Heroes are born not made, scientists claim

[4phan]

Heroes are born not made, scientists claim (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/4636614/AAAS-Heroes-are-born-not-made-scientists-claim.html)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01296/Chesley-Sullenberg_1296495c.jpg
Chesley Sullenberger: Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot of the aeroplane that was successfully landed on the Hudson River in New York last month Photo: AP



Professor Deane Aikins, a psychiatrist at Yale University, said a small minority of individuals remain cool even in the most stressful circumstances.

His findings, based on research with the military, found that some individuals did not panic because their body naturally protected them.

Unlike the majority of people who were flooded with a stress hormone, they had much lower levels and also showed signs of another hormone that actually calmed them down.

He referred to Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot of the aeroplane that was successfully landed on the Hudson River in New York last month, as an example.

"There are some individuals who when confronted with extreme stress their hormone profile is rather unique," he said.

"It doesn't reach the same peak as the rest of us. So we're all ready to scream in our chairs, but there are certain individuals who just don't get as stressed.

"Their stress hormones are lower and the peptides that down-regulate that stress are higher, so you can see in action the hormonal regular system really hitting overdrive.

"Certain people are cooler under pressure and they perform very, very well during these periods of time."

Professor Aikins, who outlined his findings at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting, studied hormone stress levels during extreme training exercises like mock survival or combat swimming.

He said that while there was no such thing as a "man without fear" certain people were better equipped to deal with it.

"I think they were born with it," he said. "We started figuring out we can start predicting who are these individuals who are going to have this cooler hormonal profile under high stress."

He said the research could lead to new training programmes - mental therapies or "push-ups" or medications to make others just as good at dealing with extreme stress.

"So much so we're now getting to the point where we might be able to train people to do better under high stress and there might be ways to augment their hormonal system, mental health push ups might help to better deal with that stress."

He said that it was not that the "heroes" were not scared but they just did not exhibit signs of panic.

"They say wow that was a really miserable day," he said. "But when you say to them did your heart pound or your palm sweat they just say mm well, it was ok."

He said US special forces as a group tend to "run cooler" than non-special forces. He said it was too early to say what percentage of men were born heroes.

Meanwhile other researchers are developing drug therapies for people suffering from Post Traumatic stress Disorder (PTSD) that affects 20 per cent of the soldiers returning from Iraq.

Harvard University are testing a "beta blocker" style drug - often used to reduce blood pressure - to be taken immediately after the trauma that appears to dampen down future PTSD attacks.

[Stroev]

I want to disagree here.

[Mael]

Bullshit study is bullshit.

I'm sure Audie Murphy never thought he'd be a hero when the time came.

[Tseka]

It sure helps, but heroes overcome their panic themselves.

[Tsukiyomi]

Even if we accept that these people feel stress less readily that doesn't make them "heroes". A hero will feel afraid and stressful and do it anyway. Just like how bravery isn't a lack of fear, its acting in spite of fear.

[Lilykt7]

Even if we accept that these people feel stress less readily that doesn't make them "heroes". A hero will feel afraid and stressful and do it anyway. Just like how bravery isn't a lack of fear, its acting in spite of fear.

Took the words right out of my mouth. A person can get stressed easily and still be a hero.

[horsdhaleine]

Heroes are born through PR management, spin doctor skills, and skillful historians and biographers. :zaru

[Lilykt7]

Heroes are born through PR management, spin doctor skills, and skillful historians and biographers. :zaru

That ain't always true and you know it. Many heroes go unnoticed and unappreciated :cry.

[First Tsurugi]

Like everyone else, I call bullshit.

[Cirus]

I think it all has to deal with how the mind is conditioned instead of people who naturally deal with such. Once the mind is conditioned to react in certain conditions then in similar instances the body will also react in the same way.

[sukker monkeez]

Heroes aren't born. Heroes aren't people who are immune to feeling terrified, but rather the people who ARE terrified and overcome the feeling. So f*** the scientists, although the theory of developing drugs to help people overcome stuff (such as the PTSD) is very nice, indeed. But if it's widely distributed and works better than everyone thought, what becomes of fear? The horror movie industries will go out of business! And then the apocolypse will come and no one will be scared and everyone will get eaten by quatracorns and bulltoads!

[narutosimpson]

gay, u r all gay. i'm a born hero, and i understand the article and am in 100% agreement with it.

Now then, the next logical conclusion is that villains are also born, and not made.

[Danny Lilithborne]

I happen to agree with the idea that certain people are more predisposed to act calm in the face of danger than others. I myself am often overwhelmed by stress in situations that don't even call for it, much less actual danger; my brother, on the other hand, doesn't even seem scared of death. I think there are genetic differences in how people react to things, perhaps things passed on to us by our parents.

They can be overcome, sure, but I have yet to see someone caught up in fear whose intelligence does not suffer as a result.

[FrostXian]

So heroism is not showing signs of panic?
Bullshit.
A guy can shit himself while saving a baby from a fire.

[Raiden]

The title of the article is misleading. If I'm correct, none of the quotations refer to people that have that rare hormone as "heroes"-they call them select individuals. I disagree with what was found here too. Who died and allowed them [scientists] to make the rule that heroes have to be calm? That's wrong- heroes are simply braver than other people at particular moments in time. Being calm can sometimes make one outshine the rest but not always.

Also, if this were true, then villains would have to be born as well...which we know is not correct either because what often makes a villain develop some twisted ideology is a bad experience in his/her lifetime.

[mister_manji]

I would think that they're not really a hero if it comes naturally.

[Pilaf]

lol @ "Aeroplane"

Dumbass British.

[Jetstorm]

Having lower levels of stress hormones doesn't mean someone may always do the right thing in a highly stressful situation.

I respectfully disagree with this article. :quite

[parker pyne]

A better title:
The ability to remain calm in a dire situation, which is commonly seen as a heroic characteristic, is born not made.

It's not very eye-grabbing though. You have to compromise the truth if you want to appeal to the masses.

lol @ "Aeroplane"

Dumbass British.
I spell it like that, and I pronounce it the same way too. :(

[Instant Karma]

I declare my disagreement.

[parker pyne]

The contention in this thread is generally about what constitutes a hero, and not whether staying calm is an inborn trait.

Maybe this could have been avoided if the article was better written. :hmm

I would think that they're not really a hero if it comes naturally.

It should be a cafe rule that every statement needs to be backed up by a justification. :nod (in other words: why d'ya say that?)

[Kyasurin Yakuto]

Well that sounds rather messed and unfair. I don't see how that could be correct.

[Tokyo Jihen]

gay, u r all gay. i'm a born hero, and i understand the article and am in 100% agreement with it.

Now then, the next logical conclusion is that villains are also born, and not made.

No you...Villains are the exact opposite of heroes. If heroes are born, the logical thing for villains is they are made. I mean, watch the third season of Heroes. They inject stuff and they become bad guys. Mental shit I know.

I only peeked one of the episodes...I don't know what I'm talking about.

[parker pyne]

Well that sounds rather messed and unfair. I don't see how that could be correct.
...why d'ya say that?

[Eleven]

They used the term "Hero" incorrectly.

[DideeKawaii]

I never heard of Heroes with cases of high stress.

People disagree because they think everybody can overcome fear, and whatever Disney BS they think is true.

And of course Heroes have to be calm. Heroes are never stressed. You can't think properly when your stressed, your brain freeze.

Take me for example. Im never underpressure. It just never happens. Im never truely stressed. Even before shows, i dont feel that stress everybody talks about. Before my med exams, i dont feel the stress either. it always been like that. Once my sister had an heart attack. Who was the one saving her sister. It was me.

It really make sense. Nature is a bitch sorry.

[Danny Lilithborne]

People disagree because they think everybody can overcome fear, and whatever Disney BS they think is true.
Thank you very much, you've said what I want to say.

The idea that anyone can be a hero sells a lot of books and movie tickets and strings a lot of weaklings along on the dream that they, too, can save the world, but it just ain't so.

[parker pyne]

I generally agree with the article, but only because I believe the traits we bear today are strongly determined by our genotype, and only occasionally influenced by nurture.

In other words you're more likely to be deemed a "hero" if you're born with a specific sum of traits or preferences (confidence, calmness, and ambition, gallantry, whatever).

No you...Villains are the exact opposite of heroes. If heroes are born, the logical thing for villains is they are made. I mean, watch the third season of Heroes. They inject stuff and they become bad guys. Mental shit I know.
I don't think that's logical at all, actually, but maybe just seems logical at first glance.

If you view "hero" and "villain" as lying on two opposing ends of the same spectrum, then you'll get what I'm talking about.

If you don't get what I'm talking about, then I'm a shitty explainer (and also I'm having trouble coming up with an analogy :().

[Dionysus]

A true test would take into account the brain and body as it ages from birth. Such a highly influenceable computer. As it stands there is a high degree of error potential in the findings.

[narutosimpson]

No you...Villains are the exact opposite of heroes. If heroes are born, the logical thing for villains is they are made. I mean, watch the third season of Heroes. They inject stuff and they become bad guys. Mental shit I know.

I only peeked one of the episodes...I don't know what I'm talking about.

hmmm, it's possible that villains are made, not born, but super villains are made and born.

See a super villain would also have to exhibit hero like traits, yet behave the opposite of a hero at the right moment.

[Uzumaki Lee]

hey..hey..hey come on hero's are supposed to have super power lol

but i really respect the guy for what he did

[raininggemini]

..but Gar is made, not born :gar

[DeterminedIdiot]

he used his talents to help. that doesnt mean he was born with it. if he was raised diffently i bet he wouldnt have been so cool:amuse

[Tokoyami]

Are an heroes born?

[Mael]

Are an heroes born?

Well some people are born naturally stupid so yes I do think an heroes are born, but actual heroes can come from those you least expect.

Bullshit study is still bullshit.

[kulgan18]

Heroes are the ones willing to sacrifice themselves for the lives of others.
Being calm under stressful events is not even something that is inherently heroic.

A criminal or a hitman could have such characteristic, I'd say that is even required for their job.
Heroic my ass.

[Utopia Realm]

Are an heroes born?

Don't know about this one. I'd say they are made since society, thier peers, and thier values affect them differently than most ppl. They are discovered when someone finds an article about them and shares it over the interwebz, like the cafe.
:zaru

[Masaki]

"Heroes are born"

Correct

[Onihikage]

Indeed, like everyone else, I agree that their definition of "hero" is utter BS. Heroism or bravery is when you stare down death in the face despite your fear. It's just knowing how to handle it. Notice how Special Forces are the same way as that jet pilot? That's because they have a lot more experience and training than ordinary civilians, so their "panic" instinct has been more or less replaced with "focus" instinct through hard training, life experiences, discipline, upbringing, and amount of exposure to stress. True heroes, no matter which definition you use, are MADE through circumstance. Genetics would only make a small impact on their heroism.
Harvard University is testing a "beta blocker" style drug - often used to reduce blood pressure - to be taken immediately after the trauma that appears to dampen down future PTSD attacks.[/B]
Well that's useless, because guess what? Tetris does exactly the same thing. (http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/01/08/tetris-inoculation-against-ptsd-flashbacks/) Mind you, that study was done on people who only played 10 minutes.

[Chu-kun♥]

Destiny!

Hm,I somewhat agree that some people are born somewhat better for withstanding large amounts of stress,and some people just can't be a hero but..

Heroes so can be made!

[Shibo Hebihime Uirusu]

They're made...it takes years of training or skill to perfect something that can utterly save someone's life...

[cygnus]

Haha. I like how everyone disagrees, I'm assuming to justify (mostly males I bet) that it is saying another man is more likely to do what's required than you. Who are you peeps to know better than a scientist who actually DID A STUDY ON IT?

[adee]

Of course.
I also have been saying that beautiful people are born, not made, but no one listens to me.

[spikes31]

a hero can be many things to many people so this study is total bs. a scientist or a cinematographer could be someone's hero, so gene's have nothing to do with what defines a hero.

[Matt Perry]

Most of you posting here are too critical on the word "hero."

I agree with the scientists.

[Fojos]

I'm sure Audie Murphy never thought he'd be a hero when the time came.

Someone obviously didn't understand the study.

They're made...it takes years of training or skill to perfect something that can utterly save someone's life...

You can't train for the real thing. If you simulate a crash, you still actually know it's just a simulation.

[Danny Lilithborne]

a hero can be many things to many people so this study is total bs. a scientist or a cinematographer could be someone's hero, so gene's have nothing to do with what defines a hero.
That's right, keep saying science is wrong and it will go away someday, and then you can be the main character! Believe it!

...yes, I'm being completely sarcastic.

[Mael]

Heroes are truly made. Well actually they're made in the sense they're genetically modified, super-human, armor-clad, psychologically indoctrinated warrior monks with chainsaw swords, massive hammers, and RPG-bullet shooting firearms.

:gar

[kulgan18]

That's right, keep saying science is wrong and it will go away someday, and then you can be the main character! Believe it!

...yes, I'm being completely sarcastic.

1)did you read the study?.
2)what does calm under pressure has to do with what he just said?.

A pilot would be nothing without years of training and experience just like a guy who cures cancer.

My point is a lot of people remain calm under pressure, that doesnt make them heroes.
You could remain calm while robbing a bank, trafficking cocaine or killing women with a piano wire.

I dont consider that an inherently heroic characteristic.

[Danny Lilithborne]

My point is a lot of people remain calm under pressure, that doesnt make them heroes.
You could remain calm while robbing a bank, trafficking cocaine or killing women with a piano wire.

I dont consider that an inherently heroic characteristic.
I don't think drawing the conclusion that all calm people are heroic is the right one; more that, heroic people tend to be calm under pressure. It's a fact that if you're in a pinch, you are more likely to make a mistake. You can't ignore that and pretend "Oh, if push comes to shove, I'll be reliable, too!". If you're scared, you're scared. Don't play the hero and make things worse.

Pilots and surgeons need steady hands as well as training.

[Hat Hair]

Well, I hope their research into blocking PTSD turns out to be fruitful, lord knows there are more than enough people that need it. "Bravery" classes could also be beneficial to the people looking towards careers in particular fields, because there's nothing saying that cool, calm, collected people are going to be inclined to be a police officer or join the military simply by virtue of possessing that quality; however the use of the term "hero" is somewhat misleading since being cool under fire is a valuable quality, yet not indicative of a "hero" alone and focusing on the word obfuscates the article's actual content.