A military psychology perspective on courage: A Fuzzy AHP-based comparison of Turkish and other NATO officers

This study explores how high-ranking military officers conceptualize the fundamental dimensions of courage. Based on data collected from twenty officers serving at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, the research constructed a comprehensive hierarchy of courage dimensions that reflects the collective views of all participants and reveals statistically significant differences between Turkish officers and other NATO officers, grounded in cultural context. Fifteen pairwise comparisons relating to the three primary components of courage, (1) initial intent (2) risks, threats, and fears encountered during the process and (3) the outcomes of action, were evaluated using the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP). Triangular Fuzzy Numbers (TFN) were employed to model comparisons, and both arithmetic mean and Fuzzy Geometric Mean (FGM) methods were used to minimize intra-group inconsistencies. Overall results indicate that officers primarily associate courage with individual intent, free will, and moral purpose. Risks encountered during the process and the outcomes of action were considered less decisive than the internal motivation underlying courageous behavior. Comparative analyses reveal that Turkish officers tend to prioritize idealistic dimensions such as fearlessness and free will, whereas the other NATO officers exhibit a more balanced and controlled approach. Mann-Whitney U-tests confirmed that many of these differences were statistically significant. These findings suggest that courage should be interpreted through a cultural lens to inform leadership development, mission planning, and psychological preparation in multinational military operations. Moreover, the study highlights the analytical flexibility and explanatory depth that fuzzy logic-based models offer when assessing subjective psychological constructs.