The Structure of Morale

Originally published in 1943, this book contains the text of lectures delivered by Dr. J. T. Macurdy to groups of officers from the army and the auxiliary women's services early in WWII. Macurdy, who had made one of the earliest studies of 'war neuroses' during WWI, discusses the nature of fear, the national factors at play in the creation and sustainability of morale with reference to the Allied and Axis powers, and the significance of psychological factors in practice in an organized community. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of psychology or the role of the psychologist in wartime.

Part I. Fear: Preface; 1. Passive adaptation to dangers; 2. Active adaptation to dangers; Part II. Morale: 3. Basic principles of social life; 4. Variable morale; 5. National objectives; 6. National scales of value; Part III. Some Problems in Organization: 7. Dictatorship and democracy; 8. Inherent difficulties in organization; 9. Departmentalism and careerism; 10. Leadership and public service; 11. Science and authority; 12. Liaison and German man-power; Index.