Joseph Campbell's Theory Of Heroism

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, heroism is defined as “heroic conduct especially as exhibited in fulfilling a high purpose or attaining a noble end,” or simply as “great courage.” Valiant heroes have been prevalent in different cultures since the beginning of time. Stories of heroes have been passed down from generation to generation, whether those heroes were mythical or commonplace. Heroism is an important part of any society, whether modern or ancient, fiction or nonfiction, and although heroism is generally seen as a good thing, selfish motives can fester below the surface. Heroes have been important parts of stories since the beginning of civilization. In fact, the word hero derives from the Greek word hērōs meaning “hero”
The Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus lists brave person, lionheart, and knight as synonyms to the word hero. Joseph Campbell, an American mythological author, defined a hero as “someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” However, what about those whose motives behind their heroism are a little less benevolent, and are instead of a more selfish nature? The “Hero Syndrome” or “Hero Complex” occurs when someone deliberately creates a situation where a hero would be needed, thus allowing that person to become a hero. Although not many studies have been performed on the subject, hero syndrome is common in firefighters, police officers, and medical workers. For example, Jimmy Wade Pearson, a policeman, placed explosives on a bus intended for the Turkish Olympic team in the Los Angeles Airport during the 1984 Summer Olympics. Because he knew of the bomb, Pearson was able to “save” the team by finding the bomb and deactivating it. As the story came together, Pearson’s motive was revealed to be that he was hoping for a transfer to a new division, but felt that he would only be moved if he was seen as a hero by the