Heroes are often seen as famous athletes or celebrities, but true heroism is found in ordinary people doing extraordinary things. These everyday heroes seldom seek recognition and often downplay their actions, saying they were just doing their job.

A prime example is Sir Nicholas Winton, who saved 669 Jewish children during WWII. Despite his incredible deeds, he considered himself an ordinary person acting ethically based on his knowledge and compassion.

Psychologist Abraham Maslow believed in studying positive mental states to understand heroism better. Stanley Milgram’s infamous “shock” experiment in 1963 revealed how ordinary people could be influenced by authority to commit harmful acts. His study showed that 65% of participants were willing to administer the highest voltage when instructed by an authority figure.

Variations of Milgram’s experiment demonstrated that obedience decreased in less prestigious settings and when authority figures gave contradictory instructions. Notably, when participants saw a peer defy the authority, their obedience dropped significantly.

This highlights the importance of positive deviance, where seeing others stand up against wrongdoing can inspire similar actions. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, after experiencing Soviet forced labor camps, noted that the line between good and evil runs through every human heart and shifts within us.

By understanding these dynamics, we can learn from history to foster a generation of everyday heroes who act ethically and inspire others to do the same.