University of Richmond UR Scholarship Repository Bookshelf 2020 Core Concepts in Heroism Science, Volume Two Scott T. Allison University of Richmond Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.richmond.edu/bookshelf Part of the Community Psychology Commons, Social Psychology Commons, and the Theory and Philosophy Commons Recommended Citation Allison, S. T. (Ed.). (2020). Core Concepts in Heroism Science (Vol. Two). Richmond, VA: Palsgrove. NOTE: This PDF preview of Core Concepts in Heroism Science, Volume Two includes only the preface and/or introduction. To purchase the full text, please click here. This Book is brought to you for free and open access by UR Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Bookshelf by an authorized administrator of UR Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CORE CONCEPTS IN HEROISM SCIENCE VOLUME TWO First published 2020 by Palsgrove Copyright © 2020 by Scott T. Allison. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of the book may be used or reproduced without written permission with the exception of brief quotations. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Name: Allison, Scott T., Editor Title: Core Concepts in Heroism Science, Volume 2 Edited by Scott T. Allison Description: 1 Edition | Richmond: Palsgrove, 2020 | Includes bibliographical references Identifiers: ISBN-9798650178880 ISBN: 9798650178880 COVER IMAGE: Illustration by Jamie Katz. Design by Dylan Vavra CORE CONCEPTS IN HEROISM SCIENCE VOLUME TWO Edited by Scott T. Allison University of Richmond Praise for Core Concepts in Heroism Science “Meticulously researched, and a lively read, this book is a brilliant example of the meaningful and collaborative scholarship that emerges from the partnership between gifted students and their faculty mentors.” -- Dr. Ronald A. Crutcher, President, University of Richmond “This book represents the ideal integration of teaching and scholarly work that is an exemplar of a University of Richmond education.” -- Dr. Jacquelyn S. Fetrow, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, University of Richmond “A extraordinary collection of readings that illuminate the origins of heroic action. Reading Core Concepts in Heroism Science gave me a fresh, bold appreciation of heroism science.” -- Dr. James K. Beggan, Professor of Sociology, University of Louisville “Core Concepts in Heroism Science is an inspiring book about inspiring people. Heroes teach by the example of their lives and those lives are explored here in both personal detail and broad perspective. We are fortunate to have such a book.” -- Dr. Edward Ayers, Tucker-Boatwright Professor in the Humanities, President Emeritus, University of Richmond "Scott Allison has succeeded in gathering an all-star team of student scholars who provide a masterful analysis of the central concepts of heroism. This is an inspired volume that forges new ground in enhanc- ing our understanding of the best of human nature." -- Dr. Robert A. Giacalone, Professor of Management, John Carroll University Contents Acknowledgements 4 Introduction: Unification at the Core of Heroism 6 Scott t. AlliSon section i • How to Make a Hero 1 Heroes as Moral Models: An Effective Way to Make Change 22 JAmie l. KAtz 2 Motivational Heroism: A Phenomenon that Keeps the World Spinning 38 lAuren A. lAmbert 3 Adherence to Principles: The Heroism of Charlotte Brontë and Edith Wharton 54 SmArAgdA P. SPyrou 4 Wax On, Wax Off: The Transformative Effect of Mentors on Heroes 68 nAtAlie r. SchiAno section 2 • How to Break a Hero 5 Falling From Grace: From Celebration to Condemnation 84 JAcob W. roberSon 6 Tales of the Flawed: An Examination of Anti-Heroism Across Media 100 Tai l. ho 7 Transposed Heroes: Supporting Evidence for Subjective Heroism 118 chloe l. zAloom 1 section 3 • How Heroes Defy tHe Odds 8 Citizens or Heroes: The Fall – and Rise – of Heroic Martyrdom 134 megAn r. Wirtz 9 Sexism, Gender Roles and Heroism: Why Women are Underrepresented as HeroesTrilogy 150 JeSSicA m. StAnfill 10 Coming from Behind Once Again: An Analysis of the Underdog Phenomenon 166 emily e. brAuneWell section 4 • applications of HeroisM 11 Heroism and Hofstede’s Dimensions: A Cross-Cultural Analysis 180 AlexA m. bertrAnd 12 Heroic Transformation of Setting: The Relationship Between the Hero and Her Environment 198 ShAron h. Shin 13 Heroic Pursuits of Scientific Knowledge 212 e. h. hA About tHe autHors 229 otHer Books in tHe palsgrove series 233 About tHe palsgrove series eDitor 234 2 3 Acknowledgements This book is the fifth in the Palsgrove series of student-authored books that my team and I have edited over the past several years. It was made possible by many sources of support from a number of generous individuals. Foremost, I thank my student-authors for their enthusiastic participation in this enterprise. These gifted young people have taught me much about heroism and they give me such nourishing hope for the future of humanity and for our planet. This volume could not have been produced without the encouragement and support from several University of Richmond sources. My heartfelt thanks go out to Ronald Crutcher, President of the University of Richmond; Patrice Rankine, Dean of Arts & Sciences; and Cindy Bukach, Chair of the Psychology Department. These extraordinary individuals have provided the inspiration to continue this series of student-authored books on heroism. I am also grateful to Greg Smith, my friend and colleague for the past 15 years. Greg’s help with the technical aspects of publishing these books has been invalu- able. Additional thanks go to Karyn Kuhn, one of the best academic administra- tors in the history of the University of Richmond. Whenever I need any kind of assistance, Karyn is always there with the perfect answer, always delivered with kindness and wisdom. Perhaps the one person most responsible for my interest in heroism is my dear friend and colleague, Al Goethals. Al and I have been buddies and research col- laborators since 1985. For almost 40 years, the two of us have enjoyed innumer- able lunches and conversations about leadership and heroism. These chats are always a delight and have served as the genesis of our many co-authored books and articles. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Al for his generous spirit and wisdom. Finally, this work would never have happened without my loving wife and part- ner Connie Allison, who for reasons I'll never understand has tolerated me for many years. Connie’s gentle demeanor, steadfast warmth, and sweet compan- ionship have inspired and sustained me more than she’ll ever know. Thank you, my dear Constance Rae. 4 INTRODUCTION 5 Unification at the Core of Heroism scott t. allison What lies at the core of heroism? This book attempts to answer this daunting question. To understand the core of heroism – the forces underlying it – let’s first examine what heroism is at its surface. On the outside, heroism is a behavior, or set of behaviors. These actions are directed toward helping others, and they go beyond expectation and are considered by most people to be extraordinary (Franco, Blau, & Zimbardo, 2011). In addition, heroism involves taking great risks and making exceptional sacrifices (Allison, Goethals, & Kramer, 2017). We observe these extreme helping behaviors and we admire them -- but where do these actions come from? What hidden, internal processes are at work and can explain why some people step up, take chances, and dare to do what most of us are unable to do? What lurks at the core of heroic action? At its heart, out of sight but driving people’s heroic behavior, lurks a heroic consciousness that “sees” the world through a broader, deeper, and enlightened lens. Heroic behavior is always a reflection of an expanded and mature con- sciousness. This highly developed consciousness lies at the core of heroism and makes extraordinarily positive, selfless, and inspirational behavior possible. 6 Let’s be very clear: The idea that consciousness plays an important role in hero- ism is not new at all. For example, Joseph Campbell (1988) argued that the goal of the hero’s journey in myth and literature is to bring about “a transformation of consciousness” in the hero (p. 155, italics added). Kinsella, Ritchie, and Igou (2017) argue that heroism heightens our conscious “awareness of ought selves and ideal selves” (p. 27). Heroism scientists have recently argued that the ultimate goal of heroic transformation is the attainment of a higher, or deeper, level of conscious- ness (Jones, 2019; Ross, 2019). This type of “seeing” requires a fresh, heroic set of eyes, a new type of conscious- ness that involves viewing the world in a way that dares to deviate from our Western culture’s emphasis on individualism, hyper-rationalism, and materialism. Ross (2019), for example, has conceptualized heroic transformation as the pathway to “higher or increased consciousness” (p. 5). A person with heroically transformed consciousness is “able to sense through division and experience the unity inherent in all, and will be able to unify perceptions and self” (p. 6). four SignS of heroic conSciouSneSS From my review of the literature, I have identified four attributes of an individual who has experienced heroic consciousness. The four characteristics of the hero’s consciousness include the tendency to show clarity and effectiveness in: (1) seeing the world from a nondualistic perspective; (2) processing transrational phenomena; (3) exhibiting a unitive consciousness; and (4) demonstrating the wisdom to know when to act heroically and when not to act when action would be harmful. Let’s now examine each of these in turn. 1. Nondualistic Thinking A central element of the hero’s consciousness is the hero’s use of the mental and spiritual approach to life known as nondualistic thinking (Jones, 2019; Loy, 1997; Rohr, 2009). Heroes are adept at both dualistic and nondualistic mental approaches.