Is Courage the Counterpoint of Demoralization?

Abstract

Objective

To consider the role courage plays in our ability to cope with threat and adversity, especially the role of courage in understanding demoralization and dignity.

Method

By exploring standard psychiatric texts and Aristotle's concept of courage and virtue. A review of Medline and PsyclNFO provided few relevant documents, reflecting the paucity of research on the concept of courage in psychiatry, palliative care, and psycho-oncology.

Results and conclusions

Courage is an important precursor to maintaining morale and therefore may play a critical causative role in demoralization. Courage is also intimately related to the concepts of self-esteem, free will, and personal values in life. The utility of the concept of courage is that it enables a response to a difficult circumstance. The main drawback of courage in a therapeutic sense is that it is often linked with cowardice, which has a pejorative connotation and is notoriously difficult to diagnose.