Research Catalog

Title

Heroes : what they do & why we need them / Scott T. Allison, George R. Goethals.

Author

Allison, Scott T.

Publication

Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2011.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Goethals, George R.

Description

viii, 230 p. : ill.; 25 cm.

Summary

Abraham Lincoln, Princess Diana, Rick in Casablanca--why do we perceive certain people as heroes? What qualities do we see in them? What must they do to win our admiration? In Heroes, Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals offer a stimulating tour of the psychology of heroism, shedding light on what heroism and villainy mean to most people and why heroes--both real people and fictional characters--are so vital to our lives. The book discusses a broad range of heroes, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Walt Kowalski in Gran Torino, Senator Ted Kennedy, and explorer Ernest Shackleton, as well as villains such as Shakespeare's Iago. The authors highlight the Great Eight traits of heroes (smart, strong, selfless, caring, charismatic, resilient, reliable, and inspiring) and outline the mental models that we have of how people become heroes, from the underdog who defies great odds (David and Goliath) to the heroes who redeem themselves. Brimming with psychological insight, Heroes provides an illuminating look at heroes--and into our own minds as well.--Book Jacket.

Subject

• Heroes
• Heroes in literature
• Courage
• Altruism
• Conduct of life

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Heroes : who they are and what they do -- Exemplars : our images of heroes -- Redemption : back from the brink -- Obstacles : triumph over adversity -- Evil : challenges to heroism -- Shaping : how heroes shape us and how we shape them.

ISBN

• 9780199739745 (alk. paper)
• 0199739749 (alk. paper)

LCCN

^^2010009519

OCLC

• 670247272
• SCSB-11075653

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library