This post is based on the following chapter in the Encyclopedia of Heroism Studies:

• Allison, S. T. (2024). Hero Illiteracy. In S. T. Allison, J. K. Beggan, and G. R. Goethals (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Heroism Studies. New York: Springer.

By Scott T. Allison

Heroism Illiteracy refers to our society’s lack of understanding about the nature of heroism. This type of illiteracy affects individuals, groups, and the general public, leading to confusion in distinguishing true heroes from villains. Heroism Illiteracy often involves the mistaken belief that wealth, fame, or celebrity status defines heroism, rather than simply being associated with it.

There are grave dangers associated with Heroism Illiteracy. The inability of citizens to distinguish true heroes from pseudo-heroes endangers society by allowing the elevation of unworthy or even harmful figures to positions of influence, undermining ethical leadership, distorting values, and weakening collective moral judgment.

We all know that heroes play a crucial role in society, contributing significantly to the well-being of individuals and the public. Heroes do great good in offering hope, inspiration, unification, healing, solutions to problems, protection, guidance, emotional support, and a sense of purpose.

Given their importance, one might expect widespread agreement on who qualifies as a hero and who does not. However, such consensus is often lacking, particularly when it comes to evaluating the heroism of political figures and celebrities in popular culture.

In short, Heroism Illiteracy describes our widespread maladaptive ignorance about heroism, and about who deserves the status of a hero.

Heroism Illiteracy has several symptoms:

1. The inability to define heroism
2. The inability to recognize the names and contributions of significant cultural heroes
3. The tendency to confuse heroes with villains, or vice versa
4. The tendency to assign the status of hero to people who are merely rich or famous
5. The inability to assign the status of hero to people who perform actual heroic deeds

While often used to describe an individual’s lack of understanding of heroism, the term can also apply to groups or entire societies. Various factors contribute to hero illiteracy, including inadequate socialization, ignorance of heroism in peers and parents, educational priorities that overlook true heroism, excessive exposure to harmful media, limited encounters with genuine heroes, or a general disinterest in the subject.

The Causes of Heroism Illiteracy

Let’s delve into why Heroism Illiteracy is so rampant.

First, people have different beliefs, values, and perspectives shaped by their experiences, culture, and social context. What one person considers heroic, another may see as villainous, and vice versa. Our subjective lenses can influence how we perceive and interpret the actions and motivations of individuals.

Second, there is complexity and nuance in heroism. Heroes can have flaws, and villains can have redeeming qualities. People may struggle to make clear-cut distinctions because the reality of human behavior and motivations is rarely black and white. It requires careful consideration of context and a subtle understanding of the actions and intentions of individuals.

Third, media portrayals, storytelling, and biased narratives can shape public perceptions and influence how people perceive heroes and villains. Our media tends to simplify and sensationalize stories, leading to the distortion of nuanced realities and the portrayal of individuals as either heroes or villains based on specific agendas or biases.

Fourth, people may not have access to all the relevant information or have limited perspectives, which can lead to incomplete assessments. This process is especially relevant given the prevalence of “cancel culture,” where a past indiscretion or inappropriate comment on a social media platform can cause a retroactive, public reevaluation of a person’s positive attributes or achievements.

Finally, our societal values and norms evolve over time. What may have been considered heroic or villainous in the past might be perceived differently in the present. Moral standards can vary across cultures and generations, leading to differing interpretations of heroic and villainous behavior.

Combatting Heroism Illiteracy

Heroism Illiteracy can be costly to society. The costs are an erosion of ethical standard, a lack of positive role models, a decline in our well-being, and an erosion of trust in public figures, and a diminished hope for the future.

How do we combat Heroism Illiteracy? Here are several things we can do:

1. Parents and educators can do more to promote critical thinking skills.
2. We can all learn more about the actual definition of heroism, and about what doing great good actually means.
3. We can encourage a more loving worldview of heroism that emphasizes empathy and perspective-taking, in place of society’s view of heroism as the ability to wield power, self-promote, and acquire riches.
4. We can promote media literacy to help people navigate biased narratives and misinformation.
5. We should children about historical and contemporary heroes from different walks of life, including activists, humanitarians, scientists, artists, and community leaders.
6. We can encourage community engagement and volunteer work, thereby fostering a sense of empathy and inspiring people to become agents of positive change.
7. We can promote more critical dialogue and debate to help sharpen people’s judgments, challenge biases, and foster a deeper understanding of the qualities that define heroes.

Reducing Heroism Illiteracy should produce significant societal benefits. We can elect better, more humane, and more qualified political leaders. Moreover, we can restore social justice by giving more credit, recognition, and financial compensation to true heroes, such as teachers, emergency personnel, and healthcare workers, rather than to pseudo-heroes such as rich celebrities and charismatic politicians.

= = = = = =