The Disabled Veteran in the Family

Abstract

again find a place. Because these have their influence upon the returned veteran and upon his family, they cannot be minimized. One of these elements is the traditional role which the hero occupies in our culture-if not in all cultures. While the enhanced prestige which the hero experiences is a matter of common observation, the reflected prestige enjoyed by the members of his family is not so apparent. It is the desire for this reflected prestige which to a large extent operates as a coercive force in compelling the hero to conform to the role expected of him, whether he wishes to or not. Many veterans enjoy the role of the hero and adjust quite readily to what is expected of them. Communities vie with one another in lionizing their heroes to such a degree as even to encourage unscrupulous veterans to pretend exploits in the absence of a sufficient supply of bona fide heroes. And yet the period of lionization is transitory, with the frequent, although not inevitable, consequence that the veteran develops a false sense of security and a feeling of increased restlessness when he needs most to face reality and work out techniques of adjustment to a less glamorous and more stable world of human relationships. Members of his family need to contribute to this stability by realizing that although family pride in the achievement of its members is an admirable virtue, it can in many instances impede the disabled veteran's adjustment. If he is forced to occupy the center of the stage and be plunged into many contacts when he wishes to face only a few persons and slowly reestablish his relationships with them, the experience can but further contribute to his disorganization.