Are humans hard-wired to want heroes and saviors?

[raccoon]

Sometimes I find myself looking for heroes/saviors, and I'm definitely old enough to know better. :shrug:


Then some people never are old enough to know better, it seems.

[Cronus Protagonist]

1. Everyone wants to be a hero

And yes, it's wired into the human condition.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. I am sure there is some psychobabble to explain it, but we sure are seeing it these days

I think it is due to most people being massively insecure, and unwilling or unable to think for or believe in themselves.

I am cynical enough to think that if it is popular, it is not quality (Obama/Biden as the exception, of course!)
If it is being advertised, there must be something wrong with it

As my friend told me, my wife and I belong to a group of people who don't want to belong in groups or follow the crowd!

[ensho]

3. no we are not hard wired to want heroes and saviors

we are taught that.

propagandized.

brain washed.

our hard wiring is directed toward survival. to keep the body alive long enough to reproduce and for women kept alive long enough to raise the child to independence.

[Hestia]

5. I agree - no. The whole idea is to undertook your own personal

Hero's Journey, in a literal, spiritual and emotional sense. It's what balances you as an adult. Read Joseph Campbell, then take a look at 'mythology' again. You will see it all in a new light. (I put 'mythology' in quotes, due to the fact that the ancient's didn't lie about their God/desses, it is us who thinks they were lying).

[Occam Bandage]

9. And who, pray tell, has been "propagandizing" in every culture across the globe,

for the entirety of recorded human history?

[soleft]

4. I think it has to do with feelings about your parents?

I used to have a poster from the movie Aliens - the one where Sigourney is carrying Newt and a big ass gun. I always thought it would have been great to have had a mother like that, fearless, protective, strong.

Remember that guy John Bradshaw who did all that dysfunctional family stuff in the 80's - he used to talk about a fantasy bond that people who felt disappointed in their parents would carry into adulthood. And the disappointment doesn't have to be obvious. And parents can still be awesome parents and still leave some gnawing craving in all of us to get something we just didn't or couldn't get from them.

[KansDem]

6. We tend to think those we consider our "heroes" to be the "best and the brightest."

They're not...

[Blue_Tires]

7. the brazillion comic book movies in recent years could be a clue

[Dogtown]

8. We're primates.

Apparently we can't evolve past our parent species in some regards.

[stillcool]

10. Leaders and followers..

along with wanderers. I think fear is our major motivator.