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During the classic hero’s journey (Campbell 1949), the hero embarks on transformative quest. Along the way, they face challenges that test their courage and resilience. Through these trials, the hero grows and learns about themselves and the world around them, becoming more aware and conscious. At the climax of their journey, the hero reaches a moment of realization, a moment of clarity when they see themselves and the world in a new light and gain profound insight and wisdom. The hero returns home, transformed, with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of the universe (Allison et al. 2019).
Joseph Campbell (1949), in his seminal work The Hero with a Thousand Faces, outlined the concept of the hero’s journey – a narrative pattern that he believed was present in myths and stories across different cultures. According to Campbell, the hero’s journey typically...
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References
Allison, S.T. 2019. Heroic consciousness. Heroism Science 4: 1–43.
———. 2024a. Heroic consciousness. In Encyclopedia of heroism studies, ed. S.T. Allison, J.K. Beggan, and G.R. Goethals. New York: Springer.
———. 2024b. Anamnesis and heroism. In Encyclopedia of heroism studies, ed. S.T. Allison, J.K. Beggan, and G.R. Goethals. New York: Springer.
———. 2024c. Heroic transformation. In Encyclopedia of heroism studies, ed. S.T. Allison, J.K. Beggan, and G.R. Goethals. New York: Springer.
Allison, S.T., and G. Smith. 2015. Reel heroes and villains. Richmond: Agile Writer Press.
Allison, S.T., and G.R. Goethals. 2017. The hero's transformation. In Handbook of heroism and heroic leadership, ed. S.T. Allison, G.R. Goethals, and R.M. Kramer. New York: Routledge.
Allison, S.T., G.R. Goethals, A.R. Marrinan, O.M. Parker, S.P. Spyrou, and M. Stein. 2019. The metamorphosis of the hero: Principles, processes, and purpose. Frontiers in Psychology 10: 606.
Campbell, J. 1949. The hero with a thousand faces. New York: New World Library.
———. 2004. Pathways to bliss. Novata: New World Library.
Jones, P. 2023. Mindfulness and heroism. In Encyclopedia of heroism studies, ed. S.T. Allison, J.K. Beggan, and G.R. Goethals. New York: Springer.
Worthington, E.L., and S.T. Allison. 2018. Heroic humility: What the science of humility can say to people raised on self-focus. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
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Allison, S.T. (2024). Enlightenment and Heroism. In: Encyclopedia of Heroism Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17125-3_232-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17125-3_232-1
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