Chapter 6: Conclusion: Resolving Ambiguity to Discern and Create True Heroes

In this book, we have reviewed the psychology of how people unravel mystery and uncertainty as a means for creating heroes and villains. We’ve shown how people rely on perceptual, cognitive, and motivational resources at their disposal to acquire an understanding of mysterious individuals, groups, and circumstances. Also at work in the mystery resolution process are principles of Gestalt organization that help us to make sense of a world missing that is often lacking information or filled with misleading information. People also use cognitive tools, such as impressions, prototypes, archetypes, and implicit theories of leadership, heroism, and villainy, to resolve mystery. There are also key motivational forces that steer people toward desired conclusions about ambiguity. These motivations include one’s need for closure, one’s drive to spread rumors to justify one’s fear of uncertainty, and one’s romantic ideas about how leaders should look, behave, and shape group outcomes.