Heroism is a complicated phenomenon that has captured the hearts and minds of people across history. Most stories humans know and love today are rooted in ancient hero myths that celebrate a particular archetype of a person. Different cultures at different times had drastically different cultures, so, naturally, there are many different heroes as well. However, they often follow similar patterns and have comparable character traits and ideals. Heroism usually benefits the community, but there are certain complicated cases when heroic behavior and belonging are at odds.
My understanding of the word is, on the surface, quite simple: a hero helps people that need help, especially when there is no personal gain in helping them. When it is phrased like that, it encompasses everyone who has ever done anything good to someone else. Under that definition, Superman and a person giving directions to a stranger are the same thing. Naturally, there are different degrees of heroism, which can be measured through the hero’s sacrifice, the number of people affected, or the magnitude of good deeds performed. The exact measurement of whether a deed is heroic is usually subjective and varies from person to person.
For example, blood donors affect many people they will likely never meet, and their contributions can be lifesaving. That said, donating blood is merely an inconvenience, and is compensated in some cases. While the donors are generally liked and appreciated by society, it is seen as a somewhat mundane thing to do. A hero must take on some risk and not profit from their deeds, which they have done with limited help.
Moreover, heroic deeds are often unstructured; a hero does what a hero does not have to do, and what people do not expect the hero to do. A righteous police officer, a brave firefighter, and a compassionate doctor are undisputable heroes, and they are recognized as such often enough. Nevertheless, it is even more heroic when an unrelated person acts heroically, simply because there is no social expectation or a job description that tells them to do so. These heroes do not receive a paycheck, but they act how they act because it is the right thing to do, and it gives their lives meaning.
The concept of the meaning of life is a broad and contested topic in the literature. Humans are drawn to seeking or creating meaning, which incorporates their knowledge and perception of themselves, the world, and their place in it. These meanings are especially crucial in times of adversity and hardship, which is plentiful throughout history. Heroes and heroic myths help people with meaning-making, as they provide narratives about positive ways of self-improvement, moral behavior, and terror management (Kinsella 481).
Narratives about heroic behaviors and accomplishments can motivate people to find small ways to do moral things for the benefit of others at some expense to themselves. Heroism, as seen in the heroic mythos, is almost always purposeful, coherent, and significant. These aspects help people reflect on their lives and find purpose, meaning, and significance in them. According to Coughlan et al., that can buffer against depression, increase self-esteem, and instill a sense of belonging (466). The phenomenon of heroism has a vital place in humanity, not just because of the direct benefits of their actions, but also because of the profound impact on meaning-making.
A sense of belonging is an essential facet of heroism and human social life in general. Tomaney describes belonging as a feeling of being ‘at home,’ which can be tied to identities, yearnings, commitments, or involvements (509). Belonging can manifest through geography when people impose meaning to a particular place and feel a kinship and emotional ties while physically being there or thinking about it.
It can also manifest through shared history, where a historical process, rather than a geographical place, is imbued with meaning, which is often collectively shared with others. Communities that arise from a shared political identity can also create a sense of belonging. If these factors are present in a community, individuals become a part of it through a profound sense of belonging. Those who do not share these communal memories, places, and political affiliations become the outgroup.
Heroic behavior is inherently prosocial, as it is aimed at benefitting other people in the group despite the social expectations with no prospect of tangible rewards. In some cases, this behavior goes directly against the community’s norms and values, or even laws. In that aspect, heroic behavior could be described as individualistic and anti-paternalistic. A well-known heroic figure that perfectly fits this description is Martin Luther King Jr., who acted to foster social change against the existing norms and paid the ultimate price for it. His own words describe the intersection of belonging and non-belonging, conflicting communal values, and heroism.
Martin Luther King Jr. did not only belong to the large community of Americans or Birmingham citizens. He was also a part of the Civil Rights Movement, which can be considered a community, as it also has shared history, political agenda, and geography.
At the same time, he remained an individual who acted out of his own considerations. He wrote how he was in the middle of two opposing forces in the community, one of which acted out of learned helplessness, and the other demonized all white people (85). Although he and these two forces belonged to one community, he remained distinct through his sheer force of will and intellect. He also remained distinct from the larger American society, which he was a part of as well.
Although belonging to a community is a mostly positive phenomenon, sometimes its values are morally unjust or unfair. According to Luther King Jr., laws that degrade human personality are unjust, and these unjust laws must not be followed. He explains how the unjust rules in Birmingham lead to black people being targeted and murdered with impunity, and how legal segregation has dehumanized the local black population (82).
When an unjust law discriminates against a person or a group for no good reason is when the individual and the community conflict. Luther King Jr. advocated for the individual to go against society in this particular case because morality, personality, and humanity are superior to norms and laws. This position showed his unyielding will, which inspired many people during and after his lifetime. He is a hero figure, because he inspires self-betterment, social advocacy, and moral behavior, even if they go against the community’s values sometimes.
Heroic behavior is a complex topic, which can be understood from a multitude of different angles. One of them is the search for meaning in life, where stories about heroes inspire and motivate people to change for the better. This inspiration fortifies against existential problems and fosters belonging. In some cases, belonging to a particular community and acting heroically can conflict. A prominent Civil Rights figure, Martin Luther King Jr., advocates that moral and just behavior is more important than the community’s unfair values. Sometimes defying the law that degrades people is the heroic thing to do.
Works Cited
Coughlan, Gillian, et al. “On Boredom and Perceptions of Heroes: A Meaning-Regulation Approach to Heroism.” Journal of Humanistic Psychology, vol. 59, no. 4, 2017, pp. 455-473.
Luther King Jr., Martin. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” The Atlantic Monthly, vol. 212, no. 2, 1963, pp. 78-88.
Kinsella, Elaine L., et al. “Heroism and the Pursuit of a Meaningful Life.” Journal of Humanistic Psychology, vol. 59, no. 4, 2017, pp. 474-498.
Tomaney, John. “Region and place II.” Progress in Human Geography, vol. 39, no. 4, 2014, pp. 507-516.