It seems like something that should be common sense. Trauma changes the brain. Yet, we, as a society, frequently ask those who experience trauma to go back to “normal” afterwards. In Dr. Noles-Stevens presentation on the brain, it is quite apparent that the brain does in fact change. The primary changes impact the person and their responses to life experiences. However, the brain is highly adaptable. This adaptability is called neuroplasticity. This neuroplasticity allows the brain to adapt after trauma, to become stronger.
One of the slides in her presentation triggered a memory of a couple articles I had read on heroism and the brain. Dr. Noles-Stevens slide showed the amygdala as the superhero of the brain, the part of the brain that protects us from threats. There has been research looking at the psychology of heroism and how the ideals of heroism changes our mindset, particularly superheros. Through visualization, people were introduced to heroic personas and behaviors. Afterwards, those that experienced the heroic persona showed more altruistic behaviors than the control group. In another part of the study, the visualization empowered those in the “hero” group to be more altruistic. The exposure to heroism visuals activates cognitive mechanisms, like modeling (when a person observes behavior and imitates it) and priming (when mental constructs are activated and can inform behavior). This shift participants’ self-concept. It is neuroplasticity in action.
So, watch your superhero movies without guilt knowing you are priming your brain to empowering yourself to a more altruistic new you!
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Caddy, B. (13 October 2021). The scientific reason dressing up like a superhero is good for you. Inverse. Retrieved October 14, 2021 from https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/superhero-cosplay-scientific-benefits.
Franco, Z. E., Allison, S. T., Kinsella, E. L., Kohen, A., Langdon, M., & Zimbardo, P. G. (2016). Heroism research: A review of theories, methods, challenges, and Trends. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 58(4), 382–396. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167816681232.