The Metamorphosis of the Hero: Principles, Processes, and Purpose

Abstract

This article examines the phenomenon of heroic metamorphosis: what it is, how it unfolds, and why it is important. First, we describe six types of transformation of the hero: mental, moral, emotional, spiritual, physical, and motivational. We then argue that these metamorphoses serve five functions: they foster developmental growth, promote healing, cultivate social unity, advance society, and deepen cosmic understanding. Internal and external sources of transformation are discussed, with emphasis on the importance of mentorship in producing metamorphic growth. Next we describe the three arcs of heroic transformation: egocentricity to sociocentricity, dependence to autonomy, and stagnation to growth. We then discuss three activities that promote heroic metamorphosis as well as those that hinder it. Implications for research on human growth and development are discussed.

Collective and Individual Sources of Women’s Creativity: Heroism and Psychological Types Involved in Enhancing the Talent of Emerging Leaders

“…This contribution is further enhanced by the fact that this methodology has not often been seen in empirical research based on analytical psychology, and also, above all, because of the fact of instrumentalizing this perspective, thereby enabling it to dialogue with other more consolidated approaches to leadership research. In this sense, for example, the prototypicality of leaders [2,18,19]-which has a cognitive base, also characteristic of questionnaires such as the TST and the Personal Values survey-may display components of interinfluence between leader and followers that should be taken into account both in the spheres of heroism [49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56] and psychological typology [31].…”

“…As an explanation of leaders' behavior, the study of the role of heroism reveals that the individual basis for what is considered heroic encompasses a series of specific features (categories, prototypes, self-representations) [49][50][51]. Heroes have also been known to fulfill a series of functions that can be a powerful social influence for other individuals [52][53][54]-and, specifically, in the relationships between leader and followers [55,56]. Moreover, the function of heroism in leadership is consistent with contributions linked to the idea of heroism as a tool for providing guidelines that influence the way individuals may lead their own lives [57][58][59][60].…”

“…Promoting the emergence of new ideas-apparently irrational and in prospective terms-emerges as a strategy for fostering creativity in women emerging as leaders, based on the myth of the heroine. [21,52,84]. Then again, contact with one's own heroism should not be confused with fantasies of omnipotence-which, for example, a seductive narcissist may harbor [8].…”

Nostalgia and Heroism: Theoretical Convergence of Memory, Motivation, and Function

“…The longing for our past heroes is illustrated through heroic representations on our statues, our monetary currency, and named buildings, roads, schools, and cities. People need heroes and have a romantic longing for them (Goethals and Allison, 2019). The downside of this romanticization of heroes is that it leads to distorted thinking about the past, with selective attention given to desired aspects of past living over the drawbacks.…”

Metamorfosis educativa de la actividad física para personas con síndrome de Down (Educational metamorphosis of physical activity for people with Down syndrome)

“…Esto podría llamarse metamorfosis, la cual cumple cinco funciones fundamentales: promueve el crecimiento del desarrollo, la compensación, cultivan la unidad social, la sociedad y profundizan la comprensión (Goethals, Marrinan, Spyrou & Stein, 2019). Elementos que se relacionan directamente con los objetivos a lograr en la actividad física para este tipo de poblaciones (Alwhaibi & Aldugahishem, 2019).…”