Category: Practice

Joseph Campbell: The Man Who Wrote The Book on Heroes

Joseph CampbellBy Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals

Ironically, the first published psychological analysis of heroism wasn't completed by a psychologist.  In 1949, Joseph Campbell, a comparative mythologist who studied medieval literature and world religions, wrote a remarkable book called The Hero of a Thousand Faces.  The volume became one of the most widely read and influential books of the 20th century.

While studying hero myths from around the world, Campbell noticed a distinct pattern.  It didn't matter where or when a particular myth was created; the world's hero stories were all strikingly similar to one another.  According to Campbell, in these stories "a hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man."  Campbell proposed that this prototypical heroic journey, which he called the hero monomyth, consists of three parts: departure, initiation, and return.

The departure phase involves the set of forces that set the hero's journey in motion.  The hero is thrown from the safety and comfort of the familiar world into a dark, dangerous place.  Joseph CampbellOften a guide or a sidekick offers assistance.  The initiation stage features a series of tests or challenges that the hero must overcome.  Temptations of the flesh, or a battle with a father figure who must be vanquished, are quite common.  Upon returning, the hero brings a great boon, or benefit, to the world.  Not only is the returned hero forever transformed, so is the society that receives the boon.

In The Hero With a Thousand Faces, Campbell discusses the psychological importance of the hero's path.  He argues that the hero's journey is a metaphor for the human experience.  All people undergo painful struggles and must muster the strength and cleverness to overcome adversaries and difficult circumstances.  The struggle defines us because it allows us to realize our full potential via triumphant redemption. "The adventure of the hero is the adventure of being alive," noted Campbell.  "It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life.  HerculesWhere you stumble, there lies your treasure€¦. Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging."

Campbell suggests that we identify strongly with the hero story because it taps into an important part of our collective unconscious.  First described by psychoanalyst Carl Jung in 1916, the collective unconscious is a storehouse of latent images that have developed through human evolution.  Jung called these latent images archetypes, which can be activated, or made conscious, when something in an individual's experience resembles the image.  Archetypes are based on our collective experience over the course of evolution, rather than individual experience.  Jung wrote, "There are as many archetypes as there are typical situations in life.  Endless repetition has engraved these experiences into our psychic constitution."

The hero archetype, then, can explain the pervasiveness of the hero monomyth found in human societies across time and geography.  Human beings, in effect, may have a biological readiness to encounter heroes and to resonate to hero stories that fit the Campbellian monomythic structure.  George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, admits that he based the characters and plot of Star Wars on the hero monomythic structure he encountered in The Hero With a Thousand Faces.   Disney movies such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King are said to have been influenced by Campbell.  Musical artists such as Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, and Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead have all produced work based on Campbell's hero monomyth.

For his enduring impact on the way we think about human experience and the hero's journey, Joseph Campbell is one of our intellectual heroes. Read more in Heroes: What They Do and Why We Need Them.

Conversations on Leadership touch on success, morality, ethics, democracy and more

The Jepson School of Leadership Studies each year is host to many of the world’s top scholars and deepest thinkers on matters related to leadership. Some of these august visitors from the 2009-10 academic year sat down with Jepson faculty members for short interviews about leadership. In addition to these brief interviews, many of these experts also give full lectures or serve on panels. Lectures may also be viewed online.

Conversations on Leadership

  • Steven Pinker on Leadership and Democracy
  • Irene Khan on Human Rights and Poverty
  • James MacGregor Burns on Leadership
  • Dambisa Moyo on Keys to Successful Leadership
  • Scholars’ Reflections on Haiti 
  • Father J. Bryan Hehir on Ethics of War
  • Jesse Prinz on Leadership and Morality
  • Robert Cialdini on Influence and Leadership
  • Patrician M.C. Brown on Leadership and Health Care

Lady Gaga: “I’m a role model for the ability to change culture”

lady-gaga.jpgTwo social psychologists have posed a critical question for our times: Is Lady Gaga a hero? University of Richmond professors Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals put it like this on their blog Heroes: What They Do and Why We Need Them:

Is Lady Gaga a hero?  Over the past few weeks, we've asked a number of college-aged people for their opinions about Lady Gaga and whether she has earned the status of hero.  While few were willing to assign the label "hero" to her, they did concede that she was a great talent and a role model to many people.  Several also said that Gaga could become a hero over time but that right now it's too early to tell.

These responses raise the question of what Lady Gaga, or any rising entertainment star for that matter, would have to do to be perceived as a hero.  Possessing a great and unique talent certainly helps.  In 2008 Lady Gaga's debut album Fame reached number one in the UK, Canada, Austria, Germany and Ireland, and it peaked at number two in the United States.  Critics also loved Fame.  Her music style is said to combine the elements of many legendary rock icons, including Madonna, Gwen Stefani, David Bowie, and Freddy Mercury.  The latter singer's classic piece, Radio Gaga, was the inspiration for Lady Gaga's own moniker.

Lady Gaga has also won the respect of many of her peers.  Said Kylie Minogue, "She's like a meteor that just came from outer space and landed on the pop landscape or pop/dance landscape.  I think it's amazing.  She's largely responsible for bringing dance to the kind of mainstream or pop arena in the states.  She's incredibly talented. She's an absolute force to be reckoned with and I'm a great admirer." Barbara Walters chose Gaga as one of the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009.  Gaga also became the first living person to have more than 10 million Facebook fans.

Another factor that appears to be propelling Lady Gaga toward heroism is her effort to promote positive social change, especially in the area of gay rights.  She is an active proponent of gay marriage, and she revealed that her song Poker Face was about her bisexuality. Gaga credits her gay fans for much of her early success. "The turning point for me was the gay community. I've got so many gay fans and they're so loyal to me and they really lifted me up. They'll always stand by me and I'll always stand by them." Gaga is well aware of her impact on young people.  "The truth is what I'm a role model for is the ability to change culture," she said.

Fans of Gaga have labeled her a "fashion icon" with superb vocal and performing instincts during her concert tours.  Gaga's unique look is her own creation; she designs and makes her own costumes on stage.  One blogger has written:  "She isn't afraid to act smart, dress for herself, focus on things other than her body, be odd, and have a sick name."  Critics rave that her live performances are "innovative" and "highly entertaining."

Although the jury may still be out on Lady Gaga's heroic status, there is no denying the impact of her unique artistry on pop culture.  There is something compelling about her courageous trailblazing in the areas of music, dance, fashion, and redefining sex roles.  Gaga once said, "I want women €” and men €” to feel empowered by a deeper and more psychotic part of themselves.  The part they're always trying desperately to hide.  I want that to become something that they cherish."

"You have to be unique, and different, and shine in your own way," she said.

Mosque controversy showcases failure to lead American public to understanding

Leadership, symbols and inclusiveness are themes for religion and leadership studies scholar Douglas A. Hicks in the Washington Post’s “On Leadership” blog.

Questions and controversy swirling about the proposed Mosque and community center located near Ground Zero call for real leadership, Hicks writes:

However rational we attempt to be, individually and collectively, in our analyses of the current situation, the shadows of the Twin Towers (and the Pentagon) continue to affect–to darken–our vision.

Leadership is, among other things, about framing issues for public understanding. The proposed Islamic center strikes at the very question of who is in part of the American community. For instance, local Muslim congregations helped support first responders on 9/11 with relief efforts. And people of all faiths –and no faiths died that day. (So did citizens of some 60 other countries.) Yet in the rage against extremists who claim to speak for all of Islam, it has been easy for non-Muslim Americans to exclude Muslims from their narrative of who gets included in the American “we.”

Thus the label “Mosque at Ground Zero” seems to fit the story. The debate over the Islamic cultural center is largely about the power of symbols and who is framing the symbolic message. The leaders of the project intended to build bridges, but before they have raised even a dollar, it appears that their detractors have succeeded in tearing down the foundations. The project’s leaders, particularly Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, have failed to communicate the vision to the public. The coming days will tell whether it is possible to recapture the message.”

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Don’t let paperwork stop your good work: Nonprofits risk losing tax exempt status

Non-profit leaders have been talking for months about forthcoming changes in the Internal Revenue Service’s 990 form and reporting requirements. Organizations with fiscal years ending June 30 were advised by nonprofit watchdogs to check their status with the IRS to assure their nonprofit’s sustainability and security.

This just out: The IRS has posted a state-by-state list of organizations at risk of losing their tax exempt status. If you lose your status, it will be hard to regain, so it may be a good idea to check the list. The IRS is offering an amnesty of sorts for organizations that file by Oct. 15, 2010. 

McDonald v. Chicago: Treason to the Constitution

Constitutional scholar Gary L. McDowell explained why, in his view, the nine justices (or at least five of the nine) formed the wrong opinion in the latest gun case before the high court.

For the Sunday, July 11, Richmond Times-Dispatch, McDowell wrote: “Following the Supreme Court’s last big decision of this term — the gun rights case of McDonald v. Chicago — the frenzy of concern over the right of individuals to keep and bear arms for personal protection threatens to overshadow the true constitutional tragedy of the case. That tragedy is the ready acceptance in the majority opinion by Justice Samuel Alito of the judicially created doctrine of “selective incorporation” — the idea that it is the task of the justices to pick and choose among the provisions of the Bill of Rights for those they think should apply to the states and localities.” More

Register for free April 8 conference on leadership and philanthropy “Private Money/Public Causes”

Our global social safety net, that helps people gain access to education and health care and assists with meeting basic human needs, depends on private funding in the form of philanthropy.

Three national experts in nonprofit leadership and philanthropy will speak April 8 at the University of Richmond on the topic of “Private Money/Public Causes: Leadership, Philanthropy and the Common Good.”

The conference is free and is the last program for the 2009-10 Jepson Leadership Forum season that is exploring the concept of The Common Good. The session, which includes a networking luncheon,  will be 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on campus at the University of Richmond. Registration is required and seating is limited. Details.  

Speakers:

  • Deborah Bial, Ph.D., president and founder of The Posse Foundation, a youth leadership development and college access organization that sends students from diverse backgrounds to selective colleges and universities throughout the United States. She is considered an innovator and is widely respected nationally as a leading educational strategist.
  • Patricia M.C. Brown, Esq., president of Johns Hopkins HealthCare, a managed care organization owned by Johns Hopkins Health System and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. An expert on health care reform, she is a 1982 graduate of the University of Richmond, an attorney, and former assistant attorney general for Maryland. She is serving as the 2010 Leader-in-Residence for the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.
  • Leigh Carter is the executive director at Fonkoze USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to securing financial and technical support for its Haitian partners at Fonkoze, the largest microfinance institution n Haiti. Fonkoze was founded in 1994 by a Haitian Catholic priest who started the institution with a vision to provide the means for all Haitians, even the poorest, to participate in the economic development of the country. Recipients of Fonkoze grants are women because they are the backbone of the Haitian economy and the doorway to the family unit.

Sports bring people together with the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, the light of reflected glory and the humanity of a shared experience

Sometimes we need an adversary to vanquish to turn our I and me into an us and we.  We may think of ourselves as independent individualists, yet we can be transformed into enthusiastic citizens, fans, members, or followers by a team championship, a vaunted NCAA ranking, or a team victory when failure was expected. 

Researchers call it Basking in Reflected Glory.  After a team victory, far more students show up to classes wearing clothes with their university's name and symbols plastered on them.  When they talk about the team's win, they are more likely to use the pronouns "us" and "we" instead of "them" and "they."  They stress their connection to winners, but after a loss they cut their ties. 

The social psychological perspective on community and fan loyalty stresses the positive impact a common commitment that is shared across the community on relationships and overall well-being. Rooting for a team is entertaining, but when everyone is rooting for the home team then it builds cohesion and strengthens relationships. Remember in the old days TV with only three channels, when everyone watched the same programs and sporting events? The next day at school and work, people could talk to each other about shows they followed, the games they watched, and even the commercials they loved and hated. Now there is little to bring us together, so that we don’t share the same focus and set of interests. Unless, our team is capturing everyone’s attention, and giving everybody–both traditional fan and new initiates–a commonality. 

So, its the impact of this shared identity–as a supporter and fan of the team–that brings people together. People can wear team-related clothing, they can talk about the team in their everyday conversation, and they can even change their day so that they can do things that are connected to the game. They become one with others, and so they escape the feeling of isolation and individuality that sometimes plagues us in these hard times.  But its the increase in social connections that counts, and not just the distraction that having a winning team brings. People who root, alone, for the team don’t prosper, whereas those who share their interest with others find that their “social capital" climbs. 

Psychologists even offer some evidence to support the idea that rooting for a sports team can be healthy. My favorite statistic pertaining to being a sports fan and mental health comes from the 1980 Winter Olympics. Fewer people committed suicide on February 22, 1980 than on all other February 22s from 1972 to 1989, perhaps because on that particular day the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team beat the Russian national team. There is, of course, a down side. Researchers have found that in some towns–towns that are known for having extremely committed fans–that when the Florida Gators or the Ohio State Buckeyes teams rose up in the sports rankings suicides decrease in Gainesville and Columbus, but when the teams dropped in the standings suicides climb. One should not forget  that the word fan derives from a slightly longer word: fanatic.

Donelson R. Forsyth is Professor, The Leo K. and Gaylee Thorsness Chair in Ethical Leadership at The Jepson School of Leadership Studies University of Richmond
 

The shared experience of sport

This week around campus, athletic endeavors–the Richmond Spiders basketball team along with the Olympic games (even curling)–are common topics of conversation. In the Jepson School, we’re wondering what people think of fans, followers and the impact the shared experience of sport can have on groups of people. How can the shared experience matter to leadership and community? 

  • USA Today says: “Underdog no more: Richmond ready to prove it’s no upstart”: http://ow.ly/1be5d
  • Sports Illustrated says, “Be Very Afraid” – the Spiders are FIERCE! The spirit of he red and blue is on fire!: http://ow.ly/1beJA