Various psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health experts have attempted to define and clarify the concept of Moral Injury. One such person is Jonathan Shay, who is credited with the initial definition of Moral Injury. Another is Brett Litz, who adds on to this to make it more encompassing. What are the three (3) conditions that Shay believes must be present for Moral Injury to occur? How does Brett Litz define “Moral Injury”?

what is moral injury

a wound that results from doing something that violates one’s ethics, ideals, or attachments.

condition 1

betrayal of what is morally correct. This is a condition because when we go against something we believe is morally right, it violates our beliefs, which is the baseline for what moral injury is.

condition 2

by someone we trust, is a condition because it brings feelings of betrayal by the system and environment, you’re in, as well as feeling forced into situations that go against your morals.

condition 3

in a high-stakes situation, is critical because it highlights how a high-stakes situation doesn’t just cause feelings of guilt but deep emotions and distress that have real and harmful effects.

Brett Litz definition

Brett Litz expands the definition of Moral Injury by stating the lasting psychological, biological, spiritual, behavioral, and social impact of perpetrating, failing to prevent, or bearing witness to acts that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations. Moral injury, through Litz’s lens, can refer to acts of doing something wrong, which is a commission, or from not doing something that should have been done, which is omission.