First developed in Chapter 16 of The Lucifer Effect book, Zimbardo explored the ways in which certain individuals can resist social pressures to become forces for positive social good. He was inspired by the work of Hannah Arendt on the “banality of evil” to see if there are ways to cultivate a “banality of goodness.” This led him to rethink the nature of heroism and to outline twelve different types of heroes. The “banality of heroism”, an idea first explored in a 2006 article written by Dr. Zimbardo and Dr. Zeno Franco, is a guide for the work of the Heroic Imagination Project, suggesting that each and every seemingly ordinary person on this planet is capable of committing heroic acts.
From this core belief, Phil founded and directed the non profit organization Heroic Imagination Project (2010-present), born with a mission to use important findings in psychology to equip ordinary people of all ages with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to choose wise and effective acts of heroism during challenging moments in their lives. This includes understanding of the Bystander Effect, the power of whistleblowers, pro-social practices, and courage to be the first to act.
Budapest: Heroes’ Square Foundation and the Heroes’ Square Company
The Heroesʼ Square Initiative, founded in 2013 by Györgyi Orosz, Péter Halácsy and Philip Zimbardo, was designed to identify and provide tools to overcome the beliefs that prevent us from standing up for others – or even ourselves. The mission of the Heroesʼ Square Foundation and Heroesʼ Square Company is to provide the tools for people to think critically, dare to stand up and do for others, and act as everyday
heroes.
“We provide training for teachers, students and parents on: how to think about yourself so that you can use a growth mindset to start on the path to progress; how to become aware of and overcome your own barriers to action so that you don’t remain a bystander; how to break free from deep-rooted stereotypes and prejudices so that you can objectively form an opinion and encourage others to do the same.”
Poland: The Zimbardo Center
The Zimbardo Center in Nikiszowiec was established in 2014 by the Local Initiatives Factory Association, primarily as a place to support local youth. It has become one of the most important points on the map of Nikiszowiec, with many social, cultural events are organized here as a place of positive change.
Palermo: HIP and Giocherenda
The Heroic Imagination Project has been in a generative collaboration and mentorship with Giocherenda, an organization created by young migrants from Guinea, Gambia, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Morocco. Their visionary use of creative games and HIP curriculum focuses on transforming divisive narratives, engaging in emancipatory storytelling, and fostering cooperation.
Giocherenda, which sounds like the Italian word giocare (to play), comes from Pulaar (a West African language) and it means “solidarity, awareness of interdependence, strength through sharing, the joy of doing things together”.
Portugal: HIP and Look Around Association
In Portugal the Heroic Imagination Project is being implemented by Look Around Association, with the impact evaluation being lead by the Center for Research on Human Development of the Catholic University of Porto. In 2018 HIP Portugal team implemented a pilot study of a version of HIP curriculum for adolescents – HIP Teens. In 2020, the program ‘First Psychological Aid for Heroes’ was created in partnership with the Portuguese Red Cross, combining and adaptation of HIP curriculum for kids, along with their training of psychological first aid. The first HIP Club was created in 2023, following the implementation of the HIP Teens program in the social center Centro Social da Paróquia de Nossa Senhora da Ajuda. Its aim is to give young people a voice, enabling them to actively contribute to transforming their reality. The HIP Club serves as a space where youngsters identify issues they would like to change in their surroundings (in the community center, school, neighborhood, etc.), and actively contribute to solving them.
Selected Publications:
- Bocchiaro, P., & Zimbardo, P. G. (2010). Defying unjust authority: An exploratory study. Current Psychology: A Journal for Diverse Perspectives on Diverse Psychological Issues, 29(2). 155-170.
- Franco, Z. E., Blau, K., & Zimbardo, P. G. (2011). Heroism: A conceptual analysis and differentiation between heroic action and altruism. Review of general psychology, 15(2), 99-113.
- Bocchiaro, P., Zimbardo, P. G., & Van Lange, P. A. (2012) To defy or not to defy: An experimental study of the dynamics of disobedience and whistleblowing. Social Influence, 7(1), 35-50.
- Franco, Z. E. & Zimbardo, P.G. (2016). The psychology of heroism: Extraordinary champions of humanity in an unforgiving world. In: A.G. Miller (Ed). The social psychology of good and evil. (pp. 494-523). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
- Franco, Z. E., Allison, S. T., Kinsella, E. L., Kohen, A., Langdon, M., & Zimbardo, P. G. (2018). Heroism research: A review of theories, methods, challenges, and trends. Journal of humanistic psychology, 58(4), 382-396.
- Nogueira, I., Barbosa, M. R., Ribeiro, L. M., Xenophontos, I., & Zimbardo, P. G. (2023) Creating mindful heroes: a case study with ninth grade students. Frontiers in Psychology, Vol. 14.
Related Resource:
- Heroic Imagination Project website: https://www.heroicimagination.org/