Psychology of the Superheroes

A hero is an individual who is brave and can struggle to achieve the best out of him especially in odd situations. As Fingeroth (14) observed, a hero is one who â€Å"rises above his or her limitations to achieve something extraordinary.† In addition, a superhero is one who is brave, has superhuman powers and ready to sacrifice his life in order to save some people or the whole community.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Psychology of the Superheroes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The only difference between a hero and a superhero is perhaps the superhuman powers that heroes do not have. In most cases, the superheroes are portrayed as being immortal. He is distinguishable from villains who can be regarded as the evil counter-parts. They are also usually described as being lucky in most instances to an extent that despite their superhuman ability no ordinary man could be. In other cases, they can die and c ome back to life. Some of the superheroes were described to have been born that way. Others acquired their abilities from external sources like the sun while others were just ordinary looking people but with some unique characteristics (Levi para1). Therefore, the study of the tales of the Superheroes is essential to human beings today. The study of superheroes has been of interest to psychologists mainly due to the inspirational impacts it has on those in the neighborhood of the superhero. Often one would dream to be like this legend and would be interested in experimenting what it costs to be one. People find it more interesting if they could be associated with such heroes, and as such the superheroes act as role models in a society. The study emphasizes how individuals interpret their traumatic experiences, which is an area of interest to a psychologist (Rosenberg Para. 2). The superheroes help maintain the cultural values of the societies in which they are reflected in. All the superheroes in the ancient times reflect on the cultures of the societies that created them. In the ancient Greece, Heracles was a superhero who portrayed the Greek culture. He was a strong courageous person signifying a nation that could fight with and conquer another nation. His presence in the Olympian war against the giants would determine the winner. In the Greek history, he was the only man naturally born who became a god after his death. The other named superheroes like Achilles, Odysseus, Ajax, and many others are still being remembered by their struggle to conquer the city of Troy. Achilles and Hector were great superheroes associated with the Trojan War with Hector being on the opposing side. He led attacks against the Greek in fight for Troy. The continued use of such tales in the Greek literature thus helps motivate the young generation to be brave warriors thereby preserving the culture of the people.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This can though be achieved in real life since philosophers have postulated the developments experienced in the science were due to a man’s curiosity to try to adventure into something that was not possible before. The need to fly, just like the birds, was early read in the ancient myths. Later, its inspirational impact was seen when could find a way of managing the gravitational pull and go against it into the sky as do the birds. The tales of the superheroes also form an important part in the development of literature in the current literary world. Most anthologists find interesting to develop their works from the tales of the supernatural usually suitable for the young scholars. The literature work for the children helps the would-be future writers improve their writing abilities and skills. It also helps in giving the children a position in the society (Nakojalewa 3). For instance, the playwrights in Greek u sed the tales of Heracles where he was described as having a mixture of conflicting characters not easily seen in an individual. On one hand, he was described as a primitive and violent leader who would hold onto a grudge and seek revenge on the opponent however costly it would be. His poor decisions often landed him into problems. On the other hand, he was portrayed as a loving leader who gives all that is needed to save a friend in trouble. In such instances, he would endure the brutal punishments should he be in the hands of the opponents. Odysseus was another figure in the Greek history. As early as this ancient times, Odysseus, who was also a superhero, was portrayed as being intelligent enough and would give different false names when in the hands of the enemy. This would later save him in the hands of a king who had promised to it him last, having dealt with his allies. Odysseus had given his name as ‘Nobody’ and when he blinded the drunken king while asleep and other soldiers came for the king’s rescue, the king said ‘Nobody’ had hurt him and the soldiers went back. This was interesting in those olden times when most people were not known to be cunning in any way. How he died remains a debate with some saying he was killed and others saying he naturally died of old age. Beowulf was a Danish hero who opposed the introduction of Christianity back in the sixth century. Sir Gawain was a Latin warrior who was famous for his romance. He would support his uncle King Arthur regardless of the consequences. Therefore, it can be seen that most of the ancient superheroes manifested their powers during wars against their enemy nations. The same is slightly different from the modern superheroes.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Psychology of the Superheroes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Just as in the olden times when the superheroes were seen as those who foug ht out bitterly usually for the benefit of the others, the modern day heroes are the people who help their nations in the liberation from some sort of oppression. The struggle for freedom from the colonial government seen way back in the eighteenth century in America saw the rise of some modern heroes. The scientists who have made discoveries in exploring the space are also heroes of the current times. Their ability to explore the space appears as a power beyond the human and thus qualifies the description. Various scholars like economists, mathematicians, and statisticians are viewed in the modern times as super heroes. The other groups that are considered in the modern society are those holding world records in whichever sector. This could be in the fields of sports like football or athletics, in the fields of academics or one who portrays a good leadership quality. We hereby observe some little difference of what people termed as being a superhero and what people see of the same in the current world. Currently, you do not need to sacrifice yourself to be termed a Superhero. Neither are you required to have extra powers beyond the human nature like immortality to qualify to be termed a hero. The difference that can be observed between the ancient superheroes and the modern superheroes is that in the ancient times, these people relied much on their strength and their ability to endure harsh treatment. The modern superheroes mostly use their intelligence to help solve the current problem or even to meet other human requirements like entertainment. This can be seen as a development on how superheroes are portrayed in the modern society over the ancient times. In fact, it has been observed that in the modern days, it does not require one to exhibit extraordinary quality and skills in order to influence the life of another person especially the children (Banks para1). They are in this case called mentors. In both the ancient and modern settings, the superheroes h appen to play the same role. In the ancient times, such tales injected into the minds of the youths the need and importance of being courageous in difficult situations. The inclusion of superheroes even in the current field of narrative is important in the general development of literature (Jennings 23). In this way, it helped preserve the community’s cultural heritage especially during this period when inter-tribal wars were the order of the day. Similarly, the superheroes in the modern world act as role models in the nations they hail from or even the world over.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One would always like to be named after a good leader like John Kennedy of the United States probably with a mind set that he would also be a good leader. It would please one to be named a Nobel Peace prizewinner following some positive global contribution. Being the best player of the year has given rise to several good footballers. Therefore, the role these legends play even today is worth being mentioned. Works Cited Banks, Sherry. â€Å"Mentors: Modern-day Superheroes.† The Huffington Post. 2010. Web. Fingeroth, Danny. Superman on the Couch: What superheroes really tell us about ourselves and our society. London: Continuum International Publishing Group. 2004. Web. Jennings, Jackson. Understanding Superheroes: Scholarship, superman, and the synthesis of an emerging criticism. Diss. University of Arkansas, Dissertations Theses. 2009. Web. Levi, Joe. â€Å"Modern Day Real life Superheroes.† Greener Living through Technology: How a Geek gets back to Basics. 2009. Web . Nakojalewa, Maria. â€Å"Theory, Post-theory and Aetonormative theory.† Neohelicon, Vol. 36, Iss. 1; p3. 2009. Web. Rosenberg, Robin. â€Å"The Psychology of the Superheroes: An Unauthorized Exploration.† Journal of Popular Culture, Vol. 42, No. 2. p.  389. 2009. This essay on Psychology of the Superheroes was written and submitted by user Addison J. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Definition Essay Essay Example

Definition Essay Essay Example Definition Essay Essay Definition Essay Essay SANTELICES, Rhey Elmerson S. ENGLCOM EW2 Definition Essay Draft August 16, 2011 Death is the one thing in life we can be sure about and that is why religions have beliefs about what it means. Everything else might happen to us: we might get married, be rich, be happy, have children, open our own business or travel the world, but the only real certainty is that we will die. The major western religion Christianity has borrowed heavily from the Egyptian model of what happens after death. The idea of final judgment, physical resurrection and heaven being a garden with a river running through it, are all ideas borrowed from the Egyptians. We must also remember that mans life is in Gods Hands. Only He determines the moment of death and the destiny of every soul on separation from the flesh. For this reason, attempts to produce experiments in this field are in conflict with the Will of God and bring the experimenter into contact with the fallen spirits of that world. Christians believe fervently that there is a life after death on earth. While the actual nature of this life is not known, Christians believe that many spiritual experiences in this life help to give them some idea of what eternal life will be like. Christianity has historically taught that everyone has only a single life on earth. After death, an eternal life awaits everyone either in Heaven or Hell. There is no suffering in Heaven; only joy. Torture is eternal without any hope of cessation for the inhabitants of Hell. The overwhelming majority of mainstream Christian denominations rejects the notion of reincarnation and considers the theory to challenge basic tenets of their beliefs. In standard Christian theology, the soul is an individual entity which is totally separate from other souls and can become totally separate from God. There is one God and a plurality of souls. Every person has exactly one soul. In the Genesis version, as believed by young earth creationist theologians, humans were created on the Saturday of the first week, after God had created land, sea, stars, planets, birds, beasts, fishes, etc. , during the previous Monday to Friday. Since only humans have souls, all these features existed quite concretely in the absence of observers. In contrast, theologians who believe in evolution subscribe to the soul-injection theory, which states that There came a moment in the evolution of hominids when God intervened and injected a human soul into a previously animal lineage. All the features of the world existed in the absence of souls, in this case for many hundreds of millions of years rather than one working week. So, to the Christian, reality is totally objective and souls have no part in determining the existence of the real world. If Jesus is the only way to God, it is because the salvation of the person, body and spirit, is a hope profoundly different from all other religious hope. It gives a new dimension to salvation not found anywhere else. Spiritual life is walking after the spirit by the spirit, focused on the spirit, exercising and strengthening our spirit, substantiating things unseen. Such is the life, in Christ Jesus, the only help that could ever work, authentically, for us helpless sinners in achieving victorious life: with Christ, Christ in me, and for Christ. Resurrection means to return back in the same physical body with the same face. Rebirth is when a soul which resides in a human body returns back to another human body after the previous bodys death. Now to begin with no one knows what happens to the soul after it leaves the body, so for arguments sake, for a soul to return, it requires a body which can sustain it, which evidently is not a rotten corpse which is nothing but decayed bones, whereas a newborn or a foetus is much more apt for a soul to make it its dwelling. So from a rational point of view isnt it more appropriate for a soul to take rebirth rather than claim the old rotten body it once used to reside in. Belief in the resurrection of the dead, and Jesus Christs role as judge of the dead, is codified in the Apostles Creed, which is the fundamental creed of Christian baptismal faith. The Book of Revelation also makes many references about the Day of Judgment when the dead will be raised up. However, there are also many Christians who do not believe that individual consciousness continues after death, and a higher number who do not believe in a place or condition of eternal punishment for sins. Christians believe there is an afterlife. Christian views of the afterlife generally involve heaven and hell, with Catholicism adding an intermediate realm of purgatory. Except for purgatory, these realms are usually assumed to be eternal. Although the body dies and is buried or cremated, they believe that their unique soul lives on and is raised to new life by God. Christians believe that God is just and fair, and so cannot let evil go unpunished. Most believe in the idea of judgement after death, and that God will treat people in the afterlife according to how they lived their life on earth. Historically, Christianity has taught Heaven as a place of eternal life, in that it is a shared plane to be attained by all the elect. Roman Catholics believe that entering Purgatory after death cleanses one of sin period of suffering until ones nature is perfected, which makes one acceptable to enter heaven. This is valid for venial sin only, as mortal sins can be forgiven only through the act of reconciliation and repentance while on earth. In Protestant Christian sects, eternal life depends upon the sinner receiving Gods grace through faith in Jesus death for their sins, see atonement, his resurrection as the Christ, and accepting his Lordship authority and guidance over their lives. If the soul could satisfy the gods, the soul was straightway gathered into the fold of Osiris. But if it could not, if it was found wanting when weighed in the heavenly balances, then it was cast into a hell, to be rent to shreds of the Devouress. For only the righteous souls, only the guiltless, were thought to be deserving of life everlasting. The concept of heaven and hell in traditional Christianity heavily depends on the doctrine of the immortality of the soul. The Bible is even less specific about hell, and Christians have very different ideas about this too. Some Christians believe that hell is a place of suffering, and of separation from God. Others believe that hell is a spiritual state of being separated from God for eternity. The word Salvation signifies deliverance from actual trouble or threatening danger. Salvation is the gift of God given by a covenant with man where God acts by grace to save man from the slavery and evil effects of sin. Only in Christianity is this path of Salvation made clear by Gods covenant with man through Jesus Christ who is the sacrifice of God for the sins of the whole world. Christians believe that salvation was made possible by the sacrificial death of Christ by crucifixion. The word atonement, one of the few theological words of English origin, is used to describe this concept. The verb atone derives from the adverb at one, and therefore means to reconcile. The notion of deification is based on the perspective that when Christ was incarnate in the man Jesus, he did take on just one human nature, but all of human nature. He thus made it possible for the reverse to occur for humans to participate in the divine nature. The Son of God, as the one through whom the process of creation was fulfilled, came down from heaven into the world and became

Strategy Tripod Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Strategy Tripod - Assignment Example 72). When it comes to global business, strategy is perceived in two dynamics, 1- strategy as action, and 2) strategy tripod. The ‘strategy as action’ perspective suggests that the essence of strategy is interaction because actions and reactions such as ‘competing aggressively’, ‘price war’, ‘attack’, ‘counterattacks’ etc lead to competitive advantage (Peng and Gokalp, 2011, p. 250). The ‘strategy tripod’ model sheds light on global competitive dynamic based on the major three perspectives, namely industry-based, resource-based and institution-based views. The Strategy Tripod The fundamental objective of the competitive strategy of a company is to gain sustainable competitive advantage in the industry. There has been a great amount of academic debates during recent years concerning competitive strategies to explain ‘why do firms succeed and often fail’. There are different approaches concerning competitive strategy such as SWOT, Porter’s five force etc. The strategy tripod is another approach to explain competitive strategy that states that a company’s competitive strategy derives from three main sources: the pressure of the industry the company operates in, the impact of the institutions that a company is surrounded by and the resources that a company possesses (Wallner, 2012, p. 12- 13). Peng (2008, p.14) identified the very fundamental four questions in strategy. They are: 1) ‘why do firms differ’? 2) ‘How do firms behave’? 3) ‘What are the main determinants of the scope of a firms’? 4) What are the main determinants of a firm’s success or failure? He elucidated the concept of ‘strategy tripod’ to answer ‘how do firms behave’. According to him, strategy tripod is a framework that states that a competitive strategy as a discipline has three ‘legs’, that are the basic three perspectives; industry-based, resource-based and institution-based views of a firm. Three leading strategy perspectives, namely industry-based view, institution-based view and resource-based view of the firm collectively lead to a strategy tripod. The industry-based view highlights the five-forces affecting an industry and explains that the strategic effort is meant to examine the five competitive forces namely competitive rivalry, threat of entry, threat of substitutes, bargaining power of suppliers and bargaining power of customers. The resource-based view concentrates on strengths and weaknesses internal to a firm, whereas the industry-based view focuses on the opportunities and threats that are external to a firm. Industry-based view thus concentrates on the O and T whereas the resource-based view concentrates on the S and W in the SWOT (Peng, 2008, p. 14). The institution-based view suggests that a firm and its competitive strategy conditions are influenced by the institutions that the firm is surrounded by. The three ‘legs’ of strategy tripod are explained in detail below: Industry-based view The industry-based view, which is pioneered by Michel Porter in early years of 1980s, emphasized that the primary principle of competitive strategy formulation is the relationship that a firm builds with its environment. External factors are the major determinants of a firm’s competitive strategy because these factors not only affect firm’s performance but also its way to achieving competitive advantage (Gao, Murray and Kotabe, 2010). Firms are largely depending on various external industry forces such as threats of substitutes and new entrants, bargaining power of buyers and suppliers and competition rivalry among the major counterparts.