| Abstract: | The work discusses the issue of heroism and its relations with personality, temperament,
motivation behind heroic and risky behaviors, and attitude to heroism. The phenomenon of
heroism lies in its characteristics: in heroism, a socially desirable behavior involves extremity,
risk-taking and risking one's resources (health, life, money or reputation). Empirical study of
heroism is a new area in psychology, probably because this phenomenon is not easy to
describe and operationalize. Recently, there has been increasing interest in everyday heroism
in psychological research. The study described in the dissertation involved the analysis of its
correlations with HEXACO model dimensions as well as subclinical psychopathy, subclinical
narcissism, and temperament (impulsivity, fear deficit, sensitivity to punishment and
sensitivity to reward, and the sensation seeking). Relationships between heroism and explicit
and implicit motivation behind heroic behaviors, as well as between heroism and the person's
attitude toward it, were also studied. In addition, correlations between the attitude toward
heroism and some personality and motivational variables were analyzed.
The hypotheses were verified in two study groups: a general population group (236
persons) and a group of people doing dangerous jobs (246 persons). Factor analysis of the
instruments was carried out in a pilot group (200 persons) and an aggregate group (523
persons). In addition, 96 persons took part in the study of implicit motivation using the IRAP
procedure. Heroism was measured with the Questionnaire of Heroic Behaviors
[Kwestionariusz zachowań heroicznych] (the author's original instrument) and the Activity
Frequency Inventory [Inwentarz częstości zachowań heroicznych] by Lilienfeld (adapted by
the author). Motivation behind heroic behaviors was tested using the Questionnaire of
Motives Behind Heroic Behaviors [Kwestionariusz motywacji do zachowań heroicznych] (the
author's original instrument) and the IRAP procedure, and attitude to heroism, using the
Questionnaire of Attitudes Toward Heroic Behaviors [Kwestionariusz postaw względem
heroizmu] (the author's original instrument). The other variables were measured with research
tools adapted to the Polish culture or translated into Polish by the author. The reported study shows that personality, temperamental and motivational factors play
a role in heroism. It was possible to identify heroic prototypes connected with different levels
of heroism and involving different traits: fearless heroes, narcissist and sensitive (openminded)
heroes, impulsive (moderately heroic) individuals, and non-heroic ones. People
working as fire fighters, police officers, rescuers or soldiers have a higher level of subclinical
psychopathy and narcissism, and display a higher level of heroism. Mediational analysis, i.e.,
the analysis of mediator variables such as narcissism, may help understand the mechanism
underlying heroic behaviors. As expected, heroism proved to be correlated with the dark side
of personality. Probably heroism is an essentially pro-social behavior, but its determinants are
complex and not related to a high level of honesty, authenticity or personality reflection of
moral components. The study suggests that audacity, fearless temperament and narcissist selfsufficiency
(understood as the belief in one's own efficacy, strength and ability to succeed)
may be especially important in heroism. The study showed that even dark sides of personality
may be socially beneficial. The study is concluded with the definition of heroism based on the
theoretical concept and empirical study. The results may be used in different areas of
psychological practice, such as professional training, recruitment and selection, psychological
education and training, educational programmes, or the treatment of people with personality
disorders. |