Which theorist has a "Heroism Project" that aims to strengthen people's courage and compassion, and contends that the first step to becoming a hero is recognizing social pressures that might deter your bystander action?

Philip Zimbardo.

Explanation:

Philip Zimbardo is a psychologist and a professor at Stanford University. He is best known for his project 'Heroism Imagination Project (HIP) '.

According to Zimbardo, heroes can be created and heroes are normal people. The motto of a hero according to Zimbardo is 'We' and not 'Me'.

HIP is the project in which Zimbardo is trying to find the ways in which heroes can be created in everyday life and why do people turn evil or what makes people turn into an evil person.

So, the correct answer is Philip Zimbardo.