Scott T. Allison is Professor of Psychology at the University of Richmond. He has published numerous books and articles on heroism, villainy, heroic leadership, and underdogs.

George R. Goethals holds the E. Claiborne Robins Distinguished Professorship in Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond and studies heroes and presidential leadership.

Roderick M. Kramer is the William R. Kimball Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford University and is the author or coauthor of more than a dozen academic books.

Setting the Scene: The Rise and Coalescence of Heroism Science Scott T. Allison, George R. Goethals, and Roderick M. Kramer Part I: Origins of Heroism 1. Attributes and Applications of Heroes: A Brief History of Lay and Academic Perspectives Elaine L. Kinsella, Timothy D. Ritchie, and Eric R. Igou 2. Why Heroism Exists: Evolutionary Perspectives on Extreme Helping Sara Kafashan, Adam Sparks, Amanda Rotella, and Pat Barclay 3. Adaptive Foundations of Heroism: Social Heuristics Push Advantageous Everyday Ethical Behavior to Heroic Extremes Gordon T. Kraft-Todd and David G. Rand 4. The Evolution and Neurobiology of Heroism Stephanie D. Preston 5. Character Development and the Emergence of Heroic Leadership: Towards a Relational Developmental Systems-Based Model Kristina Schmid Callina, Richard M. Lerner, Ettya Fremont, Brian Burkhard, Danielle Stacey, and Shaobing Su 6. The Moral Character of Heroes Lawrence J. Walker 7. Why and How Groups Create Moral Heroes Ari Decter-Frain, Ruth Vanstone, and Jeremy A. Frimer 8. The Hero Organism: Advancing the Embodiment of Heroism Thesis in the 21st Century Olivia Efthimiou Part II: Types of Heroism 9. Everyday Heroes: Determinants of Moral Courage Anna Halmburger, Anna Baumert, and Manfred Schmitt 10. Heroism in Times of Crisis: Understanding Leadership during Extreme Events Zeno E. Franco 11. Holocaust Heroes: Heroic Altruism of Non-Jewish Moral Exemplars in Nazi Europe Stephanie Fagin-Jones 12. Heroism and Wisdom in Medicine Margaret Plews-Ogan, Justine E. Owens, Natalie May, and Monika Ardelt 13. Deviant Heroes and Social Heroism in Everyday Life: Activists and Artists Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Michael Condren, and Izabela Lebuda 14. To Become or Not to Become? Existential Courage and the Quest for Identity Roderick M. Kramer 15. Heroism in the Networked Society Dana Klisanin 16. A Training Program in Spiritually-Oriented Leadership: Inner Growth for Outer Change Elsa Lau, Sarah B. Sherman, and Lisa Miller 17. Career Development and a Sense of Calling: Contexts for Heroism Bryan J. Dik, Adelyn B. Shimizu, and William O'Connor 18. Underdogs as Heroes Joseph A. Vandello, Nadav Goldschmied, and Kenneth Michniewicz 19. Whistleblowers as Heroes: Fostering 'Quiet' Heroism in Place of the Heroic Whistleblower Stereotype A J Brown Part III: Processes of Heroism 20. The Hero's Transformation Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals 21. Moral Transformation: The Paths to Heroism, Villainy, and Victimhood Amelia Goranson and Kurt Gray 22. The Impact of Heroism on Heroes and Observers: Stories of Elevation and Personal Change Jeanne Nakamura and Laura Graham 23. Accidental and Purposeful Impediments to Heroism Craig D. Parks 24. Heroic Empathy: The Heart of Leadership Ronald H. Humphrey and Laural L. Adams 25. Heroic Leaders and Despotic Tyrants: How Power and Status Shape Leadership Anika Stuppy and Nicole L. Mead 26. The Intersection of Purpose and Heroism: A Study of Exemplars Kendall Cotton Bronk and Brian R. Riches 27. Heroism and the Pursuit of Meaning Jeffrey D. Green, Daryl R. Van Tongeren, Athena H. Cairo, and Nao Hagiwara 28. Psychopathy and Heroism: Unresolved Questions and Future Directions Brett A. Murphy, Scott O. Lilienfeld, and Ashley L. Watts 29. The Courage of One's Moral Convictions: Exploring the Two Sides of Heroism Ronnie Janoff-Bulman and Prerana Bharadwaj

This definitive volume explores diverse perspectives on heroism and heroic leadership by consolidating and synthesizing the field's growing scholarship, providing new insights, and building a foundation for further developments.