Heroism and Mental Health

Heroism benefits the recipient of the heroic act, of course, but heroism may also provide meaningful health benefits to society. A set of psychological processes called the Heroic Leadership Dynamic can account for the mental health benefits of heroes. These processes include the mental construction of scripts and schemas, the processing of transrational phenomena, the understanding of deep truths and paradoxes, the development of emotional intelligence, the healing power of group storytelling, the inspiration of underdogs, and mechanisms underlying personal growth. The hero’s journey provides epistemic and energizing benefits to individuals and to society.