Skip to main content
Log in

The Psychology of Courage: Modern Research on an Ancient Virtue

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

While drawing on a limited field of articles and chapters on courage, the editors of The Psychology of Courage: modern research on an ancient virtue have postulated a viable history of the evolution of courage in psychology and chosen a select set of articles which advocate the influence of some of the more modern approaches to psychological thought, while relying only slightly on the historical and alternative views of courage. An alternative view and application of courage presented here examines the impact of courage as a component of a dynamic system. This dynamic systems approach allows for courage to have an interactional impact on the individual regardless of cultural identity or label.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1999). Social cognitive theory of personality. In L. Pervin & O. John (Eds.), Handbook of Personality (pp. 154–196). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (2002). Social cognitive theory in cultural context. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 269–290

  • Bandura, A. (2005). The evolution of social cognitive theory. In K. Smith & M. Hitt (Eds.), Great minds in management (pp. 9–35). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (2008). The future of reciprocal determinism. (C. W. Gruber, Interviewer), April 29

  • Boeree, C. G. (2006). Albert Bandura. Retrieved December 15, 2008, from Personality THeories: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/bandura.html

  • Gruber, C. W. (2008a). Humanistic cognitive behaviourism: a new theoretical framework for teaching and learning. Milton Keynes, United Kingdom: british psychological society: education section annual meeting.

  • Gruber, C. W. (2008b). New approaches for teaching personality: humanistic cognitive behaviourism: a new theoretical framework for development and personality. 4th International Conference on Research and Access on Developmental Education . San Juan, Puerto Rico.

  • Gruber, C. W. (2009a). Reciprocal determinism: next steps. Edinburgh, UK: british psychological society, history and philosophy sectiona annual meeting.

  • Gruber, C. W. (2009b). The application of humanistic cognitive behavioral theory; from developmental education into giftedness. Qwara, Malta: international school psychology association annual meeting.

  • Larsen, K. S., & Giles, H. (1976). Survival or courage as human motivation: Development of an attitude scale. Psychological Reports, 299–302.

  • Lopez, S. J., O’Byrne, K. K., & Peterson, S. (2003). Profiling courage. In S. Lopez & C. Snyder (Eds.), Positive psychological assessment: A handbook of models and measures (pp. 185–197). Washington: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Maddi, S. R. (2004). Hardiness: an operationalization of existential courage. Journal of Humanistic Psychology , 279–298.

  • May, R. (1975). The courage to create. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plato. (1992). Republic. C. Reeve, Ed., & G. Grube, Trans. Indianapolis: Hackett

  • Putman, D. (1997). Psychological courage. Philosophy, Psychiatry and Psychology, 1–11

  • Rollo May Papers. HPA Mss46. Department of special collections, Davidson Library, University of California, Santa Barbara. (n.d.).

  • Tillich, P. (1959). The courage to be. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walton, D. (1986). Courage: A philosophical investigation. Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodard, C. R. (2004). Hardiness and the concept of courage. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 173–185.

  • Woodard, C. R., & Pury, C. L. (2007). The construct of courage: catagorization and measurement. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 135–147.

  • Zimbardo, P., Johnson, R., Weber, A., & Gruber, C. (2007). Psychology, AP* Edition. Boston: ABLongman.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Craig Gruber.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gruber, C. The Psychology of Courage: Modern Research on an Ancient Virtue. Integr. psych. behav. 45, 272–279 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-011-9155-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-011-9155-x

Keywords

Navigation