About Heroism Science
Heroism Science is a peer-reviewed open source research journal that aims to advance heroism science theory, research, and application from a broad range of disciplinary perspectives, to researchers and the broader community. Contributions from all disciplines are welcome, and cross-disciplinary work, student contributions, and non-Western perspectives are especially welcome. Heroism Science is the official journal of the Heroic Imagination Project.
The field of heroism science is roughly two decades old. Since the year 2000, scholars have shown a new (or renewed) interest in topics such as morality, cooperation, altruism, wisdom, meaning, purpose, resilience, hope, flow, human growth, courage, empathy, spirituality, health, public service, self-control, emotional intelligence, and character strengths. The past decade especially has witnessed a surge in research on two types of exceptional individuals who best exemplify these positive qualities: heroes and heroic leaders.
Heroism science is a nascent multiple disciplinary field which seeks to reconceptualize heroism, the hero’s journey and heroic leadership through a close examination of the origins, types, and processes of heroism. With the use of a mix of traditional and newly emerging epistemological and methodological frameworks, and their application in a wide variety of settings (e.g. pedagogy, crisis management, healthcare, counseling, workforce, community development, popular media, online activism, human rights, international relations, digital humanities), heroism science is part of a broader movement that aims to foster holistic well-being, promote heroic awareness and action, civic responsibility and engagement, and build resilient individuals and communities in the face of increasingly complex social landscapes.
To learn more about heroism science, please visit the Heroic Imagination Project's comprehensive online resource library