1st Edition
Handbook of Heroism and Heroic Leadership
Over the past decade, research and theory on heroism and heroic leadership has greatly expanded, providing new insights on heroic behavior. The Handbook of Heroism and Heroic Leadership brings together new scholarship in this burgeoning field to build an important foundation for further multidisciplinary developments. In its three parts, "Origins of Heroism," "Types of Heroism," and "Processes of Heroism," distinguished social scientists and researchers explore topics such as morality, resilience, courage, empathy, meaning, altruism, spirituality, and transformation. This handbook provides a much-needed consolidation and synthesis for heroism and heroic leadership scholars and graduate students.
Setting the Scene: The Rise and Coalescence of Heroism Science Scott T. Allison, George R. Goethals, and Roderick M. Kramer
Part I: Origins of Heroism
1. Attributes and Applications of Heroes: A Brief History of Lay and Academic Perspectives Elaine L. Kinsella, Timothy D. Ritchie, and Eric R. Igou
2. Why Heroism Exists: Evolutionary Perspectives on Extreme Helping Sara Kafashan, Adam Sparks, Amanda Rotella, and Pat Barclay
3. Adaptive Foundations of Heroism: Social Heuristics Push Advantageous Everyday Ethical Behavior to Heroic Extremes Gordon T. Kraft-Todd and David G. Rand
4. The Evolution and Neurobiology of Heroism Stephanie D. Preston
5. Character Development and the Emergence of Heroic Leadership: Towards a Relational Developmental Systems-Based Model Kristina Schmid Callina, Richard M. Lerner, Ettya Fremont, Brian Burkhard, Danielle Stacey, and Shaobing Su
6. The Moral Character of Heroes Lawrence J. Walker
7. Why and How Groups Create Moral Heroes Ari Decter-Frain, Ruth Vanstone, and Jeremy A. Frimer
8. The Hero Organism: Advancing the Embodiment of Heroism Thesis in the 21st Century Olivia Efthimiou
Part II: Types of Heroism
9. Everyday Heroes: Determinants of Moral Courage Anna Halmburger, Anna Baumert, and Manfred Schmitt
10. Heroism in Times of Crisis: Understanding Leadership during Extreme Events Zeno E. Franco
11. Holocaust Heroes: Heroic Altruism of Non-Jewish Moral Exemplars in Nazi Europe Stephanie Fagin-Jones
12. Heroism and Wisdom in Medicine Margaret Plews-Ogan, Justine E. Owens, Natalie May, and Monika Ardelt
13. Deviant Heroes and Social Heroism in Everyday Life: Activists and Artists Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Michael Condren, and Izabela Lebuda
14. To Become or Not to Become? Existential Courage and the Quest for Identity Roderick M. Kramer
15. Heroism in the Networked Society Dana Klisanin
16. A Training Program in Spiritually-Oriented Leadership: Inner Growth for Outer Change Elsa Lau, Sarah B. Sherman, and Lisa Miller
17. Career Development and a Sense of Calling: Contexts for Heroism Bryan J. Dik, Adelyn B. Shimizu, and William O’Connor
18. Underdogs as Heroes Joseph A. Vandello, Nadav Goldschmied, and Kenneth Michniewicz
19. Whistleblowers as Heroes: Fostering ‘Quiet’ Heroism in Place of the Heroic Whistleblower Stereotype A J Brown
Part III: Processes of Heroism
20. The Hero’s Transformation Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals
21. Moral Transformation: The Paths to Heroism, Villainy, and Victimhood Amelia Goranson and Kurt Gray
22. The Impact of Heroism on Heroes and Observers: Stories of Elevation and Personal Change Jeanne Nakamura and Laura Graham
23. Accidental and Purposeful Impediments to Heroism Craig D. Parks
24. Heroic Empathy: The Heart of Leadership Ronald H. Humphrey and Laural L. Adams
25. Heroic Leaders and Despotic Tyrants: How Power and Status Shape Leadership Anika Stuppy and Nicole L. Mead
26. The Intersection of Purpose and Heroism: A Study of Exemplars Kendall Cotton Bronk and Brian R. Riches
27. Heroism and the Pursuit of Meaning Jeffrey D. Green, Daryl R. Van Tongeren, Athena H. Cairo, and Nao Hagiwara
28. Psychopathy and Heroism: Unresolved Questions and Future Directions Brett A. Murphy, Scott O. Lilienfeld, and Ashley L. Watts
29. The Courage of One’s Moral Convictions: Exploring the Two Sides of Heroism Ronnie Janoff-Bulman and Prerana Bharadwaj
Biography
Scott T. Allison is Professor of Psychology at the University of Richmond. He has published numerous books and articles on heroism, villainy, heroic leadership, and underdogs.
George R. Goethals holds the E. Claiborne Robins Distinguished Professorship in Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond and studies heroes and presidential leadership.
Roderick M. Kramer is the William R. Kimball Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford University and is the author or coauthor of more than a dozen academic books.
'The study of heroes and exemplars is generating increasing excitement throughout the social sciences at the present time, and for good reason. We live in a time of diminished expectations for moral leadership and true heroism. This innovative Handbook of Heroism and Heroic Leadership draws on the best available science to help us understand the conditions that foster heroic leadership, and how it works across a variety of social contexts. The volume is an essential contribution to the study of human lives in all their full potential.' – William Damon, Professor and Director, Stanford Center on Adolescence, Stanford University
'Studying heroism is challenging for scientists, yet Allison, Goethals, and Kramer have assembled 29 chapters by knowledgeable authors who explore varied aspects of heroism. The result is a thoroughly impressive volume that surely is the key resource in this developing area of science. Professors could organize an outstanding course or seminar on heroism around these excellent chapters.' – Alice Eagly, Professor of Psychology and James Padilla Chair of Arts & Sciences, Northwestern University
'Allison, Goethals, and Kramer's Handbook marks the emergence of the study of heroes and heroism as a central concern of the social sciences. A handbook in the truest sense, the book’s well-organized and executed chapters—written by leading experts in the field—combine to form a foundation for the study of heroic leadership; they summarize current scholarly thinking, build thematic connections between subareas, suggest novel interpretations and insights, and identify future directions for theory, research, development, and application. This book is a goldmine of information essential for anyone seeking to better understand the ethical, psychological, interpersonal, and spiritual bases of heroism.' – Donelson R. Forsyth, Colonel Leo K. and Gaylee Thorsness Endowed Chair in Ethical Leadership, University of Richmond
'This handbook is a comprehensive, informative, and exciting contribution to the literature on heroism and heroic leadership. Material on heroism tends to be scattered in many different places, and it is wonderful to have it at last in one place, in readable and engaging prose. I recommend the handbook most highly.' – Robert J. Sternberg, Professor of Human Development, Cornell University
'Editors Scott Allison, George Goethals and Roderick Kramer have assembled an outstanding team of contributors whose expertise ranges from neurobiology and evolutionary psychology to developmental approaches as well as spirituality, leadership, and career development. In addition to the variety of topics and approaches featured in this volume, readers will appreciate the uniform clarity of the presentations and their engaging style of academic storytelling.' – Philip Zimbardo, Professor Emeritus, Stanford University, and Founder of the Heroic Imagination Project
“These chapters do an excellent job of codifying what is known and defining the questions that remain to be answered. As those questions are addressed in the coming decade, this handbook will stand as the most comprehensive resource of sophisticated and penetrating scholarship on this intriguing, important, and yet somewhat elusive construct.” - Brian H. Stagner, PhD, Clinical Professor, Texas A&M University
