Hard to be a Hero: Causes and Consequences of Framing Occupations As Heroic

uring the recent COVID-19 pandemic, and in previous health crises (such as the H1N1 pandemics), healthcare workers were applauded as ‘heroes’. Military, as well as police, firefighters, and other first responders, are often called ‘heroes’. What are the causes and consequences of being perceived collectively as "heroes"?