Date of Award
Spring 2013
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Department
Psychology
Abstract
This study was looking to determine whether people are more likely to look for heroic qualities in others in an emergency situation where a hero is needed, compared to a situation where nothing is wrong. This study also sought to find whether strangers in non-emergency situations will be seen as more villainous and more threatening than strangers in emergency situations. The hypotheses were supported. Participants found an ambiguous stranger to be more heroic in an emergency scenario, compared to a nonemergency. Additionally, in the situation where no hero was needed, the participants found an ambiguous stranger more threatening than in a situation where a hero was needed.
Recommended Citation
Williams, Torrie, "Need-based heroism : the motivation to assign heroic status to others" (2013). Honors Theses. 6.
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/honors-theses/6