Phillip Zimbardo's What Makes A Hero?

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What is a Hero? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary a hero is an individual who is admired for great bravery or fine qualities. To me a hero is so much more than a person who shows great bravery. When I think of a hero many fine qualities come to mind; intelligence, courage, altruism, compassion and great bravery. In order for me to better explain what I believe to be a hero, I want to describe the hero in my life; my Father. My dad is an exceptional man, not only has he been in the United States Marine Corps for 24 years and counting, going on numerous tours overseas, he is a student pursuing his Master’s degree. He is a basketball or baseball coach depending on what sport my siblings and I are currently in to, he is a math or English …show more content…

For the last 5 years Zimbardo and his colleagues have been studying and exploring the nature as well as the roots of heroism. With this study he defines what heroism is in several parts. “First, it’s performed in service to others in need. Second, it’s engaged in voluntarily, even in military contexts, as heroism remains an act that goes beyond something required by military duty. 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 individual is willing to accept anticipated sacrifice. Finally, it is performed without external gain anticipated at the time of the act …show more content…

When we are young we imagine a hero the same way we imagine superheroes. In capes, with superhuman abilities protecting the universe. We then eventually imagine them as athletes, singers/rock stars, actors, authors etc. Once we recognize the true definition of a hero do we realize who the real heroes are. For some the service men and women become true heroes, or possibly our parents, teachers, human rights activist, or someone who made a great impact in our or societies life. For example, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. bettered the lives of millions of people by bringing justice to the minorities. Gandhi, a hero too many people, led a nonviolent revolution to free his country. A hero is a person as average as you and I, yet they rise to the occasion and do exemplary things to fix a problem and better their

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