Finally, it is performed without external gain anticipated at the time of the act. Third, a heroic act is one performed with recognition of possible risks and costs, be they to one’s physical health or personal reputation, in which the actor is willing to accept anticipated sacrifice. Second, it’s engaged in voluntarily, even in military contexts, as heroism remains an act that goes beyond something required by military duty. In that time, we’ve come to define heroism as an activity with several parts.įirst, it’s performed in service to others in need-whether that’s a person, group, or community-or in defense of certain ideals. For the last five years, my colleagues and I have been exploring the nature and roots of heroism, studying exemplary cases of heroism and surveying thousands of people about their choices to act (or not act) heroically. I believe that heroism is different than altruism and compassion. It could be that heroes have more compassion or empathy maybe there’s a hero gene maybe it’s because of their levels of oxytocin-research by neuroeconomist Paul Zak has shown that this “love hormone” in the brain increases the likelihood you’ll demonstrate altruism. Research has uncovered many answers to the second question: Evil can be fostered by dehumanization, diffusion of responsibility, obedience to authority, unjust systems, group pressure, moral disengagement, and anonymity, to name a few.įrom the GGSC to your bookshelf: 30 science-backed tools for well-being.īut when we ask why people become heroic, research doesn’t yet have an answer. Learn more about Zimbardo's Heroic Imagination Project. Read this Greater Good essay on the "psychology of the bystander." Read his essay on " The Banality of Heroism," which further explores the conditions that can promote heroism vs. Watch the video of Philip Zimbardo's Greater Good talk on heroism. In this excerpt from his talk, he zeroes in on his research and educational program designed to foster the “heroic imagination.” In his talk, Zimbardo discusses the psychology of evil and of heroism, exploring why good people sometimes turn bad and how we can encourage more people to perform heroic acts. This month, Greater Good features videos of a presentation by Philip Zimbardo, the world-renowned psychologist perhaps best known for his infamous Stanford Prison Experiment.
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