Hero Syndrome
Encyclopedia
The hero syndrome is a phenomenon affecting people who seek heroism or recognition, usually by creating a desperate situation which they can resolve. This can include unlawful acts
, such as arson
. The phenomenon has been noted to affect civil servants, such as firefighter
s, nurses, police officers
, and security guards. Acts linked with the hero syndrome should not be confused with acts of malicious intent, such as revenge
on the part of a suspended
firefighter or an insatiable level of excitement, as was found in a federal study of more than 75 firefighter arsonists. However, acts of the hero syndrome have been linked to previously failed heroism. The hero syndrome may also be a more general yearning for self-worth.
There are various categories of complexes. Each category is rooted in a particular archetype. Major categories include: father, mother, brother, sister, hero, child and animus or anima.
An archetype is a generic, idealized model of a person, object, or concept from which similar instances are derived, copied, patterned, or emulated. In psychology, an archetype is a model of a person, personality, or behavior.
In Jung's psychological framework archetypes are innate, universal prototypes for ideas and may be used to interpret observations. A group of memories and interpretations associated with an archetype is a complex, e.g. a mother complex associated with the mother archetype.
Indeed, the contents of complexes are as varied as human experiences. We can have complexes about love, status, intelligence, competition winning, being recognized, money, food, addictions, honor, and so on, and so forth. Each complex produces a "knee-jerk" reaction to certain sets of circumstances.
The Hero Complex is an inherent desire to help others. It is a compulsion to help make their world right. Not officially a disorder or disease, there are an increasing number of people who 'suffer' from it.
Comic book heroes also suffer from this disorder, having the need to help others. May also be associated with Zoological Altruism- Instinctive cooperative behavior that is detrimental to the individual but contributes to the survival of the species.
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
, such as arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
. The phenomenon has been noted to affect civil servants, such as firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s, nurses, police officers
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
, and security guards. Acts linked with the hero syndrome should not be confused with acts of malicious intent, such as revenge
Revenge
Revenge is a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. It is also called payback, retribution, retaliation or vengeance; it may be characterized, justly or unjustly, as a form of justice.-Function in society:Some societies believe that the...
on the part of a suspended
Suspension (punishment)
Suspension is a form of punishment that people receive for violating rules and regulations.- Workplace :Suspension is a common practice in the workplace for being in violation of an organization's policy...
firefighter or an insatiable level of excitement, as was found in a federal study of more than 75 firefighter arsonists. However, acts of the hero syndrome have been linked to previously failed heroism. The hero syndrome may also be a more general yearning for self-worth.
Carl Jung Version
Carl Gustav Jung, Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology, found that the phenomenon of fragmented identity can result in what he referred to as complexes.There are various categories of complexes. Each category is rooted in a particular archetype. Major categories include: father, mother, brother, sister, hero, child and animus or anima.
An archetype is a generic, idealized model of a person, object, or concept from which similar instances are derived, copied, patterned, or emulated. In psychology, an archetype is a model of a person, personality, or behavior.
In Jung's psychological framework archetypes are innate, universal prototypes for ideas and may be used to interpret observations. A group of memories and interpretations associated with an archetype is a complex, e.g. a mother complex associated with the mother archetype.
Indeed, the contents of complexes are as varied as human experiences. We can have complexes about love, status, intelligence, competition winning, being recognized, money, food, addictions, honor, and so on, and so forth. Each complex produces a "knee-jerk" reaction to certain sets of circumstances.
The Hero Complex is an inherent desire to help others. It is a compulsion to help make their world right. Not officially a disorder or disease, there are an increasing number of people who 'suffer' from it.
Comic book heroes also suffer from this disorder, having the need to help others. May also be associated with Zoological Altruism- Instinctive cooperative behavior that is detrimental to the individual but contributes to the survival of the species.