The Influence of the Development of Emotional Skills in the Performance of Special Operations Troops in Stressful Situations
This study focuses on the influence of emotional skills development on the performance of special operations forces, specifically within the context of the Special Forces Course in Brazil. The research aims to fill a knowledge gap by exploring how enhancing these skills can positively impact coping with stressful situations in high-risk operational environments. The central problem involves understanding how modifying military training methods can assist fighters in dealing with stressful situations. The hypothesis suggests that improving the psychosocial aspect of military training can result in significant benefits. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining numerical data and analysis of open-ended responses. It employs an experimental design with characteristics of action research, implementing planned interventions to analyze the results. The research is longitudinal, with data collection at the beginning and throughout the Special Forces Course, involving 30 students stratified from the Commando Actions Course. Results are analyzed in four main areas: personal planning, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal relationships. Personal planning shows an overall improvement of 3.4%, emphasizing precise decision-making, problem prevention, and time optimization. Mindfulness exhibits the highest perceived increase, at 12.2%, highlighting practices that reduce stress and maladaptive thoughts. Emotional intelligence records a 9.8% increase, indicating the development of individual and social characteristics. Interpersonal relationships demonstrate a 6.8% increase, with improvements in information reception and patience. The Questionnaire on Developed Practices reveals valuable insights. Meditative practices, mentioned 24 times, stand out, with an emphasis on visualization and breath control.
