Morale (also known as
esprit de corps ) is the capacity of a group's members to maintain belief in an institution or goal, particularly in the face of opposition or hardship. Morale is often referenced by authority figures as a generic
value judgment of the
willpower,
obedience, and
self-discipline of a group tasked with performing
duties assigned by a
superior. According to
Alexander H. Leighton, "morale is the capacity of a group of people to pull together persistently and consistently in pursuit of a common purpose". Morale is important in the military, because it improves
unit cohesion. Without good morale, a force will be more likely to give up or surrender. Morale is usually assessed at a collective, rather than an individual level. In wartime, civilian morale is also important.
Esprit de corps is considered to be an important part of a fighting unit.