Philip Zimbardo: What Makes a Hero?
Duration: (9:14)
Description: What is a hero? Why do some people act heroically in dangerous situations, but others do not? In this clip, Dr. Philip Zimbardo, professor of psychology at Stanford University and author of The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil, describes several examples of people who acted heroically, despite risks to their own personal safety.
Instructions: After viewing the video above, answer the following questions in essay format
Can you think of any dispositional explanations for why some people may be more likely to act heroically? Give a few examples.
What do you think are the situational influences on heroism?
Is it easier to think of dispositional or situational explanations for heroic behavior? Why?
Do you think that someone who acts heroically in one situation would be more likely to act heroically in another situation than a person who does not? Why or why not?
