Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines moral as of or pertaining to principles of
right and wrong in behavior: ethical. The same dictionary defines morale as (1) the mental or emotional
condition (enthusiasm, confidence, or loyalty) of an individual or group with regard to the function or
tasks at hand; (2) a sense of common purpose with respect to a group; esprit de corps; (3) the level of
individual psychological well-being based on such factors as sense of purpose and confidence in the
future.
When we think about general usage of the word morale, we think of a favorable attitude on the
part of a member or members of a group toward that group and in particular toward its goals and
leadership.
Characteristic of a person with high morale would be descriptions such as:
1.
well-adjusted
2.
confident in him or herself and in the future
3.
highly motivated
4.
promoter of good will
On the other hand, a person with low morale would likely be:
1.
backbiting or overly withdrawn
2.
not confident in him or herself or in the future
3.
maladjusted
4.
indifferent about matters of good will toward others
As a concept, morale has been applied mostly to individuals or a number of individuals, but is
now used in relation to social groups and larger organizations.
With regard to small groups, morale is sometimes seen as synonymous with the "cohesiveness"
or friendliness of a group. Group morale is measured by:
1.
pride in the group
2.
confidence in attaining the group's goals
3.
high output or efficiency
4.
job satisfaction
In a military setting morale takes on a slightly different context. Soldiers and officers alike are
concerned less with "cohesiveness" and job satisfaction and more about efficiency related areas such as
those listed below:
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