Temperamentalne i osobowościowe podłoże codziennego heroizmu
Temperamentalne i osobowościowe podłoże codziennego heroizmu

Author(s): Karina Atłas
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Sociology
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Summary/Abstract: The work discusses the issue of heroism and its relations with personality, temperament, motivation behind heroic and risky behaviors, and attitude to heroism. The phenomenon of heroism lies in its characteristics: in heroism, a socially desirable behavior involves extremity, risk-taking and risking one’s resources (health, life, money or reputation). Empirical study of heroism is a new area in psychology, probably because this phenomenon is not easy to describe and operationalize. The study described in the dissertation involved the analysis of its correlations with HEXACO model dimensions as well as subclinical psychopathy, subclinical narcissism, and temperament. The hypotheses were verified in two study groups: a general population group (236 persons) and a group of people doing dangerous jobs (246 persons). It was possible to identify heroic prototypes connected with different levels of heroism and involving different traits: fearless heroes, narcissist and sensitive (open-minded) heroes, impulsive (moderately heroic) individuals, and non-heroic ones. People working as fire fighters, police officers, rescuers or soldiers have a higher level of subclinical psychopathy and narcissism, and display a higher level of heroism. As expected, heroism proved to be correlated with the dark side of personality. Probably heroism is an essentially pro-social behavior, but its determinants are complex and not related to a high level of honesty, authenticity or personality reflection of moral components. The study suggests that audacity, fearless temperament and narcissist self-sufficiency (understood as the belief in one’s own efficacy, strength and ability to succeed) may be especially important in heroism. The study showed that even dark sides of personality may be socially beneficial. The results may be used in different areas of psychological practice, such as professional training, recruitment and selection, psychological education and training, educational programmes, or the treatment of people with personality disorders.

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