Editing Courage (section)

===Possible distortions of courage===
According to Putman, there are four possible ways courage could be distorted:{{sfn|Putman|2001|pp=467}}
#"Higher level of fear than a situation calls for, low level of confidence". Someone like this would be perceived as a coward;
#"Excessively low level of fear when real fear is an appropriate, excessively high level of confidence". Someone like this would be perceived as [[Recklessness (psychology)|foolhardy]];
#"Excessively high level of fear, yet the confidence is also excessively high". The third possibility can occur if someone experienced a traumatic experience that brought about great anxiety for much of their life. Then they fear that their experience would often be inappropriate and excessive. Yet as a defensive mechanism, the person would show excessive levels of confidence as a way to confront their irrational fear and "prove" something to oneself or another. So this distortion could be seen as a coping method for their fear.
#"Excessively low level of fear and low level of confidence". For the last possibility, it can be seen as hopelessness or fatalism.

Thus, Putman identifies fear and courage as being deeply intertwined and that they rely on distinct perceptions: "the danger of the situation", "the worthiness of the cause", "and the perception of one's ability".{{sfn|Putman|2001|pp=467}}