Here I explore the universal and individual need for heroes, as well as the portrayal of antiheroes, and what purposes such figures serve for society. 

When we’re younger, it’s often a customary assignment to be asked about someone who inspires us. Typically we answer with our parents or a sports star. The same question is often asked again later in life, such as during job interviews, college administration essays, or during ice breakers. The answers can vary from athletes to civil rights leaders to scholars to people we know in our lives. While sometimes the selections are picked to earn sympathy points or to add a veil of intellectualism, often we do have people that we admire. But have you ever stopped to consider what purpose heroes serve, not just for children, but for adults?

There is a reason why the Marvel Universe is raking in billions of dollars. People are enamored by the concept of heroes. In cases such as Marvel, there is a clear delineation between the people we are meant to root for and the villains threatening them. The same formula is present in many films and works of literature, though the concept of antihero sheds more light on the shades of grey that exist in the real world. But what does it mean to be a hero? If you search the history of the term, “hero” represents a variety of admirable traits. Old French outlines “heroe” as meaning a “man of superhuman strength or physical courage,” while Latin and Greek define the term as a “demi-god,” with later English using “hero” for a “man who exhibits great bravery.” Overall heroes refer to people who possess greater than average traits that can be regarded in almost divine proportions, with the term “hero-worship” arising way back in 1713. Heroes are people who overcome adversity to combat danger and injustice, the superhumans who keep us mere mortals protected. And on some levels, humans need heroes.

It turns out that the need for heroes is psychological. Viewing heroism is believed to produce an “elevation” emotional response in humans, evoking euphoric feelings that inspire awe and admiration that creates warmth, calmness, and even love. If you think this seems dramatic, consider your feelings when reading a particularly moving piece of literature or while seeing the hero defeat the villain in your favorite film. Humans love a comeback story, and watching evil be defeated gives us an excited, yet calming, rush as we see justice served and order restored. While many real-life heroes exist, there is certainly no shortage of fictional legends to admire. Storytelling is an ancient art, with the theme of heroes cropping up throughout centuries of tales to assuage fears, lift spirits, and champion hope. Heroes affirm values, healing psychic wounds as they instill purpose and resoundingly offer hope. The idea of heroes satisfies our need for inspiration and hope in dire times, serving as a beacon for persevering and overcoming adversity and hardship.

Heroes can do even more for people, as they strengthen human bonds. Celebrating heroes is historically a communal event, with storytelling originating in groups. Nowadays, similar hero-centered gatherings can be observed, such as at sports games or in movie theaters. People enjoy coming together to celebrate heroism, and a sense of closeness is often forged when the hero perseveres and reaffirms shared community values. Heroes exhibit the values that we most desire, demonstrating role models that serve to inspire change. The story of the hero outlines a journey, which relays to the average person how his or her life can be transformed. This gives people the courage and strength to take risks, make changes, and reach their potential more fully. In turn, admiring heroes can draw out the same qualities in ourselves that we covet in the heroes. This can help our personal lives improve, as well as the way we interact with the world around us. Many people choose to give back as their position in the world becomes more elevated, therefore allowing hero inspiration to be transformative on a large scale.

At the same time, because heroes fulfill so many emotional and psychological needs, people are often more willing to overlook the flaws of their heroes. This is part of the reason why hero-figures can get away with atrocities. We want to, and on some levels need to, believe in our heroes, which makes us more willing to defend them and mistrust people who attempt to speak out against them. That is likely why the world was so shocked, for example, when Bill Cosby was finally seen in a truthful light. This confusion between fact and fiction can certainly be damaging when it allows people to get away with deplorable behavior. Additionally, placing the pressure of being worshipped on young figures, in particular, can be highly damaging. Though it can be positive to be an inspiration to others, hero-figures are also under extreme pressure to live up to their title and maintain their golden facade. And since no one is perfect, inevitably, the cracks will eventually begin to show, which can lead to the demonization of heroes.

In some cases, it is easier to relate to and root for a more flawed hero. If you comb through popular shows over the last decade, there are many instances of the antihero. Take Don Draper, Walter White, Jax Teller, or Arya Stark for example. These characters are highly flawed and exhibit different degrees of depravity, though many people can still find themselves rooting for them. Antiheroes are central characters that lack the typical attributes of heroes, such as morality and in some cases decency, yet we are still drawn to their journeys. In some cases, heroes are so perfect that rather than inspire, they can be viewed as overly moralistic, trite, and condescending. Antiheroes, on the other hand, appeal to a more jaded worldview that allows us to root for characters that we perhaps can more personally relate to. Though the glorification of antiheroes can at times allow us to gloss over or glamorize problematic actions, it can be refreshing to have more attainable idols. At the same time, it is possible to root for fictional figures in an escapist outlet without condoning such actions in the real world.

In closing, many people need to believe in something greater than themselves to shield themselves from the absurd condition of the world. We don’t want to face our limitations and mortality. People who show themselves to be extraordinary give up hope that there is meaning beyond the prosaic and that something divine exists. Of course, in many cases, this is just an illusion, though some people are truly exceptional and worthy of praise. Though hero-worship can be highly problematic and lead to the glorification of immoral figures, there is nothing inherently wrong with having a hero. While it is important to remember that real-life heroes are just as flawed as anybody else, having somebody to look up to can provide the motivation needed to overcome hardships.