Heroism Definition Essay

Is heroism a matter of timing? Is it a person’s ability of being brave or fearless? Or is it a person being in the right place at the right time? I think this is an interesting question because, in most literature there is a person, who overcomes all odds and becomes a hero. Just because someone once did something great to depict them as a hero, does that really make them a hero? Some people would argue that if someone competes a heroic task then they are a hero. However, what if that one-act of heroism is the only act they ever carry out in life. Should that person be remembered as a hero or heroic in that moment? What actually makes up the criteria of a hero?
How does fear play a role in deterring a person from being a hero? Fear can be broken into ten categories, the fear of, rejection, failure, uncertainty, loneliness, change, loss of freedom, being judged, getting hurt, and inadequacy. In this case the fear of, failure, uncertainty,
“A hero is not braver than any other human being. He is braver for five minutes earlier”. I think that this quote relates to the topic of heroism and fear. As Emerson describes, intuition and instinct also play a role in becoming a hero or not. When Emerson states that a hero is braver five minutes earlier than any other person, it is his instinct that signals him to take action. Instinct is unlearned, genetic wiring that tells us what to do in a moment of uncertainty. According to the Instinct Theory of Motivation
“ all organisms are born with innate biological tendencies that help them survive. This theory suggest that instincts drive all behaviors. Instincts are goal - directed and innate patterns of behavior that are not the result of learning or experience”(William McDougall).
An Instinct is an organism’s tendency to engage in randomly in a particular behavior. Psychologist William McDougall was the first to write about the Instinct Theory of