Igou_2015_Zeroing.pdf (637.63 kB)
Zeroing in on heroes: a prototype analysis of hero features.
journal contribution
posted on 2017-02-09, 12:35 authored by Elaine Louise Kinsella, Timothy D. Ritchie, Eric Raymond IgouEric Raymond IgouHeroes are ubiquitous in literature and popular discourse, yet little is
known about cognitive representations of heroes. We examined lay
conceptions of heroes using a prototype approach, compared heroes with
other persons of influence, and studied how individuals use hero
features to identify heroes. In Study 1, participants (N = 189)
generated open-ended descriptions of heroes, which were sorted by
independent coders into 26 meaningful categories. In Study 2,
participants (N = 365) rated the centrality of these features, and
subsequently classified each feature as either central (e.g., brave,
moral integrity) or peripheral (e.g., humble, proactive). In a reaction
time (RT) paradigm, participants in Study 3 (N = 33) identified central
features of heroes faster than peripheral features. In Study 4,
participants (N = 25) remembered more central hero features than
peripheral features in a surprise recall task. In Study 5 (N = 89),
participants most strongly identified a hero when the target was
described with central features (vs. peripheral or neutral features). In
Studies 6 (N = 212) and 7 (N = 307), participants ratings evidenced
that the prototypical features of heroes did not fit conceptually as
well for role models and leaders. In all, these studies contribute new
ideas to existing knowledge about heroes, and contribute to a shared
understanding of what a hero means to people. Our research is thus an
important step in refining heroism into a scientific concept. The notion
of the prototypical features of heroes provides a basis for future hero
research and intervention.
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Journal of Personality and Social Psychology;108 (1), pp. 114-127Publisher
American Psychological AssociationNote
peer-reviewedRights
This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of recordLanguage
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