Hero-making as a Defense against the Anxiety of Responsibility and Risk: A Case Study of US Airways Flight 1549

Amy Fraher

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    By examining US Airways Flight 1549’s glider-like landing on New York
    City’s Hudson River on 15 January 2009, this article contributes to a deeper
    understanding of the psycho- and socio-analytic aspects of American culture.
    Using system psychodynamics as a conceptual framework, the essay
    uses this case study to demonstrate how individual psychology, group
    dynamics, and systemic influences intertwined to tap a collective societal
    need for a traditional male hero to salve the cultural disillusionment created
    by corporate scandals, executive greed, job loss, and terrorist attacks in post-
    9/11 America. Understanding how this phenomenon occurred helps us grapple
    with psycho-cultural factors that favour searching for a saviour over
    recognising collective responsibilities that encourage more collaborative
    approaches to crisis decision making.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)59-78
    JournalOrganisational & Social Dynamics
    Volume11
    Issue number1
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2011

    Keywords

    • system psychodynamics
    • crisis decision making
    • heroes

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Hero-making as a Defense against the Anxiety of Responsibility and Risk: A Case Study of US Airways Flight 1549'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this