essay on role models in society

How Role Models Influence Behaviors Essay

Introduction, addictive behavior, psychology of addictive behavior, aims of socialisation, process of socialisation.

A role is a behavior or attention to duty expected of an individual to which he or she may adhere to another. A role model is a character implementing a certain role in society for others to copy. This is to say a role model is used as an example by other actors in the society. They can be teachers in various institutions whose characters are admired by students acting as role models to their children or even vice versa.

Role models are perceived differently in each society and even each individual or age group, one’s role model may not be another’s or one society’s role model may differ from another. A certain age group for instance teenagers may look at a popular reggae musician as their role model, a case which may not apply to adults who may treasure gospel music. If you can go ahead to ask these teenagers why they treasure reggae, they would give a reason that reggae music has lots of teachings like culture, lifestyle a reason which may not satisfy adults who are hitched to gospel music.

Everyone in society is a role model in his or her own capacity and others are seen as role models by others in society yet they are not aware, though others could be aware. There are two types of role models, positive ethical role models, and negative role models. Parents, religious leaders, political leaders can either be positive or negative role models depending on their behaviors too which can be disastrous or developmental to other actors in the society be it, children or fellow adults.

So the critical issue here is to really see if these role models influence behavior and how. As I have shown in the previous role models influence, both children and adults, and also these role models can be both old people and young people.

These models also vary in that we have religious leaders, social leaders, professional models, personal friends, relatives. A good driving example is Kofi Annan who is considered a professional model because of his tireless efforts to resolve the Kenyan post-election crisis which he succeeded in restoring peace back to Kenya. He is a role model not only to the Kenyan people but also to many other countries which had the same problems but he managed to resolve the crisis. Being retired from a UN secretary post, he only offers services in conflict resolution.

Role models are influential in shaping people’s characters-making these people internalize the ethical behavior they learn, imitate, or copy from their role models. Research on role models and socialization of human beings indicate that role models have great impacts on shaping ethical behavior we see in the world today, for example, parents can shape their children’s behaviors in that the child will exactly copy what he or she sees the father or mother doing making such behavior become part and parcel of the child. Thus role models highly influence and convey ethical standards to young people whether they are wrong or right.

For elementary students, parents also act as their role models. They tend to take their characteristics which later are changed by their attitudes and shaped differently depending on their new friends and associates. For instance, their interaction with their workmates, classmates, and managers will tend to change their ethical behavior and characteristics. It will take an elementary child great tactics to learn from their parents or their surroundings.

For example, if a parent’s way is to make false promises, ever fighting mum when some things go wrong, idle and disorder, then the child is also likely to take ever such characteristics. This makes me believe that however much role model is seen as a positive word, other role models are completely on the negative side and to some extremes are seen as misfits in the society because they just cause trouble instead of living in harmony and bringing positive interactions amongst societal members.

There are many factors affecting the development of behavior of individuals all these sources state that behavior is influenced through imitations which can become permanent. Again Bandura, 1997, children who watch violent movies or for that matter action movies tend to behave in more aggressive ways towards their peers because what they watch remains in their minds, and always want to practice that. This basically shows that if a role model has antisocial or pro-social behaviors, children will definitely copy those behaviors and their social ethics changed in that direction. It is not only children who imitate the behaviors of people they consider to be their role models but even the adults do. These behaviors sometimes become part of individuals hence making them not able to live without them.

Addictive behavior is a behavior that has become part and parcel of one’s character and he or she feels incomplete before actually fulfilling. Just like role models, addictive behavior can either be positive or negative. Addictive behavior comes from within and in most cases, it may not be the same that is being copied or imitated presently but something that was copied in the past could be from a role model and is now just being implemented by another character. Positive addiction can include habitual prayers before sleeping or eating, simple words like thank you, am sorry, please. Negative addiction can include chain-smoking, sexual maniacs, fighting, gossiping.

In the current study, teens with favorable outcome expectations that were balanced by high parental expectations for their behavior were mostly less likely to start drinking than teens with favorable drinking expectations for their behavior. Hence parents should build up their expectations during early adolescents just when teens begin forming their expectations about drinking and still holding their parents as very important to them. While most parents expect their early adolescents not to drink, young people’s perceptions of their parent’s expectations about their behavior may vary depending on the amounts and quality of time parents spend with their children and also the quality and nature of their communication about their expectations on their children’s behavior.

Psychology basically deals with the minds and emotions of individuals. Thus psychology of addictive behaviors is concerned with mental addiction. They are behaviors basically brought about in the mind that is one does what he or she is thinking or has been thinking. Just like the previous two discussed issues, psychology addictive behavior has its extremes of positive and negative aspects which definitely mislead or build up someone. Positive behavior can for instance be courtesy, submission, love while negative behavior can be like pride that is thinking one is better than the rest, hatred bringing negative attitudes towards others. All these behaviors come from within, that is in the mind.

Now the role models here are supposed to act as a big example to the rest. Just like as indicated before, these role models can be parents, politicians, church leaders. Let’s take an example of a church leader as a role model, he or she can help in controlling the psychological addictive behavior of the young and the old in the society more so the positive psychological addictive behaviors. When for instance he or she is going to officiate a church weeding between two lovebirds, he or she will try to bring them to an understanding of why it is important for a wife to submit to a husband and the husband to love his wife by reading to them such scriptures in the bible. He will tell them the advantage and disadvantages of doing so and not doing so.

When counseling these two people they will tend to psychologically adhere to this, thus making them get used to such lifestyle (behavior addiction) so as mainly not to face marriage wrath. On the other hand psychology of addictive behavior can be negative. A good example is that most children look at their parents as role models and if these same parents go astray somewhere they tend to mislead their children. A child who has been brought up in a family where violence is a daily routine cannot be calm in the mind. This child grows up knowing that the only way to solve a problem is not by sitting down and reasoning or having a dialogue but by violence.

This behavior then becomes part and parcel of this child which in further extremes can cause him or her mental depression especially in cases where the child cannot succeed even though he or she uses his or her might. When it reaches such a case, of lets say mental depression, role models like counselors are seen as very important to society, and without them, something is seen to be lacking in society.

The question of whether one is worth living is uprightly important. Human beings act as role models to each other as already mentioned before and have some attachments to the community he lives in. it is said in a proverb that “you may never realize that you have something good until when you lose it” it’s the same here that the importance of human being who are perceived as misfits in the society may not be realized until when they for instance leave or die.

So life is important and everyone is worth living because each person is complex in his or her own ways and thus each person contributes to the society differently and in a special way which can transform lives to the better side which is already seen as role models to others. As long as they are not feeling sick, hungry, and uncomfortable, they will always fill the adult’s atmosphere with humor. This shows that however much someone is seen to be young, but has life; he or she can influence others in a way. Who does not like happiness or humor? Hence these people are seen as role models who inflict happiness in other people’s lives.

So life is an important factor influencing both the role models and those imitating the role models. Remember the dead have got no influence on others, they are just there. Yet life is a conditional function of creatures that influence others.

This then brings up the issue of socialization. Only and only living things socialize. This still shows the importance of life as shown previously. So we must first get to understand the meaning of socialization. In a layman’s understanding, socialization is to take part in social; activities or to take control or adapt to the needs of the society. No society is fully satisfied with what it has because human beings’ needs are insatiable and they keep recurring be it social needs, psychological nits. Economical needs and many others. In this case we are basically going to talk, about the aims of socialization in influencing people’s behavior, more so through role models.

As we have seen before, everyone is a role model in the society thus socialization is entitled to everyone. Without this socialization, most fields in role modeling would not succeed. For example, parents, church leaders, counselors, teachers, peers, husbands and wives need to socialize so, as to succeed as role models. Lets see it in a living example, Let’sough socialization African counselor has succeeded in pulling out street children from the streets taking them to children’s homes or even introducing them to blue-collar jobs like carpentry, masonry which has helped in changing their status in life.

Through socialization, parents have talked telling them the importance of education which has made most children succeed in their lives and eventually have lived comfortably. Church leaders as role models have socialized with their church members through preaching and telling them the importance of sex in marriage and not premarital sexual behaviors. This has helped society in reducing the rate of AIDS scourge, especially among young people thus restoring and maintaining many lives which life is also an important aspect in society for role modeling.

Husbands and wives have also acted as role models to each other in that wives have really shown submission to their husbands thus making them love their wives and hence maintaining marriages and priming a society that is not promiscuous. Even peers have also acted as role models through socialization in schools by encouraging weak colleagues who feel they were not blessed with brains like others. This they do in group discussion thus helping the weak to excel.

Socialization can either be positive or negative, the examples shown above or negative socialization. Negative socialization mostly misleads for example a father who takes his child to a tavern or a pub when taking alcohol with his friends and where obscene words are used is exposing the child to negative socialization because this child can end up becoming an alcoholic, immoral in talks and maybe in deeds. Therefore we realize that socialization is also important when it comes to role modeling.

Socialization bridges the gap between the two extremes of different categories of societal members or even the same categories. This sometimes is seen as difficult without a role model as either initiator or a mediator. Take for example in our day-to-day lives people with high status (the rich) naturally will tend to segregate themselves with those of low status (the poor). The rich will live in posh places while the poor will mainly be found living in slums or average areas.

These two groups will rarely interact or socialize because they believe their needs and wants can never be the same. Little do they know that each and every human being is dependent on the other despite their sex, education, economic, social, and even psychological status. For instance, a poor man’s son can marry a rich man’s daughter and they live comfortably, a rich man’s son can assist a poor man’s daughter in a subject she doesn’t understand and help her excel in education thus making her also rich in future. Here is where the role models in the society try to bridge gaps between people enhancing socialization and thus promoting the spirit of acceptance.

To understand society clearly socialization may be there. This will help to attend to any calamity that may befall society. Human beings being interwoven or dependent units in the society need each other as the saying goes ‘no man is an island.

This can only be accomplished through socialization. No one knows everything that is why even various governments have to involve the grassroots members so as to solve grass root problems. This is done through a bottom-up approach. On the contrary also for the government to succeed in its service provision after getting to know grass root problems it has to use a top-down approach. Top-down and bottom-up approaches are two ways of socialization which mostly is enhanced by role models who are sincere.

Through socialization native language and culture are passed with their originality. In this case, the best role models here are our grandparents or for that matter our forefathers. Our grandparents also are seen only being able to pass on the native language and culture through socialization. The old people socialize by telling stories, teaching cultural practices for instance in Africa many grandmothers teach their granddaughters how to take care of a husband, how to cook the native local foods, how to take care of their babies after giving birth while grandfathers are seen to be teaching their grandsons how to take care of their homes, how to hunt and bring food home, how to command respect from their families and how to treat their wives.

The fourth aim of socialization is to maintain societal norms, virtues, and beliefs. The church leaders, government arms are good examples here because they act as role models to maintain these. Church leader’s role models will inflict virtues like telling people the importance of living in harmony with for instance stealing, killing, smoking, irresponsible sexual behaviors. These they only do through socialization which eventually can transform some societal members. So as we have seen in all these points above, socialization aims at transforming society for the better and the main transformers are the role models who only interact or socialize with others when trying to influence them positively.

Socialization being a social activity must have a process for its smooth running. This process of activities must start from somewhere going step by step in order for instance when two people meet and fall in love and even plan to marry, they will first get to know each other name, age, origin, and even denomination for some people. From that point, they will become normal friends with no ultimate socialization than they later become intimate and start courting and eventually tie the knots thus becoming husband and wife. In their process of socialization, they will have their role models like God the almighty, other friends who may be married, and living comfortably to help them go about this issue correctly.

When babies are born, they totally know no one and nothing. As they grow, they learn things around them, who their parents are, when they are hungry, when they have been left alone. Some qualities may vary from child to child depending on their role models who are mainly their parents. Within the environment in which the child is born, he or she learns the language, customs, attitudes, and various things in which things are done in his or her society. Therefore different environments will play different vital parts in molding the potentiality and effect they learn to behave.

I have seen everyone as a role model in society in his or her own ways. Role models have also been portrayed as either positive influencers or negative influencers. Role models have also been seen as having vast professions or status in society. Like teachers, church leaders, government leaders, grandparents, peers, parents, husbands and wives, sisters, brothers, the rich, and the poor.

Role models have been seen as actors who shape people’s characters where others become addictive behaviors that are either positive or negative. Role models are also seen to be great actors in psychological addictive behaviors. For instance, counselors, as role models have tried to advise let’s, say street children to move away from the streets a place where these children have gotten used to and are psychologically comfortable there.

Socialization is also an issue that has sheen discussed her stating that its why only through socialization that the role models can be able to convey their influences to others who an example given is grandparents teaching their grandchildren native cultures and language through socialization. Human life as an important aspect in society has also promoted role models influences to other people. Here I have seen that there is no man who is an island.

The socialization process is important because it helps the role models take for instance counselors advise two people wishing to marry on what to expect in marriage and how to handle these issues.

In conclusion, it can be seen that these role models are very influential and in most instances important to society and that’s why society needs them.

Bandura A. (1971) Social learning theory General Learning . Press: New York.

Bandura A. (1974) ‘Behaviour theory and the models of man’, American Psychologist.

Bandura A. (1997), The Exercise of Control .

Bandura A. (1977) Self-Efficacy: Toward a Unifying Theory of Behavioral Change , 84(2) Psychological Review 191-215.

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Essays About Role Models: Top 5 Examples and 7 Prompts

Check our guide, including top examples and prompts on essays about role models to write a high-quality piece about your idol and motivator.

How do you label someone a “role model”? Do you look for exemplary qualities like high intelligence, good leadership skills, and confidence? Role models are critical in personality development and life. For example, research proves that adolescents with positive role models, primarily those they know personally, do better academically and have more courage and self-respect. 

A role model is someone who excels in their field of expertise, inspires you to be a better person, and motivates you to follow an excellent path. They influence your life decisions and encourage you to become a lifelong learner. Who individuals decide to be their role models vary. Although most pick their parents , others also choose prominent people like celebrities, politicians, or singers. 

If you want to start writing about your role model, here are five sample essays to inspire you:

1. Best Role Model in Life by Prasanna

2. my role model: essay about my father by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 3. word essay on true role models by pragati ghosh, 4. the role model qualities of martin luther king junior: leadership, courage, and self-discipline by anonymous on studymoose.com, 5. my mother: my inspiration and my role model by ankita yadav, 1. why should i have a role model, 2. my role models, 3. what is a role model, 4. disney characters and role models, 5. celebrities and singers as role models, 6. characteristics of a good role model, 7. how do role models affect young people.

“But for me, a role model is someone who motivates me and influences me to be a good human and positive person in life, who gives me a supporting hand to walk and run to achieve my dreams and goals. Role model is not someone who is full of ego, attitude or full of selfishness.”

Prasanna introduces her role model A.R. Rahman as someone who stimulates her desire to be an excellent musician. She mentions how vital it is to look for a role model in the field that you’re interested in. For her, it’s music. Rahman stirs up her passion for learning guitar and reaching the same achievements he had.

She believes anyone can be someone’s role model as long as they are a good person. Prasanna adds that a good role model must help you reach your dreams. She also shares her wish to meet her role model to thank him personally.

Are you interested in music? Check out these 10 essays about music .

“He is the one I always admire in my life. When I have children, I want to be similar to my father to do for my kids how he takes care of me.”

The essay shows the excellent characteristic of the author’s role model, their father. They describe him as a knowledgeable person who always encourages them to be strong in every situation and supports their goals in life. Further, the writer mentions that their father earns respect and admiration from others because of his hard work in becoming a successful businessman and a reputable human being. 

“A role model is somebody who has influenced us in our lives and whom we try to imitate and learn as we are aspired by them.”

Ghosh’s essay acknowledges that in today’s era, a person’s character, style, body language, virtues, deeds, and actions influence what type of role model they will be for others. She notes that an actual role model has self-confidence and good communication skills, shares similar thoughts with those they inspire, knows how to get credit, and does things with good intentions. She concludes her essay by advising the readers to choose their role models wisely.

“… He was a civil right activist and is one of the reasons why African Americans have rights.”

This essay expounds on Martin Luther King Jr .’s qualities that the author admires. These characteristics pushed the writer to choose him as their most significant role model. The piece recounts how Luther King Jr.’s leadership skills in fighting for equal rights and courage in speaking in front of police officers inspired the writer to be as brave as the activist and Baptist minister. The author also includes that despite being busy, Luther King Jr. finished his work on time because of self-discipline.

“She is a mother, a pilot, a driver, a cook, a good person, all at the same time. I not only want to be a pilot like her but want to copy her overall personality.”

In Yadav’s essay, she discusses how her mother became her role model. Aside from being a hard worker, she points out how she religiously follows schedules to be timely with her firm self-discipline. She believes her mother isn’t only the next Master Chef but also someone with a high sense of fashion. She’s a busy person with style. Yadav’s role model is with her at home – a mother, a mentor, and a perfect friend with a fantastic personality.

7 Writing Prompts for Essays About Role Models

Are you ready to write an essay about your role model? If you don’t have a role model or you’re having trouble coming up with a topic to start your essay writing, feel free to use the prompts below:

Most people, especially students, look for a role model to motivate them to find the right career path. At the same time, this path must also let them focus on goals, develop skills, and build character. Use this prompt to discuss your reasons why you want to have or have a role model. Then, introduce your role model by sharing their characteristics and what makes them special. You might also be interested in these essays about critical thinking.

People have more than one role model. For this prompt, list your heroes and why you consider them as such. Then, pick the top ones and add their lessons’ impact on your life. Finally, you can include some of their inspirational quotes and explain why these sayings resonate with you.

Define what role models are all about and link relevant research or statistics that prove their importance. Then, talk about your understanding of being a role model and what qualities most look for in their role models today. 

Disney characters, especially princesses, are what young girls want to be. Share your stance on the debate of whether it’s okay for kids to use a fictional character as their role model or not. Affix your reasons why. Make your essay more convincing by adding examples, especially if you disagree with the idea that imaginary characters are worth being idolized.

Many look up to different celebrities and singers and consider them their role models. Some take it to the extreme and follow exactly what their idols do. Unfortunately, many become obsessed and follow even the wrong things, thinking they will gather the same fame and status as their idols. They also forget to live their own unique life. First, say something about youngsters worshipping popular artists. Then, add how people can select more positive and influential models to adore.

Discuss the typical characteristics people associate when they think of a “role model.” Then, give examples of these ideal individuals and share your preferences when favoring a role model.

Role models should motivate and inspire the youth to reach their goals and live as good people. Open discourse about the benefits of having a positive role model and how they can help change the unhealthy behaviors of today’s youth. Make your piece more compelling by adding the adverse effects of having a negative role model. 

Excellent grammar and punctuation are crucial to ensuring a good grade in your essay. See our guide to grammar and punctuation  to know more.

For help with your essay, check our round-up of best essay writing apps .

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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A role model is a person whose behaviour, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, especially by younger people.

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We All Need Role Models to Motivate and Inspire Us

Looking for inspiration turn to the people you admire most..

Posted November 19, 2013 | Reviewed by Matt Huston

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Who do you most admire? A former teacher, a world leader, a neighbor, your boss? As adults, we tend to give little thought to the idea of having a “role model,” as we regard this to be a quality that children seek from the adults in their lives. However, if you stop and consider who most influences you now, and why, you’ll no doubt agree that the people you admire now are giving you your most important life lessons.

Role models who uphold high ethical or moral values are typically not the people whose stories make it to the press or social media . We’ve all been exposed to public figures who might qualify as anti-role models. Their antics may include being aggressive toward paparazzi or admitting to abusing illegal drugs. Being bad is just plain sexier than being good. Unfortunately, because these are the public figures who get the most attention , it’s easy to lose your own moral compass and come to believe that you too will get more of what you want in life if you act out every once in a while.

Studies of learning in children show that through a process known as vicarious reinforcement, we start to model the behavior of individuals whose actions seem to be getting rewarded. In vicarious reinforcement, your tendency to commit a behavior that someone else gets praise or attention for increases almost as much as if you were actually getting the rewards yourself. Unless the public figure who’s acted out is thoroughly and utterly disgraced and then completely disappears from public view, vicarious learning will occur in those exposed to that public figure’s actions. Most of the time, though, these people do anything but disappear. After the usual mea culpa , the media forgive them and we, the public, come away with the lesson that anyone can achieve redemption and make a profit at the same time.

In your personal life, you may also see plenty of anti-role models. Consider work settings. Perhaps one of your bosses has a reputation for sliding around the edges of rules or best practices. You’ve been at meetings where the boss brags about how he sold faulty merchandise to a client or how she misled a customer into agreeing to a shady deal. You may come away from these meetings thinking that the way to get ahead is to engage in similar acts of questionable ethics . Taking a page from your supervisor’s playbook may provide you with a clear path to the top. It feels wrong at first, but if it’s OK for your boss, then it must be right.

What about the opposite situation? You’re at a staff meeting where one of your fellow employees admits to one of those questionable dealings. Instead of offering congratulations, your supervisor expresses concern and disappointment. Through the process of vicarious reinforcement, you acquire the expectation that if you were to engage in this behavior yourself, bad things would happen to you just as they did to your coworker. Your supervisor, then, has acted as a role model, showing that certain behaviors are acceptable and others are not. If you want to get to the top, you’ll have to learn to climb the ethical ladder.

Managers learn to be ethical or not from someplace, but the question is where and how? In a study published in June 2013, Pennsylvania State University researchers Michael Brown and Linda Treviño investigated the steps that lead managers to be perceived by their supervisees as decent human beings who have something to teach them—in other words, being an ethical leader. Earlier work led them to believe that to be perceived as an ethical leader, the individual must be seen as a moral person who is honest, trustworthy, caring about people, open to input, respectful, and able to make principled decisions. To be moral managers, they must use leadership tools that include providing rewards, disciplining others when necessary, communicating clearly, and letting their employees know that they themselves must maintain ethical standards.

When employees have ethical leaders, they like them better. Just as importantly, they will behave in more positive ways within the organization. Clearly, it’s to everyone’s advantage to have supervisors who are positive role models.

Brown and Treviño reasoned that ethical leaders probably weren’t born that way nor did they dream it up themselves. Most of us don’t come equipped with a clear set of ethical standards on our own. We receive lessons from others, to a certain extent, but it’s more likely that we acquire our moral sense through vicarious processes. These researchers believed that one way people become ethical leaders is by having ethical role models when they are young. The learning they receive as children becomes the foundation for being an ethical leader as an adult.

Mentors are a second source of learning to be ethical leaders. When they take us under their wing, those who guide us in the workplace, or even those who work side-by-side as co-workers with us show us, again through vicarious learning, that we ourselves need to be honest and fair in our dealings with others.

The third way to learn how to be an ethical leader, Brown and Treviño argued, is by observing “top” managers. Those who have made it to the ranks of executives have legitimacy afforded to them by virtue of their status. Furthermore, when those at the apex of the hierarchy are ethical, they communicate these expectations to their underlings who, in turn, pass down the lesson that you’ll be rewarded for being honest, direct, and fair.

To find out which combination of childhood role models, mentors, and top managers produces the greatest impact, Brown and Treviño surveyed 217 managers and 659 who reported directly to them in a large nationwide insurance company. They asked the managers to rate the quality of their ethical role modeling in childhood, the degree to which they felt they had been ethically mentored, and how ethical they perceived their own top bosses to be. Their supervisees, in turn, rated the ethical leadership shown by their managers in their own day-to-day dealings.

Nearly all of the managers surveyed reported that they had ethical role models as children. However, having a positive childhood role model had no impact at all on how ethically their supervisees perceived the managers. Instead, the employee ratings of the ethical leadership style of their managers rested most heavily on whether the managers reported that, as adults, they had been ethically mentored. In fact, the older the managers were, the stronger the effect of having ethical mentoring on their leadership style.

It makes sense that the older you are and the longer you’re in the job, the less effect your childhood role models will have on you and the more powerful will be the role models you have in your work. Ethical adults may shape your character as a young person, but the more you’re out in the world, the more likely it is that your current role models will be the ones to shape your attitudes.

The Brown and Treviño study suggests that having adult role models, then, directly impacts not only how you perceive yourself but, just as importantly, how others perceive you. If those around you have questionable ethics, and seem to be getting away with it, you may eventually unlearn even the most morally upright values you acquired as a child.

This was a study based on the workplace, but it may not be too much of a stretch to apply the findings to other areas of life. Our childhood ideals are constantly being tested when “successful” (in whatever way you define it) relatives and neighbors brag about how they’ve put the screws to business associates, abused a romantic partner, or took advantage of one of their friends or close relatives. Maybe they lied about an insurance claim after an accident and now are able to take an expensive vacation on the proceeds and gleefully relay this story over the holiday dinner table. You can’t help but think, even if just so slightly, that maybe they’re onto something.

You also learn from the famous CEOs whose unethical business dealings get them in the headlines—the inside traders, the bank fraud perpetrators, and others who violate the public trust. On the other hand, you also learn from ethical public figures who speak out against fraud, theft, and abuse of power. When you see a business mogul donate millions to charity (and not just as a tax write-off) you start to think that maybe this is behavior that you should consider emulating.

Just because we’ve become adults doesn’t mean that we’re impervious to ethical influences, both good and bad. We may not even be able to identify precisely the ways in which we’ve been affected. The process of vicarious learning is such that it occurs outside of direct conscious awareness. No one may be telling you to act ethically, but when you see ethical behavior rewarded, your mind draws its own conclusions and ultimately may direct you to follow suit.

One of the inspiring messages from the Brown and Treviño study is that people actually prefer to have ethical leaders. When you play fair, communicate directly, and in general demonstrate that you hold high standards, other people actually do look up to you. If for no other reason than to be liked and respected, taking the moral high ground may be the one that ultimately benefits you as well as those who look up to you as their inspiration.

Feel free to join my Facebook group, " Fulfillment at Any Age ," to discuss today's blog, or to ask further questions about this posting.

Copyright Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D. 2013

Brown, M. E., & Treviño, L. K. (2013). Do role models matter? An investigation of role modeling as an antecedent of perceived ethical leadership. Journal Of Business Ethics, doi:10.1007/s10551-013-1769-0

Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D. , is a Professor Emerita of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her latest book is The Search for Fulfillment.

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From Larry Winget:

Role models are nothing more than a reflection of what we value. When we value honesty, integrity, doing the right thing, morals, good parenting, leadership and hard work, we will have role models who exemplify those values. Since we instead value fame, celebrity, being pretty and living an ostentatious life style those are the role models we find ourselves with. When we elevate our values we will elevate our role models.

It’s fine to admire what a person accomplishes in business, sports or the financial world, but it’s stupid to turn them into a role model unless they are the kind of person you want your child to grow up to be. For instance: Steve Jobs quotes are posted on social media every day as if he a guru of business, yet he screwed over his partners. Some great football players beat their girlfriends. Tiger is the greatest golfer who ever lived but he is not a good guy. Before we hold any person up as a role model, we need to look at more than what they do, what they have and how they look. We must look at who they are and how they live.

Larry Winget, the Pitbull of Personal Development©, is a six-time NYT/WSJ bestselling author, social commentator and appears regularly on many national television news shows. To find out more, go to www.LarryWinget.com .

From Scott McKain:

In 1993, Charles Barkley said something – via a Nike commercial he personally wrote – that was quite astounding.

“I am not a role model. A million guys who can dunk a basketball are in jail. Should they be role models?”

Athletes as role models were formerly appropriate because the press only reported their redeeming qualities. We never heard of Mickey Mantle’s problems with alcohol, Babe Ruth’s womanizing, or Ty Cobb’s racism. Now, we all know of steroid abuse, domestic violence, and drug addiction in sports — as well as entertainment, politics, and about every other walk of life.

Here’s the challenge – separating the message from the messenger.

Jimmy Swaggart failing in his personal life doesn’t mean the Bible was wrong. Michael Jordan may not be a nice guy, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t learn from his dedication to excellence.

It’s our personal responsibility to determine what we desire to accomplish – then, find a role model who has succeeded in that area, using their standard of performance to motivate us in a specific aspect.

Just as we all have fallen short in our personal endeavors, we have to realize that our role models don’t need to be all-encompassing examples of inspiration.

Scott McKain teaches how organizations and individual professionals can create distinction in their marketplace, and deliver the “Ultimate Customer Experience ®.” For more information: www.ScottMcKain.com

From Randy Pennington:

I had heroes growing up just like every little kid. Along the way, I learned that many of them had feet of clay. That is no different today.

I also had role models. They taught me important life lessons about being productive, responsible, and honorable. If you are lucky, your heroes can also be your role models.

It is difficult for heroes and role models today. Immediate information exposes real life to the world much quicker. It isn’t that the heroes and role models of our youth were so much better than the ones today. It is that the illusion of their goodness is more easily stripped away.

The real problem isn’t a lack of role models. It is us.

We have confused being good at something or famous with being a role model. And, we have decided to celebrate, aspire to, or explain away the character flaws and failures of those we seek to emulate.

My father came to a stop sign on an empty country road. He stopped completely and looked both ways. My mother, telling me this story many years later, asked him why he stopped when no one was around or watching. My father nodded to my brother and I in the back seat and said, “There are four eyes watching my every move.”

That’s a role model and one of my true heroes. Anyone who thinks that is strange, hokey, or old-fashioned is what’s wrong with our role models today.

Randy Pennington helps leaders deliver positive results in a world of accelerating change. To find out more, go to www.penningtongroup.com .

From Joe Calloway:

America’s number one role model is fame.

Sadly, in our society what seems to be admired, prized, and revered more than anything is quite simply fame. If you’re famous, then you’re admired. You can be famous for good, for bad, or just for being famous (Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian). If you’re famous, people will flock to be near you, to have their picture made with you, and many of them will want to be just like you.

How many people choose a teacher or a master carpenter or a single mom working two jobs to provide for her kids as a role model? Not many. More often we admire singers, dancers, movie stars, and anyone who gets on TV. Personally, I don’t get it. What makes someone worthy of adoration or admiration simply because they do their job in front of lots of people?

By the way, you can be a great role model and be famous, but you shouldn’t be a role model because you’re famous.

My role models tend to be great dads. I doubt you’ve ever heard of any of them.

Joe Calloway helps great companies get even better. www.JoeCalloway.com

From Mark Sanborn:

Role models greatly impact learning and development. There’s no debate about that.

Positive role models provide us both example and inspiration. We can see the reality of a life well lived rather than just learn about the abstract concept. In addition to living role models, history also offers a buffet of role models to chose from. (One advantage in choosing role models from history is that you know how their lives ended up.)

The danger is picking the wrong role model. We often confuse greatness with fame. Greatness is about what you give. Fame is about what you get. Contribution is the hallmark of greatness, not attention.

Be careful in selecting your role models, and take just as much responsibility in being the kind of person others would benefit from choosing as a role model for themselves. It might just make you a better person.

Mark Sanborn is president of Sanborn & Associates, Inc., an idea studio for leadership development. He is an award-winning speaker bestselling author of books including, The Fred Factor. For more information and free resources, visit www.marksanborn.com .

Author:  Mark Sanborn

Mark is recognized globally as an expert on leadership, customer service and organizational performance. A member of the National Speakers Association Speaker Hall of Fame, he is the author of 8 books including the international bestseller, The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary. Mark teaches his clients to BE EXTRAORDINARY™.

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I’m working on a speech about the importance of having good role models in your life- thank you for your insights!!

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The Impact of Role Models, Mentors, and Heroes on Academic and Social Outcomes in Adolescents

1 Emergency Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, USA

Lindsey Peck

2 Obstetrics and Gynecology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, USA

Mary Connolly

3 Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, USA

Kodi Endres

4 Anesthesiology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, USA

Leah Musser

5 Neurology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, USA

Mariam Shalaby

6 Psychiatry, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, USA

Morgan Lehman

7 Internal medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, USA

Robert P Olympia

8 Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, USA

Identity formation is a dynamic process and key developmental task that begins in adolescence. During this time, children look to adults as role models and mentors. These adults can have a significant impact on adolescents’ decisions of appropriate or inappropriate behaviors, potentially causing a positive or negative change. Little research has been performed to identify these role models and understand how they affect the development of physical and mental health of children. 

The goal of this study is to see if there is a relationship between identified role models, mentors, and/or heroes and adolescents' interest in education, participation in risky behavior, confidence level, happiness, safety, violence-related behaviors, and physical activity. 

In this study, 198 children aged 11-18 years were identified on the scheduling platforms at various Hershey Medical Center sites to take a 10-minute survey via RedCap. The survey identified their role model, mentor, and/or hero and followed up with outcome questions from validated tools.

The results show that 140 participants (70.7%) identified having a role model compared to 88 (44.4%) having mentors and 61 (30.8%) having heroes, and family members were the most identified figures for each category. There were significant differences between identified categories of role models, mentors, and heroes, and interest in education, happiness, risky behavior, and safety, while no significant differences were found for violence-related behavior, physical activity, and confidence level. Adolescents with family heroes had safer behavior (2.39 ± 0.70) than those with celebrity heroes (3.16 ±1.86, p=0.0277), and those with peer heroes (11.3 ± 2.31) had more risky behavior than those with celebrity heroes (9.16 ± 1.98, p=0.0347). However, children with adult peer heroes had a higher interest in education (2.00 ± 0) compared to those with celebrities (3.79 ± 1.03, p=0.0246) or public figures (3.78 ± 1.09, p=0.0333) as their heroes. Additionally, those with family (3.48 ± 1.05) or adult peers (3.32 ± 1.38) as their mentors had a higher interest in education compared to those with same-age peer mentors (5.80 ± 1.30, p=<0.0001). Adolescents with family mentors also had higher happiness scores (3.25 ± 0.33) than those with same-age peer mentors (2.59 ± 1.47, p=0.0358) and also engaged in safer behavior (2.52 ± 0.80) compared to all other categories (3.03 ±1.59, 0.0462). 

These results point to the idea that who adolescents choose to look up to has effects on various aspects of their life that could affect both their physical and mental health status, with family members having the most impact. Further research could explore differences between which family members are chosen as role models, mentors, and heroes and what effect they might have on adolescent development. 

Introduction

Identity formation is a dynamic process and key developmental task that begins in adolescence. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry defines a role model as “a person who serves as an example by influencing others” [ 1 ]. This influence can have a significant impact on the identity and values that an adolescent adopts. This impact can be positive or negative, depending on the role model that the child identifies with. An association between having a role model with positive outcomes, such as elevated self-esteem, performance in school, and resilience has been established previously [ 2 ]. Studies have also shown that having positive role models can protect against engaging in high-risk behaviors, such as participation in violence, sexual intercourse, and substance abuse [ 3 - 5 ]. Just as role models can have a positive influence on adolescent development, role models who participate in socially inappropriate and illegal behaviors can have a negative effect [ 6 ]. These “negative role models” have been linked to externalizing behaviors such as violent and nonviolent delinquency, internalizing behaviors such as feelings of anxiety and depression, and substance use behaviors [ 6 ]. Parents have been established as influential role models in the lives of adolescents [ 7 ]. Having a parent as a role model has been linked to better outcomes in school and less engagement in high-risk behaviors such as substance abuse [ 8 - 10 ]. Having non-familial role models has also been shown to have positive outcomes [ 11 , 12 ]. Prior research on non-familial role models has been confined to peers and important persons within the community, with little investigation into the effect of celebrities and public figures. There has also been little research done comparing the strength of having familial versus non-familial role models. The current study is unique in that it examines and compares the impact of familial vs. non-familial role models and distinguishes between different categories of non-familial role models such as altruistic figures, celebrities, same-age peers, and adult acquaintances. 

A mentor has been defined as an individual with whom a youth shares a “close, trusting relationship in which the mentor provides guidance and encouragement” [ 13 ]. Similar to having a role model, having a mentor has been shown to have a positive impact on adolescents; in particular, performance in school and positive health outcomes has been associated with having a mentor [ 13 - 14 ]. Studies have also suggested that having a mentor decreases the chance of engaging in high-risk behavior, such as substance abuse, violence, smoking, and sexual activity [ 15 ]. Just as with role models, there is a lack of research comparing the effect of having a familial versus a non-familial mentor. The current study is distinct in that it directly compares the impact of having a family member as a role model versus a non-family member such as altruistic figures, celebrities, same-age peers, and adult acquaintances. 

Heroes are a category of influencers that have been distinguished as separate from role models and mentors [ 16 ], but there is a lack of research indicating the effects of having a hero on adolescent development and outcomes. There has also been little research showing who adolescents are defining as heroes and whether these choices are influencing adolescents in a positive or negative way; this study seeks to contribute to this knowledge by providing a clearer definition of the heroes that adolescents are reporting and comparing the influence of their effects. 

While the importance of role models has been discussed before, little has been investigated in regard to identifying the specific role models, mentors, and heroes that adolescents report. There are two main goals of this study. The first is to identify and define the specific role models, mentors, and heroes that adolescents report. The second goal is to determine if there is a relationship between identified role models, mentors, and/or heroes and interest in education, participation in risky behavior, confidence level, happiness, safety, violence-related behaviors, and physical activity. We achieved this by asking adolescents to name their role models, mentors, and heroes and breaking their responses into separate categories. Each of the categories were then compared among different behaviors to further understand how different role models, mentors, and heroes impact adolescent development.

Materials and methods

Study design and participants

This cross-sectional study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the Penn State College of Medicine (Study # 00013970). We prospectively recruited a convenience sample of adolescent patients from one of three Penn State Hershey Medical Center locations (Penn State Pediatric Emergency Department, a general outpatient pediatric, and a Family Medicine Clinic). They participated in an anonymous survey-based study to identify those whom adolescents view as their role models, mentors, and heroes and determine the association of these figures in an adolescent’s life. Participants included in this study were between the ages of 11-18 years and had an accompanying parent or legal guardian present for those under 18 years old. Those whose primary language was not English, children with court-appointed guardians or who are wards of the state, or those who were in severe pain, altered mental status, impaired, or otherwise incapable of providing informed consent as determined by the patient’s physician or study team were excluded from participation. Informed consent was obtained from each participant before the survey was administered. Participants were recruited from July 2019-March 2020 either before or after their appointment visit by a medical student who was a qualified study team member (HA, LP, MC, KE, MS, ML, LM). The participants completed the 10-minute REDCap survey on an iPad or laptop that was provided to them. Participants’ parents and guardians were encouraged not to engage with the participant while they completed the study. Team members were available to answer participant questions at any time during the completion of the survey. There was no follow-up survey or additional contact conducted. All participants were given the option to self-withdraw at any time prior to the completion of the survey. 

Survey and analysis

The survey consisted of various sections including a background/demographics section as well as open-ended responses identifying a role model, mentor, and hero. Additionally, outcome questions, such as overall confidence based on the Rosenberg Self-esteem scale, overall happiness based on the Children’s Happiness Scale, and participation in risky behavior, violence-related behaviors, physical activity, interest in education, and practice of safe behaviors based on the CDC’s National Youth Risk Behavior survey were also addressed (Table ​ (Table1). 1 ). A definition of “role model,” “mentor,” and “hero” was provided if the participant indicated that they did not know what those terms meant. A role model was explained as “someone you look up to”. A mentor was explained as “someone in your life that you can go to when you need help/advice?”. A hero was explained as “a person you admire or idolize for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities”. The full survey can be accessed here: https://redcap.ctsi.psu.edu/surveys/index.php?s=4L973C8FFL.

In this study, influencers are defined as someone whose behaviors or values affect the behavior of the adolescent. Our primary aim was to determine who study participants identified as role models, mentors, and heroes, which are types of influencers. These influencers were further categorized into family members, same-age peers, adult acquaintances, celebrities, and public/altruistic figures. A secondary aim was to determine the association between identified role models, mentors, and heroes and the influence on factors such as interest in education, participation in risky behavior, confidence level, happiness, practicing of safe behaviors, violence-related behaviors, and physical activity level.

For comparative analysis, the identified role models, mentors, and heroes were categorized into the groups: family members, adult acquaintances, same-age peers, celebrities, and public/altruistic figures. For further analysis, the identified role models, mentors, and heroes were categorized into the groups: family members, personal connections (adult acquaintances and same-age peers), and public figures (celebrities and public/altruistic figures).

After data collection, we generated descriptive statistics for continuous variables including means, medians, and standard deviations. Frequencies and percentages were used to describe categorical variables. Statistical significance was determined using two-sample t-tests. All the analysis was carried out on SAS software (SAS Institute Inc. 2013. SAS® 9.4 Statements: Reference. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc).

Analysis was performed on 198 completed surveys. The average participant age was 14 years, with males and females equally represented (Table ​ (Table2). 2 ). The majority of participants were white and lived with two parents. 

All values are expressed as no. (%) except where noted. *Value expressed as avg. [SD]

Overall, the majority of participants identified having a role model (n=140 responders, 70.7%), but fewer participants indicated having a mentor (n=88 responders, 44.4%) or hero (n=67 responders, 33.8%). Across all types of influencers, family members were the most commonly identified, ahead of celebrities, public figures, same-age peers, and adult acquaintances (Figure ​ (Figure1). 1 ). Additionally, adolescents were more likely to choose someone they do not know personally (public figures or celebrities) compared to someone they have a personal connection to (same-age peers or adult acquaintances) as their hero or role model, but more frequently chose someone they have a personal connection to as a mentor (Figure ​ (Figure2). 2 ). Statistically significant differences were identified between whether an individual identified a role model, mentor, or hero or not and the measured variables of interest in education, risky behavior, confidence, happiness, and practice of safe behaviors, while no statistically significant differences were found for violence-related behavior or physical activity (Table ​ (Table3). 3 ). Of those who selected a role model, mentor, or hero, there were statistically significant differences identified between identified influencer categories and the same variables above, except for confidence being unaffected (Table ​ (Table4). 4 ). In general, the data analysis revealed more positive outcome measures for those who chose a family member as their role model, mentor, or hero.

Significant values are listed in bold*

Note: Some subjects indicated more than 1 role model/mentor/hero, 2 people did not specify who their role model or hero was.

Role models

When comparing individuals who identified as having a role model versus those who did not, statistically significant differences were found, all favoring those with a role model. These adolescents had a higher interest in education (p=0.00082), less risky behavior (p=0.0148), higher confidence levels (p=0.0121), higher happiness levels (p=0.0006), and participated in safer behaviors (p=0.0291). There were no statistically significant findings when comparing the role models between five categories: family, same-age peers, adult acquaintances, celebrities, and public figures. However, when comparing who the identified role models were, based on three categories (family member, personal connection, and public figures), those who chose public figures exhibited safer behaviors than those who chose a family member (p=0.0448).

When comparing participants who identified as having a mentor versus those who did not, there were significant findings in regard to race and interest in education. Those who identified as white were about equally likely to have a mentor (51%), while their non-white counterparts were less likely to have a mentor (31%, p=0.012). Adolescents that identified as having a mentor had a higher interest in education than those who did not identify a mentor (p=0.007). When comparing the identified mentors based on the five categories (family members, same-age peers, adult acquaintances, celebrities, and public figures), those who identified a family member or adult acquaintance as their mentor had a higher interest in education than those who identified a same-age peer mentor (p<0.0001, p<0.0001). Other grouping comparisons showed no significant findings relating to interest in education. Additionally, adolescents who identified a family member mentor had higher levels of happiness compared to same-age peer mentors (p=0.036). When comparing three categories of mentors (family member, personal connection, and public figure), those with family mentors had higher levels of happiness and participated in safer behaviors than those who identified only a personal connection to their mentor (p=0.039, p=0.041). There were no significant findings between family or personal connection mentors and public figure mentors. 

Participants who reported having a hero had significantly more interest in education (p=0.0081), participated in safer behaviors (p=0.0380), and had higher happiness levels (p=0.0325) than those without a hero. When comparing all five categories (family, same-age peer, adult acquaintance, celebrity, public figure), those with adult acquaintance heroes had a higher interest in education than those with celebrity or public figure heroes (p=0.025, p=0.033). Similar to participants with family role models, those who identified family heroes had safer behavior than those who identified celebrity heroes (p=0.0277). Lastly, participants who identified a same-age peer hero participated in riskier behavior than those with celebrity heroes (p=0.022). There were no statistically significant differences when comparing who the identified hero was and happiness. When comparing three categories (family, personal connection, and public figure), participants who had a personal connection to their hero were more likely to have riskier behavior than those who identified a public figure hero (p=0.0422).

Our data support previous research indicating the positive associations of having a role model or mentor on adolescent behaviors and school performance, in addition to family members being most commonly identified as significant persons in adolescent lives [ 6 ]. Our study also adds to these associations by providing insight into the correlations between who these identified influencers are and specific behavioral outcomes. We also considered the influences of celebrities/public figures on risky behavior, participation in safe behaviors, and interest in education. Additionally, our findings supplement previous research by analyzing familial vs. non-familial outcome comparisons for role models and mentors, in addition to the associations of having a hero. Curiously, previous research has indicated the correlation between family role models and a decrease in high-risk behaviors [ 8 - 10 ], while our data only showed this association between identifying having a role model or not. Our findings did however reveal a similar association between family role models and an increase in participation in safe behaviors, the only significant finding between an identified role model and our outcome measures.

While our data aligns with previous research indicating the general positive associations of having a mentor on school performance [ 13 , 14 ], our results also show that family and adult acquaintance mentors specifically have more benefits than peer mentors in regard to interest in education. This could be because children see adults as authority figures and as people who have already successfully obtained an education, unlike school peers. Additionally, children in our study indicated a higher interest in education when they identified having a hero, with more specifically knowing their hero personally, like an adult acquaintance as opposed to public figures or celebrities, having a more significant association. Idolizing someone you know may have more direct positive effects than a person you only know through the media. Decreased interest in education and school disengagement has been shown as a predictor of school dropout, delinquency, official offending, and future substance abuse in adolescence and early adulthood [ 17 ]. School dropout specifically is linked to substantially lower income, decreased health, and crime involvement and incarceration. Furthermore, interest in one’s education during adolescence can have drastic impacts on the entirety of one’s life, and obtaining a mentor or hero, ideally, a family member can help decrease the likelihood of these negative outcomes.

Similarly, studies have shown a decrease in risky behaviors when having a positive mentor [ 15 ], and our survey responses revealed that having a role model also decreases risky behavior. Interestingly, the participants had significantly decreased risky behaviors when having a celebrity hero versus a peer or friend. This theme remained when comparing levels of risky behavior with individuals who have a hero they know personally to those who do not. However, children with family heroes practiced safer behaviors than those with celebrity heroes, further revealing the potential significant positive impact of family members. Engaging in risky behaviors during adolescence is associated with less favorable outcomes in young adulthood relating to health, economic success, family formation, and incarceration [ 18 ]. Often, the earlier an adolescent participates in risky behavior, the more likely they will have negative adult outcomes. This highlights the importance of adolescents finding positive role models, mentors, or heroes in early adolescence.

Adding to previous studies’ associations with having a positive mentor, our data revealed that family mentors were the most significant predictor of happiness and that having a role model also increased happiness. It is well-documented that depression is highly prevalent in adolescence, and is associated with at least one recurrent episode in adulthood [ 19 ]. Additionally, adolescent depression has been shown to correlate with lower odds of completing secondary school and higher odds of being unemployed, and lower hourly pay [ 19 ]. These associations between adolescent depression and later psychosocial outcomes signify the value of having a positive mentor during adolescence due to its associations with happiness levels.

Surprisingly, our data showed many benefits of having a role model in general, but only had one statistically significant outcome for who this role model was. Our data did not show the known positive associations of family role models with less engagement in high-risk behaviors [ 8 - 10 ]. However, the data revealed that having a role model increases engagement in safer behaviors, with specific family members having more of an association than public figures. We believe this is due to our sample size and that the large majority of participants chose family role models with fewer data to compare to other categories. 

Clinical Implications

Our research has implications for both physicians and parents. Physicians are in a position to teach parents about the importance of role models, mentors, and heroes and emphasize the key role that parents play in behavioral and school-related outcomes for their children. Parents can then use this knowledge and awareness to shape their own behaviors and conversations with adolescents. While we know the positive associations of role models, mentors, and heroes, many adolescents did not identify as having one. Using the tool the authors have created, clinicians and parents can screen their adolescents using the tool “ Look ing for help and courage ”, by asking the child 3 questions: (1) Is there anyone you look up to? (2) Is there anyone in your life that you can go to for help or advice? and (3) Is there anyone who you admire for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities? In the case that adolescents answer no to these questions, an opportunity arises to counsel the child on the importance of finding a role model, mentor, or hero, emphasizing the importance of a family member if they are a positive influence.

Limitations

Our study has several limitations, mostly pertaining to the demographics of our sample size. Due to the suburban and somewhat rural location, almost 70% of our study population was white, with almost 73% living with two parents. However, this is only slightly above national data, citing that 69% of adolescents live in families with two parents [ 20 ]. These demographics could affect the role models, mentors, and heroes that were identified, and the measured behavioral outcomes could be affected by variables related to these demographics and not solely from their chosen role models, mentors, and heroes. Furthermore, since the family was the most identified category, our results could simply be showing the positive correlations between parental support.

Additionally, our survey lacked a category for Hispanic or Latino participants or those of Middle Eastern or North African descent. Participants of these demographics took part in the study, but unfortunately were not quantitatively accounted for. Their results may or may not have been included in the category “white” or “other.”

Participants were instructed to answer only the questions they felt comfortable answering, so some of the survey questions were not fully completed by our entire study population. As with most surveys, the received responses may not reflect the true behavior of the adolescents, as some of the questions inquired about illegal or risky behaviors.  

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate the powerful positive correlations of family members on the safety, education, and happiness of adolescents aged 11-18. We offer a screening tool to help clinicians and parents identify those without a role model, mentor, or hero with the goal of increasing the number of children with a positive influence. Further research could explore any differences in role models, mentors, and heroes based on race and/or grade point average (GPA). Lastly, additional relevant or more specific adolescent outcomes could be researched than the ones in this study, such as rates of anxiety and depression, teen pregnancy, or obesity.

Acknowledgments

Hamna Atif and Lindsey Peck contributed equally to the work and should be considered co-first authors. Data are available on reasonable request. The data are stored as de-identified participant data which are available on request to [email protected].

The content published in Cureus is the result of clinical experience and/or research by independent individuals or organizations. Cureus is not responsible for the scientific accuracy or reliability of data or conclusions published herein. All content published within Cureus is intended only for educational, research and reference purposes. Additionally, articles published within Cureus should not be deemed a suitable substitute for the advice of a qualified health care professional. Do not disregard or avoid professional medical advice due to content published within Cureus.

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Human Ethics

Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Penn State IRB issued approval 2943857834. Our research study received IRB approval for human subjects research.

Animal Ethics

Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue.

Home / Essay Samples / Life / Hero / Role Models

Role Models Essay Examples

Essays about role models aim to explore the influential individuals who inspire and guide others through their actions, values, and achievements. The purpose of such essay examples is to highlight the positive impact that role models have on personal development, education, and societal progress. These essays celebrate the qualities that make role models exceptional and encourage readers to reflect on the attributes they admire and aspire to emulate. 1. Inspiration and Empowerment Primary goals of essays about role models is to inspire and empower readers. These essays showcase the stories of individuals who have overcome challenges, demonstrated perseverance, and achieved success. By sharing these stories, essays encourage readers to set ambitious goals, believe in their potential, and pursue their aspirations. Role models often embody virtues such as integrity, compassion, determination, and leadership. Essays on this topic focus on these values, discussing how they contribute to personal growth and the betterment of society. These essays encourage readers to integrate these values into their own lives. Role models essays encourage readers to reflect on the qualities they admire in others and to identify the role models who have influenced them. Through self-discovery, readers gain a deeper understanding of their values and aspirations, helping them make positive life choices. Tips for Writing Essays About Role Models:

Select a Role Model: Choose a role model who has personally influenced you or made a significant impact in their field. Thesis Statement: Begin with a clear thesis that introduces the role model and outlines the main qualities you will discuss. Personal Connection: Share personal anecdotes or experiences that illustrate how the role model has affected your life. Highlight Key Qualities: Discuss the specific qualities, achievements, and contributions of the role model. Impact on Society: Explore how the role model’s actions have influenced others and society as a whole. Lessons Learned: Reflect on the lessons and values you’ve learned from the role model and how they have shaped your own growth. Encourage Self-Reflection: Encourage readers to reflect on their own role models and qualities they admire. Conclusion: Summarize the role model’s significance and the lasting impact they’ve had on your life and society.

Essays about role models celebrate the individuals who inspire us to become better versions of ourselves. By exploring their qualities and achievements, these essays encourage readers to learn from their examples and work towards personal growth and positive societal change.

My Current Day Living Hero (role Model)

Many of us have role models in our lives and most people have athletes, movie stars or other celebrities as their role models. However, to me a role model not necessarily mean a celebrity, he/she can even be a simple person, who has positively influenced...

My Heroes: the People Who Inspire Me Through My Life

The people we admire and consider as heroes are those who have made significant contributions to society and have inspired us to be better individuals. In my case, I have been fortunate enough to have come across many such individuals in my life who have...

Stephen Hawking as a Role Model: a Symbol of Hope and Intelligence

Stephen Hawking is a hero in the disabled community because of his efforts to show that even with a diagnosis of something like ALS you can still achieve your dreams. Achievements in science and technology as well as life-story of Stephen Hawking make him a...

My Role Model: Albert Einstein

My role model that I chose was the genius Albert Einstein, so this is Albert Einstein essay where I will share why hi is my role model. To start off, Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879. He died about 76 years later. He...

My Brother is the Main Reason Why I Am Thankful for My Family

There was nothing more comforting than knowing I had an older brother to protect me from all the things I feared. He was there for me when I woke up from a bad dream and helped me get through my worst days at school. The...

Nelson Mandela - Leading the Fight for Human Rights

Role models are people who show passion for their work and have the capacity to challenge others. They are usually famous for doing something great, what makes other people admire them. Role models have a clear sense of what is vital, so that they put...

My Role Model: My Parents

Throughout our lives, we encounter various individuals who influence our thoughts, actions, and aspirations. Among these, my parents stand out as my ultimate role models. Their unwavering love, guidance, and values have shaped me into the person I am today, inspiring me to strive for...

Why Steve Harvey is My Role Model: His Biography and Success

The man, comedian, entrepreneur author, humanitarian, provider, motivator and father. Steve Harvey is an icon for Americans and worldwide young and old. The legendary Steve Harvey is also my role model - a person which will be the main character for this essay. Looking at...

Teacher as a Role Model: an Example of a Great Teacher

Teachers are some of the most important role models in our lives. They have a profound impact on the development and growth of young people, shaping their values, beliefs, and attitudes in ways that can last a lifetime. As someone who has had the privilege...

Leonardo Dicaprio – a Great Role Model for Me

While there are plenty of people who still think that global warming isn't real, and the Earth is flat, some of them are actually trying to change the world to the better. One of them is Leonardo DiCaprio — the best actor of his generation...

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About Role Models

A role model is someone others look to as a good example. A role model is someone who is worthy of imitation — like your beloved teacher or a well-behaved celebrity. Just as a model is something that represents an inspirational ideal, a role model is someone who inspires others to imitate his or her good behavior.

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