Heroic images are presented here as constructed possible selves which
may play an important role in self development. A questionnaire was
given to 510 Irish and 190 U.S. third and fourth grade children in a
study designed to investigate (1) their conceptions of the heroic and
(2) the effects of a classroom intervention on the Irish children's
choices of heroes and heroines. The educational program was
constructivist and designed to challenge children to reconsider their
ideas about heroic figures and to engage in discussion designed to
promote prosocial attitudes in concrete ways. While national origin and
gender strongly influenced children's heroic images, there were strong
factor structure similarities in U.S. and Irish samples. ¿The good¿ was
the first factor, the fifth an antiheroic factor, and the others
reflected figures from film, television and sport. In addition, gender
differences in the choice of proximal and distal heroic figures were
identified. Prosocial effects due to the intervention program were
encouraging and discussed within the context of Irish educational
objectives.
Heroic images are presented here as constructed possible selves which
may play an important role in self development. A questionnaire was
given to 510 Irish and 190 U.S. third and fourth grade children in a
study designed to investigate (1) their conceptions of the heroic and
(2) the effects of a classroom intervention on the Irish children's
choices of heroes and heroines. The educational program was
constructivist and designed to challenge children to reconsider their
ideas about heroic figures and to engage in discussion designed to
promote prosocial attitudes in concrete ways. While national origin and
gender strongly influenced children's heroic images, there were strong
factor structure similarities in U.S. and Irish samples. ¿The good¿ was
the first factor, the fifth an antiheroic factor, and the others
reflected figures from film, television and sport. In addition, gender
differences in the choice of proximal and distal heroic figures were
identified. Prosocial effects due to the intervention program were
encouraging and discussed within the context of Irish educational
objectives.