Headline, August 18 2026/ ANGLE : ''' MORAL INJURY MOORS '''

ANGLE :

''' MORAL INJURY MOORS '''

THE WOUNDS WITHIN : CHRISTOPHER NOLAN'S The Odyssey explores not only the trauma of war but the lasting moral injuries that haunt those who survive it.

Christopher Nolan's ' The Odysseus,' a new, a very new adaptation of Homer's epic tale of Odysseus' perilous journey home after the Trojan War, is already being described as a case study in post-traumatic stress disorder [ PTSD ].

But even more so, actor Matt Damon's tortured and broken portrayal of Odysseus offers a look into what psychologists call moral injury.

According to The Moral Injury Project at Syracuse University, moral injury is '' the damage done to one's conscience or moral compass when a person perpetrates, witnesses or fails to prevent acts that transgress one's own moral beliefs, values or ethical codes of conduct.''

Three clusters of experiences mark moral injury : spiritual or existential collapse; guilt and shame ; and alienation from other people.

Homer's work have long been heralded for highlighting the physical and psychological wounds of war. Yet, director Christopher Nolan, far more than Homer, goes on to plumb Odysseus' existential collapse, shame and guilt.

AN INVISIBLE WOUND : I'm a PTSD researcher and clinician who has worked at four Veterans Affairs hospitals, and I've long taught my students that Homer's epics contain some of the oldest written examples of PTSD symptoms, even though the formal diagnosis of PTSD did not exist until 1980.

Moral injury is not simply another name for PTSD, although the two often travel together.

PTSD is a fear-based disorder characterised by re-experiencing past trauma, avoidance of anything that triggers memories of that trauma, negative changes in mood and thought, and being constantly on guard.

Not everyone with PTSD experiences moral injury and not all types of moral injury induce PTSD. But the two can overlap, particularly when someone violates their deeply held moral beliefs in a way that's connected to a profound sense of guilt or shame.

In his books 'Achilles in Vietnam' and 'Odysseus in America', psychiatrist Jonathan Shay explored moral injury in the context of the Vietnam War. Shay focused on the American military institutions and leaders who undermined the trust and ideals of their soldiers through unclear goals and unjust orders.

His exploration of moral injury is important. But it emphasises the psychological consequences for soldiers when they're betrayed in high-stakes situations.

A more expansive view of moral injury, advanced by psychologist Brett Litz, shows it can also result from an individual's own actions -what's known as perpetration-based moral injury.

Released in 1989, the critically acclaimed movie Born on the Fourth of July, which is based on Ron Kovic's 1976 autobiography, centers on this type of moral injury. Kovic, played by Tom Cruise, is haunted by acts he committed while fighting in Vietnam.

In a friendly fire incident, he accidentally kills a fellow Marine during a chaotic firefight. Later, he witnesses and participates in an attack in which his unit kills Vietnamese civilians, including women and children.

MORAL INJURY IN THE ODYSSEY : Kovic's actions and ensuing trauma reflect the same kind of moral injury seen in Damon's Odysseus.

After 10 long years of fighting the Trojan War, Odysseus devises a plan to end the conflict : he and his troops infiltrate Troy by hiding inside a massive wooden horse.

They've built it as an apparent peace offering, climb inside and wait until their enemies pull '' the gift '' inside the city walls. Then they attack.

The Honour and Serving of the Latest Global Operational Research on '' The Wounds Within Students,'' continues. !WOW! thanks Amy S. Badura-Brack.

With most respectful dedication to Leaders, Grandparents, Parents, The Global Founder Framers of The World Students Society - and then Students, Professors and Teachers of the world.

See You all prepare for the great '' Constitutional Democratic Convention '' on : wssciw.blogspot.com and Twitter X !E-WOW! - The Ecosystem 2011 :

Good Night and God Bless

SAM Daily Times - The Voice Of The Voiceless