The Psychology of Courage: Modern Research on an Ancient Virtue

From the mundane to the most heroic feats, this book synthesizes recent advances in our understanding of the psychology of courageous actions and related prosocial behaviors. Twelve chapters examine the meaning of courage, basic research on the psychological mechanisms of courage, and practical applications of courage research to organizational leadership, military psychology, and society at large.

Cynthia L. S. Pury, PhD, is an associate professor of psychology at Clemson University. Trained as a clinician specializing in anxiety disorders, she comes to courage research with a background in cognitive theories of emotion, particularly fear and anxiety. Her current research focuses on developing a psychological model of courage, with the ultimate aim of developing courage-promotion strategies for use in clinical, counseling, medical, and organizational settings. She teaches positive psychology, personality, abnormal psychology, and research methods.

Shane J. Lopez, PhD, senior scientist in residence, is an architect of the Gallup Student Poll. A measure of hope, engagement, and well-being, the Student Poll taps into the hearts and minds of American students to determine what drives achievement.

Dr. Lopez is also the director of the annual Gallup Well-Being Forum, which convenes scholars, leaders, and decision makers to discuss health care and global well-being. He also serves as the research director for the Clifton Strengths School.

Dr. Lopez has published more than 100 articles and chapters and seven books, including Positive Psychology: Exploring the Best in People and The Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology. With C. R. Snyder, he published Positive Psychology: The Scientific and Practical Explorations of Human Strengths, which won the Sage Press Book of the Year Award; Positive Psychological Assessment: A Handbook of Models and Measures; and The Handbook of Positive Psychology.

He is a licensed psychologist, a fellow of the American Psychological Association(R) and an educational advisor for Discovery Television.