Understanding our love for Superheroes
Read to understand how we connect to our truest self through superheroes
Regardless of who you are or where you come from chances are you have a soft spot for at least one superhero. We all have one that resonates with us — not necessarily because we feel we’re similar in any way, more because we admire their values, what they stand for, and the way they live their lives. But does it go deeper than that?
The Psychology behind this
The book “Our Superheroes, Ourselves (2013)” by Robin S. Rosenberg identified a number of factors to help try and understand our fascination with superheroes.
Childhood Connection
Our childhood is when our imaginations are the most unfiltered and limitless when anything feels possible. Therefore as adults, superhero stories allow us to reconnect with that developmental stage when we could really shut out our external reality and go on an amazing adventure.
Familiarity
The formula for a good superhero story is always familiar. The hero saves the day while overcoming moral, physical, and emotional challenges. The familiarity of this narrative is comforting. In the chaos of the world around us, people are not always looking for just escapism; they want to experience some element of certainty and predictability. Superhero stories are like a rollercoaster; thrill rides, with lots of ups and downs, but you know everything will be alright in the end.
We All Need Rescuing
We have all experienced something where we wished we had been rescued. This ranges from the extreme of severe trauma to the bullies in the playground or workplace. Superhero stories show this wish coming true over and over again. The power of ‘The Rescuer’ is not just felt on an individual level but across society as a whole, which makes it one of the most influential factors in the superhero’s consistent popularity. Just look at Batman, Superman, and all the characters of comics’ ‘Golden Age’ (1938-1949). They were created at the time of world wars and failing economies, and the more recent surge of Superhero blockbuster films have followed wars in the Middle East, 9/11, and a general increase in global terrorism.
How do they help us in our everyday struggle?
A number of psychologists and academics have written about the introduction of the Silver Age (1960s-1990s) of comics. This is characterized by the increase in flawed heroes, characters who, aside from their powers, could be just like us. They face the same struggles of vulnerability, trauma, anxiety, loss, etc.
Now, rather than escaping into the fight against an alien world, we can see how our flawed heroes are tackling the problems we all face. Moral dilemmas, grief, what to do when faced with (what seems like) no-win situations, and how we can succeed even if when we are struggling with our own mental health. They teach us to persevere during trying times.
A role model can teach you to love & respect yourself
-Tionne Watkins
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