Handbook of heroism and heroic leadership

595 Pages·2017·5.084 MB·English

by  Allison, Scott T.;Goethals, George R.;Kramer, Roderick Moreland

“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 contri-
bution 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 at
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,
psychology, 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.”
—Phil Zimbardo, Professor Emeritus, Stanford University, and
Founder of the Heroic Imagination Project

Handbook of Heroism
and Heroic Leadership
Over the past decade, research and theory on heroism and heroic leadership has greatly
expanded, providing new insights into 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.
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. Goethalsholds 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.

Handbook of Heroism
and Heroic Leadership
Edited by Scott T. Allison, George R. Goethals,
and Roderick M. Kramer
First published 2017
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2017 Taylor & Francis
The right of the editors to be identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of
the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections
77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in
any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to
infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Names: Allison, Scott T., editor. | Goethals, George R., editor. | Kramer, Roderick M.
(Roderick Moreland), 1950- editor.
Title: Handbook of heroism and heroic leadership / edited by Scott T. Allison,
George R. Goethals, and Roderick M. Kramer.
Description: 1 Edition. | New York : Routledge, 2017. | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016013497| ISBN 978-1-138-91563-3 (hardback : alk. paper) |
ISBN 978-1-138-91565-7 (pbk. : alk. paper) | ISBN 978-1-315-69010-0 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Leadership—Psychological aspects.
Classification: LCC BF637.L4 H336 2017 | DDC 158/.4—dc23LC record available at
https://lccn.loc.gov/2016013497
ISBN: 978-1-138-91563-3 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-91565-7 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-69010-0 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo by
FiSH Books Ltd, Enfield
Contents
Contributors x
Foreword xxi
Introduction: Setting the Scene: The Rise and Coalescence of
Heroism Science 1
Scott T. Allison, George R. Goethals, and Roderick M. Kramer
PART I
Origins of Heroism 17
1 Attributes and Applications of Heroes: A Brief History of Lay and
Academic Perspectives 19
Elaine L. Kinsella, Timothy D. Ritchie, and Eric R. Igou
2 Why Heroism Exists: Evolutionary Perspectives on Extreme Helping 36
Sara Kafashan, Adam Sparks, Amanda Rotella, and Pat Barclay
3 Adaptive Foundations of Heroism: Social Heuristics Push Advantageous
Everyday Ethical Behavior to Heroic Extremes 58
Gordon T. Kraft-Todd and David G. Rand
4 The Evolution and Neurobiology of Heroism 74
Stephanie D. Preston
5 Character Development and the Emergence of Heroic Leadership:
Towards a Relational Developmental Systems-Based Model 88
Kristina Schmid Callina, Richard M. Lerner, Ettya Fremont, Brian Burkhard,
Danielle Stacey, and Shaobing Su
6 The Moral Character of Heroes 99
Lawrence J. Walker
7 Why and How Groups Create Moral Heroes 120
Ari Decter-Frain, Ruth Vanstone, and Jeremy A. Frimer
vii
Contents
8 The Hero Organism: Advancing the Embodiment of Heroism Thesis
in the Twenty-First Century 139
Olivia Efthimiou
PART II
Types of Heroism 163
9 Everyday Heroes: Determinants of Moral Courage 165
Anna Halmburger, Anna Baumert, and Manfred Schmitt
10 Heroism in Times of Crisis: Understanding Leadership during
Extreme Events 185
Zeno E. Franco
11 Holocaust Heroes: Heroic Altruism of Non-Jewish Moral Exemplars in
Nazi Europe 203
Stephanie Fagin-Jones
12 Heroism and Wisdom in Medicine 229
Margaret Plews-Ogan, Justine E. Owens, Natalie May, and Monika Ardelt
13 Deviant Heroes and Social Heroism in Everyday Life: Activists and Artists 249
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Michael Condren, and Izabela Lebuda
14 To Become or Not to Become? Existential Courage and the Quest for
Identity 262
Roderick M. Kramer
15 Heroism in the Networked Society 283
Dana Klisanin
16 A Training Program in Spiritually Oriented Leadership: Inner Growth
for Outer Change 300
Elsa Lau, Sarah B. Sherman, and Lisa Miller
17 Career Development and a Sense of Calling: Contexts for Heroism 316
Bryan J. Dik, Adelyn B. Shimizu, and William F. O’Connor
18 Underdogs as Heroes 339
Joseph A. Vandello, Nadav Goldschmied, and Kenneth Michniewicz
19 Whistleblowers as Heroes: Fostering “Quiet” Heroism in Place of the
Heroic Whistleblower Stereotype 356
A. J. Brown
viii
Contents
PART III
Processes of Heroism 377
20 The Hero’s Transformation 379
Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals
21 Moral Transformation: The Paths to Heroism, Villainy, and Victimhood 401
Amelia Goranson and Kurt Gray
22 The Impact of Heroism on Heroes and Observers: Stories of Elevation
and Personal Change 417
Jeanne Nakamura and Laura Graham
23 Accidental and Purposeful Impediments to Heroism 438
Craig D. Parks
24 Heroic Empathy: The Heart of Leadership 459
Ronald H. Humphrey and Laural L. Adams
25 Heroic Leaders and Despotic Tyrants: How Power and Status Shape
Leadership 476
Anika Stuppy and Nicole L. Mead
26 The Intersection of Purpose and Heroism: A Study of Exemplars 495
Kendall Cotton Bronk and Brian R. Riches
27 Heroism and the Pursuit of Meaning 507
Jeffrey D. Green, Daryl R. Van Tongeren, Athena H. Cairo, and Nao Hagiwara
28 Psychopathy and Heroism: Unresolved Questions and Future Directions 525
Brett A. Murphy, Scott O. Lilienfeld, and Ashley L. Watts
29 The Courage of One’s Moral Convictions: Exploring the Two Sides
of Heroism 547
Ronnie Janoff-Bulman and Prerana Bharadwaj
Index 561
ix