The Hero Instinct - Why Do Some People Have It?

People often speak of the "hero instinct." But what is it? And why do some people have it while others don't? Author John Henson explores these questions and more in The Hero Instinct - Why Do Some People Have It. . . And Others Don't?

While there is something to be said for the idea that we all have a hero instinct, in the sense that we all have the potential to be heroic in some ways, there is also such a thing as too much of a good thing.

For many people, it's impossible to tell what is an expression of their hero instinct and what is just some unhealthy co-dependency or OCD. To understand this concept better, let's take a closer look at the "hero instinct." What Is the Hero Instinct?

The hero has often been described as someone who fights for what's right and does so selflessly with little regard for his safety or comfort. In the mythologies of many cultures, the hero can be seen as a kind of mythical king or warrior who often slays monsters and saves maidens. Many stories are meant to teach lessons or transcend humanity in some way.

For example, one of the greatest stories ever told is that of King Arthur and his band of knights who rode into battle against tremendous odds to take back England from their evil foe, the tyrannous King Mordred.

When they won over these odds, they did so without needing any reward from their enemies or personal glory. They were successful because they were better trained, better-organized, and better-equipped soldiers than their adversaries.

They were heroes who came to the battlefield and did what they had been trained to do better than their enemies. In a more down-to-earth way, you can also see it in the story of Muhammad Ali who literally trained his body and mind to become the greatest boxer there ever was.

After a lifetime dedicated to boxing, he still refused to be paid for beating up his opponents! The moral of these stories is that to be a hero takes a lot more than just having superpowers or many things going on.

It takes commitment, sacrifice, hard work, and dedication-all without any reward or glory except for what's within your own heart.

What Makes A Person A Hero?

Hero instinct in people comes in many forms. For some, it's a simple matter of doing what most of us would do under the circumstances. For instance, if you saw an old lady who needed help crossing the street or someone being attacked by a bunch of thugs on a subway train, most people would step forward to help or intervene.

But other people don't take such actions as being heroic because they simply do what they are supposed to do or think it's just something anyone else would do. So for many people, heroism is largely about intention and perspective. At least that's part of what the hero instinct is all about doing what you know you should do without needing any reward from anyone else.

How to Become A Hero

Many people think becoming a hero is more difficult than it really is. It's not a matter of appearing in the right place at the right time, although that helps.

But to become a hero, you have to begin by thinking of yourself as one. That means thinking in terms of how you can help others and possibly make their lives better.

If every day you spend at least part of your time helping others, doing volunteer work, or giving something back to your community, then you are well on the way to becoming a real-life hero.

Why Do We Need Heroes?

The hero is a hero because he has something the ordinary person does not something that sets him or her apart from the crowd. The heroism of most heroes, though, is often more the result of a motivation like selfless love, which says that I would do anything in the world for you because I love you.

But there are those whose heroism stems from other motivations like courage and valor that say I would do anything for my country or my buddy. And some feel a hero's motivation is something like justice and fairness that says I will right this wrong even if it costs me my life.

Hero instinct in men is a noble thing. It's the preference for doing what needs to be done by taking the initiative and making a difference. Men often feel the need to protect and provide for their family, as well as confront dangers in order to help others.

For women, though, the hero instinct can take them down some lonely roads of self-sacrifice and martyrdom that require more than just a sense of duty.

As we'll see in a moment, there's no shortage of people who have turned their sense of duty and responsibility into a way of life that leaves little room for happiness or fulfillment. To them, life is about duty and sacrifice. All they see is the burden of responsibility.

In families, the hero instinct can be a source of great dysfunction that causes both parents to feel they owe it to their children to always be there for them no matter what.

But this sense of duty can grow into a heavy burden that keeps people from really enjoying life and pursuing their own happiness. In such cases, you get the situation where adult children feel they still have a responsibility to their aged parents and vice versa-even if it means giving up what would otherwise be considered normal lives.

5 Types Of Heroes

1. The Lone Hero-This is the classic image of a lone hero that is often seen in Western cultures and American films where heroes tend to have a rebellious streak that goes against what society or authority tells them to do.

Examples of such lone heroes include rebel cowboys like Wyatt Earp, Johnny Ringo, and Butch Cassidy, all of whom were anti-government by nature.

There were also lone Native American warriors like Geronimo, Cochise, and Red Cloud, who led their people in fighting against white settlers over land rights.

Another example is Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation who has an innate sense of justice and fairness that causes him to argue with those in charge even if it means going against orders. Other examples include Russell Crowe's character in Gladiator and Mel Gibson's character in the movie Braveheart.

2. The Social Hero- This is the type of hero who has the qualities of a lone hero, but is not alone, as they have a group of friends or family members that support them in their cause. Examples include the Lone Ranger and his Native American companion Tonto, who were inseparable companions in stopping criminals back in the old West. Today we have TV shows like Baywatch and CSI which show teams of law enforcement officers working together to stop criminals.

3. The Team Player- These are the heroes who work for a greater cause and help others because it's their job.

They often have to follow rules and orders from higher authorities, but they understand the importance of what they're doing. Examples include firefighters, police officers, and soldiers who are trained to do a job that requires them to put their lives on the line for others.

4. The Heroic Parent- In families (particularly patriarchal ones), it's not uncommon for parents to feel like they have a duty of responsibility towards their children that are above self-interests or personal happiness.

5. The Oppressed- This is the type of hero that often comes from underprivileged classes, such as minorities, women, and children.

They often feel oppressed by the society around them, so they take justice into their own hands in order to protect others by fighting against those who oppress them.

Examples include Wonder Woman and Black Widow from the DC comics universe, Sommersby's character in Shakespeare's Hamlet, and The Stranger in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens .