Theories Social Psychology The Psychology of Heroism Are Heroes Born or Made? By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 08, 2023 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Shereen Lehman, MS Fact checked by Shereen Lehman, MS Shereen Lehman, MS, is a healthcare journalist and fact checker. She has co-authored two books for the popular Dummies Series (as Shereen Jegtvig). Learn about our editorial process Print Caven Images / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Definition Examples Psychology Bystander Effect Trending Videos Close this video player Heroes touch our hearts, fill us with admiration, and make us reconsider our views of the world. Just look at the plethora of superhero movies that are made and it's easy to see how much our society values and loves heroes. But what makes real-life people take heroic actions in the face of great danger? This question is at the heart of hero psychology and requires that we first define what heroism is. Defining Heroism In a strict dictionary sense, heroism is defined as taking a courageous action. An example would be running into a burning building to save children inside. Yet, in the field of psychology, the definition of heroism can vary from one psychologist or researcher to the next. According to one review of the literature, researchers from various departments of psychology indicate that a hero is someone who: Uplifts and enhances other people's lives Models societal morals, values, and virtues Protects others Others suggest that the definition of heroism is more subjective and "in the eye of the beholder." They contend that how heroism is defined varies based on a person's values, personal preferences, stage of life, and even their level of maturity. Examples of Heroism Perhaps the best way to understand heroism is to see it in action. When looking around, we can find many examples of heroism in everyday life. On November 6, 2023, a police officer in the Lincoln, Nebraska area was called a hero for risking his own life to save a kayaker who had flipped over in dangerously cold water and crying for help. Upon hearing her cries, Officer Pierce Krouse removed his gear, swam to the woman, put her on the kayak, and returned them both to shore. In March 2023, 5-year-old Easton Spann was awarded the American Red Cross's Acts of Courage award and declared a hero for taking action when his grandmother was having a seizure. Spann is on the autism spectrum and, with his grandfather's instruction, was able to unlock the home, open the door, and watch for rescuers to arrive. Tescha Hawley was declared one of CNN's 2023 Heroes of the Year for using her own fight with cancer to help others in her Native American community who are battling this disease. Hawley does this through the Day Eagle Hope Project which she founded in 2017. This project not only provides individuals with much-needed support but also offers access to fresh food, help with chemical addiction, and equine therapy as a form of suicide prevention for at-risk youth. The Psychology of Heroism Why do people like those mentioned above become heroes? Are there any characteristics of heroism that these individuals seem to share? These are the types of questions that the psychology of heroism attempts to answer. Here are a few theories related to hero psychology. "Big H Heroism" vs. "Small h Heroism" Psychology professor Frank Farley makes a distinction between what he calls "big H heroism" and "small h heroism." Big H heroism involves a potentially big risk such as getting hurt, going to jail, or even death. Small h heroism, on the other hand, involves things many of us do every day: helping someone out, being kind, and standing up for justice. These things don't typically involve personal risk on our part. Farley suggests that there are two key factors underlying the grand acts of heroism that involve a risk of personal harm: risk-taking behavior and generosity. People who risk their lives in the service of another are naturally more likely to take greater risks and they also possess a great deal of compassion, kindness, empathy, and altruism. Altruism: How to Cultivate Selfless Behavior Nature vs. Nurture One of the biggest questions researchers face comes down to the age-old debate over nature versus nurture. Is heroism something we are born with or is heroism something that can be learned? Researchers have long theorized that both people and animals are more likely to help those to whom they are genetically related, a concept known as kin selection. By helping those who share our genes, we help ensure the likelihood that those genes will be passed on to future generations. Others suggest that heroism can be learned. The Heroic Imagination Project operates on this notion, seeking to "create everyday heroes" through strategies that combine psychological research, education, and social activism. Reciprocal Altruism Another theory as to why some people commit heroic acts for others is based on the concept of reciprocity. More specifically, it involves reciprocal altruism. According to reciprocal altruism, we help others with the expectation that someday they might help us in return. Other Influential Factors What about the kinds of altruism that don't hinge on helping relatives or expecting some type of payback? In such cases, situational, cultural, and personality variables can play pivotal roles. After people take heroic actions, they often claim that they don't see themselves as heroes. They were simply doing what anyone in that situation would have done. In a study published in 2016, researchers suggested that those who have a particular mindset that leads them to behave confidently and morally in difficult situations tend to act immediately and unconsciously when an emergency occurs. What Causes Someone to Not Be Heroic? The same situational forces that galvanize some individuals to heroic acts can actually impede others from helping. When a crisis arises in the presence of many people, we can fall into a trap of inaction by assuming that someone else will offer assistance, a phenomenon known as the bystander effect. Because personal responsibility is diffused by the presence of others, we believe that someone else will take on the role of the hero. Some people may also have personality traits that predispose them to not behave in altruistic and heroic ways. 12 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Dictionary.com. Heroism. Kinsella EL, Ritchie TD, Igou ER. Lay perspectives on the social and psychological functions of heroes. Front Psychol. 2015;6:130. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00130 Allison ST, Goethals GR. Defining heroism: Objectively possible or in the eye of the beholder? University of Richmond School of Arts & Sciences. Fergeson S. Local hero saves a woman's life. Nebraska TV - ABC American Red Cross. 2023 Acts of Courage Awards honor local heroes. Torgan A. This CNN Hero's battle with cancer inspired her lifesaving work helping families in her Native American community. CNN Heroes. O'Connor MI. Equity360: Gender, race, and ethnicity: Heroes, Rep. John R. Lewis, and orthopaedics. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2021;479(2):233-235. doi:10.1097/CORR.0000000000001586 Birch J, Okasha S. Kin selection and its critics. Biosci. 2015;65(1):22-32. doi:10.1093/biosci.biu196 Heroic Imagination Project. Our mission. Feigin S, Owens G, Goodyear-Smith F. Theories of human altruism: a systematic review. Ann Neurosci Psychol. 2014;1(1):5. doi:10.7243/2055-3447-1-5 Keczer Z, File B, Orosz G, Zimbardo PG. Social Representations of Hero and Everyday Hero: A Network Study from Representative Samples. PLoS ONE. 2016;11(8):e0159354. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159354 Liebst LS, Philpot R, Bernasco W, et al. Social relations and presence of others predict bystander intervention: Evidence from violent incidents captured on CCTV. Aggress Behav. 2019;45(6):598-609. doi:10.1002/ab.21853 By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit