Failure to practice Procedures.

of opportunity for the soldier to fail.

Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS)

A-B-C’sA-B-C’s

Final ApproachFinal Approach

Typical Mishap Perception

Loss of SA

A-B-C’sA-B-C’s

Mishap RealityMishap Reality Final ApproachFinal Approach

Missed Local Condition Call Missed Local Condition Call Marital Problems Marital Problems

Missed SuspenseMissed Suspense 24 hour 24 hour daysdays

Trying to finish Masters Degree NewbornTrying to finish Masters Degree Newborn

Airlines are hiringAirlines are hiring Weather Weather Increased OPs Tempo SOS Increased OPs Tempo SOS

Reprimanded a Crew Member Reprimanded a Crew Member

AnxiousAnxious

“ “Whoop Whoop Pull Up”Whoop Whoop Pull Up” PANICPANIC

Distraction

UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO

Defining the Domain: Defining the Domain: What is “Operational Psychology?”What is “Operational Psychology?”

It’s not what you might think.It’s not what you might think.

Williams, Picano, Roland & Banks:Williams, Picano, Roland & Banks:

Psychologists who understand strategic and tactical Psychologists who understand strategic and tactical intelligence processes use direct and indirect assessment intelligence processes use direct and indirect assessment to: to: • understand enemy personalities and intentions understand enemy personalities and intentions • facilitate intelligence operationsfacilitate intelligence operations• assessment and selection for special and high-risk missionsassessment and selection for special and high-risk missions

May also provide operationally focused mental health May also provide operationally focused mental health support support

UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO


Staal and Stephenson:Staal and Stephenson:

• It is NOT a reflection of It is NOT a reflection of wherewhere a psychologist provides a psychologist provides services, (such as on a ship, in the field, etc.) services, (such as on a ship, in the field, etc.)

• Paradigm shift – some core competencies-operational Paradigm shift – some core competencies-operational psychology as an intelligence function vice a medical psychology as an intelligence function vice a medical function function

• Involves psychological consultation to military Involves psychological consultation to military commanders in order to improve commanders in order to improve operational operational decision decision making in combat or military operationsmaking in combat or military operations

UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO


Dial-Ward:Dial-Ward:

Operational Psychology is:Operational Psychology is:• Consultative activities of military and government Consultative activities of military and government psychologists who directly support national security psychologists who directly support national security missions missions facilitatingfacilitating intelligence, counterintelligence, intelligence, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and sensitive military special counterterrorism, and sensitive military special operations. operations.

• Involves skills from clinical, forensic, organizational, and Involves skills from clinical, forensic, organizational, and consulting psychology, among others consulting psychology, among others

• Requires sophisticated understanding of the Requires sophisticated understanding of the organizational consumer’s missions and legal authorities.organizational consumer’s missions and legal authorities.

UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO


Core Competencies of Operational PsychologistsCore Competencies of Operational Psychologists

(1) Direct and Indirect Assessment(1) Direct and Indirect Assessment ConsumerConsumer – Strategic decision makers (agents, operators, – Strategic decision makers (agents, operators, commanders, mission planners, analysts)commanders, mission planners, analysts)

MethodsMethods - Direct contact, or covert observation, surveillance - Direct contact, or covert observation, surveillance records, third party reports, or other recordsrecords, third party reports, or other records

SubjectsSubjects - Trainees, agents, sources, assets, adversarial targets - Trainees, agents, sources, assets, adversarial targets or others who may or may not be US citizensor others who may or may not be US citizens

PurposePurpose - Suitability for missions, strategy for interacting with - Suitability for missions, strategy for interacting with subject/group, recommendations for training, addressing specific subject/group, recommendations for training, addressing specific problems in relationship with subject, assessment of threat or problems in relationship with subject, assessment of threat or risk posed by subjectrisk posed by subject

- Security and Counterespionage Consultation - Security and Counterespionage Consultation - Support to Interrogation Operations- Support to Interrogation Operations- Assessment and Selection- Assessment and Selection

UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO


Core Competencies (cont.)Core Competencies (cont.)(2) Direct Support to Realistic, High Stress Training(2) Direct Support to Realistic, High Stress Training • Assessing student and instructor suitabilityAssessing student and instructor suitability• Recommendations regarding optimal learningRecommendations regarding optimal learning• Risk-management oversightRisk-management oversight• Teaching relevant blocks of instructionTeaching relevant blocks of instruction• SERE Certification by JPRASERE Certification by JPRA

(3) Personnel Recovery(3) Personnel Recovery• Pentagon tasking, repatriation and reintegration eventsPentagon tasking, repatriation and reintegration events• Psychological support to recovered DoD assets to Psychological support to recovered DoD assets to

facilitate associated intelligence collection missionfacilitate associated intelligence collection mission

UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO


Core Competencies (cont.)Core Competencies (cont.)(4) Professional Ethics(4) Professional Ethics – –

Emphasis on: Emphasis on: • APA Psychological Ethics and National Security (PENS) APA Psychological Ethics and National Security (PENS)

task force reporttask force report• Intelligence oversight (intelligence law)Intelligence oversight (intelligence law)• Laws of warfare Laws of warfare

Sensitivity and judgment with respect to: Sensitivity and judgment with respect to: • Limitations of validity and reliability in assessmentLimitations of validity and reliability in assessment• Challenges of dual relationshipsChallenges of dual relationships• Distinguishing subject and client relationshipsDistinguishing subject and client relationships• Multicultural awareness and expertiseMulticultural awareness and expertise

Behavioral Science Behavioral Science Consultation Team (BSCT)Consultation Team (BSCT)

BSCT Mission: observe and consult to ensure safe, legal, ethical, and effective intelligence collection and detention operations at the Bagram Theater Internment Facility (BTIF)

SERE Psychology: SERE Psychology: ReintegrationReintegration

Reintegration of Prisoners of War,Reintegration of Prisoners of War,Hostages, Peacetime Government Hostages, Peacetime Government Detainees, and Other Missing or Detainees, and Other Missing or Isolated Personnel through Reception, Isolated Personnel through Reception, Screening, Debriefing, and supportScreening, Debriefing, and support

SERE PsychologistsSERE PsychologistsPhase I OperationsPhase I OperationsPhase IIPhase IIPhase III-CONUSPhase III-CONUS

……And a Medic Came with ThemAnd a Medic Came with Them

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Aviation and Operational Psychology: Applications