NAFOD

No Apparent Fear Of Death, or NAFOD, is a theorised personality disorder that leads to repeated risky behaviour. Its main characteristic is that the individual lacks the fear of death exhibited by normal personalities, and in the absence of this fear they carry out acts which have a very significant chance of proving fatal.
Origin
The origin of the neologistic acronym NAFOD appears to be in the United States military although it is not found in any official military publications. Anecdotes from military pilots have cited it as being written in the records of pilots who lose their ratings for recklessness. Two anecdotes are often recounted; one concerns a US Navy aviator who was involved in at least two non-fatal flying accidents as a result of repeated reckless behaviour, and the other a US Marine Corps aviator who committed risky acts both on and off duty. The US Navy believe that NAFOD is more likely to be seen in the early part of a pilot's career, with risk aversion becoming evident later. On the other hand American psychologist Dr. Scott Gordon, who specialises in working with aviators, believes that NAFOD describes an actual personality type and has been working on a formal definition.
Colloquially the term NAFOD and derivative words do seem to be used, with a broadly similar meaning to Gordon's proposal.
Definition
A proposed profile for a person suffering from NAFOD includes the following points:
* Male subject
* Current or former member of the military or another high-risk occupation
* Understands the possible risks or consequences of their actions but chooses to proceed anyway
* Is recklessly ambivalent to death
* No history of suicidal behaviour or suicide ideation
* Is not:
** A religious zealot
** Notably brave
** Highly motivated by a cause (a "hero")
* Is not clinically manic
* Is divorced or has problems maintaining a steady relationship
* Has exhibited a pattern of risk-taking, thrill seeking or recklessness since childhood
Suggested diagnostic criteria include:
* Episodes are not brought on by environmental factors
* Subject shows no signs of mania, psychosis or compulsive behaviour
* Episodes are not calculated
* Subject does not meet the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder or dysthymia
* Subject does not have negative recollections of "NAFOD" episodes
* Subject has lost permission to drive or fly as a result of reckless or inappropriate behaviour
Whereas individuals who take part in extreme sports are aware that death could result from their actions in the case of an error or equipment failure, a proposed characteristic of NAFOD would be a willingness to carry out actions where death is a likely result even if everything goes to plan. On the other hand "Nafodic" individuals do not see their death as an aim to be achieved, as in the case of suicide. It is merely a potential outcome that they accept.
Implications
Both anecdotal evidence and the limited studies which have been conducted suggest that NAFOD-type behaviour often shows itself through disregard for the rules when in control of vehicles or aircraft. One example cited is USAF , who crashed a B-52 bomber in 1994 with a total of four fatalities. Holland was known as an extremely reckless pilot, and other aviators had refused to fly with him. On one flight his co-pilot had to physically take control of the aircraft to prevent Holland from flying into a ridge. Holland was well aware of the restrictions on flying the B-52 but repeatedly ignored them despite numerous warnings and near-crashes. He was a talented pilot and knew what he and the aircraft were capable of; he simply didn't seem to think it was important if he crashed.<ref name = "NAFOD" /> Similar pilot behaviour, again resulting in four deaths, led to the destruction of a C-17 transport aircraft in 2010. A high percentage of "Nafodic" individuals have lost their authorisation to fly or drive as a result of reckless behaviour<ref name = "NAFOD" /> or had engaged in other risky activities such as using prostitutes. On the other hand a very low percentage had ever seen a mental health professional or been diagnosed with a mental illness.
Management
While NAFOD is not yet recognised as a disorder by the American Psychiatric Association's DSM or similar manuals, the Romanian armed forces have expressed an interest in screening for the proposed criteria.
As well as recommending screening to ensure "Nafodic" individuals are not placed in positions where their recklessness would endanger themselves or others, it has also been suggested that such individuals could be channelled into military roles where their behaviour would be an asset.<ref name = "NAFOD" /> This would require managing the negative aspects of the personality type while turning others to positive use. A "Nafodic" individual would, for example, be free of the fear of death that most people experience when preparing to enter a potentially dangerous situation. Because fear tends to push someone towards a fight-or-flight response it may lead to reactions that, by being inappropriate to the situation, actually make the situation more dangerous for a soldier or agent. "Nafodic" personnel could potentially function more rationally in such situations and perversely be in less actual (as opposed to perceived) danger.

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