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Abstract
High school and college students viewed a 43-minute edited episode of a heroic action
film and were then tested for their understanding of program themes as well as for their
selection of role models. College students understood the abstract program messages
about the duality of human existence (i.e., we have both good and evil qualities) better
than high school students. Compassion and conscience were associated with the
selection of a superhero as a role model. High school students and males were more
likely to choose revenge as a viable response to intentional aggression. The results
suggest that with maturity comes an understanding of the duality of human nature, and
that the qualities of heroes that make them worthy of emulation involve prosocial, not
antisocial, characteristics.