Psychology of Superheroes

I think there is a really good analysis underneath my constant musings about superheroes - but I'm too tired from having to manage sociopath's all day to think of it right now. Maybe tomorrow?

Captain America

"What's so special about you?"

"Nothing. I'm just a kid from Brooklyn."

Summer Blockbusters

Another hot summer, filled with trips to the air conditioned movie theatre, to see another Marvel super hero action hit. I am routinely dragged to these kinds of movies - and as a child of the 80's, I will agree with all those who love the Bangles, Punky Brewster, the Goonies, and Indiana Jones, that they just don't make them like they used to.

I run through the list of options in my head: I could fall asleep during this movie, but this has resulted in loud snores which draw horrified looks from members of my immediate family; I could pretend like this is a really good movie; I could cram popcorn and M&M's in my face to occupy the time; or I could try and find some inherent meaning to this movie so I can sound really profound on my blog.

I usually choose the latter. Green lantern is about a test pilot who is reckless, irresponsible, and fearless, though internally he is filled with fear. He must conquer his fear to save the world from a octopus looking demon. Though it is not clear in the movie how he moves from fearful to fearless, it appears that his determination of "will" and intense focus on his task moves him from fearful to fearless. Green lantern, prior to his green suit, engaged in reckless behavior in what appears to be a reenactment of the fear/grief surrounding his father's untimely death as a pilot himself. I'm not sure there is any great metephor or life lesson to be gained from the Green Lantern, but it was worth a shot.

I don't know why I love Batman so much. But alas, here is one of my favorites - dissociation at its finest. "Dr. Crane isn't here right now."

Paradoxical Intention

"Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose."

Even though I am regularly forced to watch all six episodes of the Star Wars movies, including recent Clone Wars episodes, I always find Master Yoda to be incredibly profound. I've been fortunate to have my own Jedi Masters, and consider myself to be a Jedi in training. In this clip, Anakin receives counsel from Master Yoda, and it's the last thing he wants to hear. He is fearful and does not want Padme to die. In our own greed, insecurity and fear, we become captives to the very thing we fear the most. Cognitive behavioral therapists refer to this as paradoxical intention, or asking the client to do or wish for the very thing they fear most.

Medical Paternalism in House M.D.

Article by: Mark R Wicclair, Center for Bioethics and Health Law, University of Pittsburgh, 3708 Fifth Avenue, Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; wicclair@pitt.edu

Abstract: The popular television series House M.D. is drawn upon to provide a critical examination of medical paternalism and how it is presented in the show. Dr Gregory House, the character named in the title of the series, is a paradigm of a paternalistic physician. He believes that he knows what is best for his patients, and he repeatedly disregards their wishes in order to diagnose and treat their illnesses. This paper examines several examples of medical paternalism and the means used to portray it favourably in the series. It is argued that the positive depiction of medical paternalism in the fictional world of the series does not apply in the real world. The paper also considers why a show that features a paternalistic physician who so blatantly flouts mainstream medical ethics might appeal to health professionals and members of the general public.

Alas, I am unable to review this article for you, because I am poor and cannot afford to buy it. I think the implications for medical paternalism, as portrayed in the television show House, are particularly relevant for the issue of involuntary commitment, hospitalization and mandated treatment. At what point, do we as professionals, have the right to impose treatment, and deny basic civil liberties (even when it is in their very best interest for recovery)?

Joker's Social Experiment

The cooperation (or altruism) of people has long been investigated before the days of Batman or the Joker, using non-zero sum games, or games in which the gains and losses do not sum to zero. In these games, if the players cooperate they minimize their losses and maximize their total gains. The findings indicate that even if it is in the players' interests to cooperate, most people compete anyway.

The best-known game of this kind is called Prisoner's Dilemma. Pairs of subjects role-play being suspects in a crime. They get interrogated separately by the district attorney and are given two alternatives - to confess or to remain silent. The game is worked out so that if both remain silent, there can be only minor charges lodged against them. If one confesses and the other remains silent, the confessor receives immunity from punishment and the other one gets the severe punishment. If both confess, they both get severe sentences. The best strategy is for both to be cooperative and not confess. The research shows, however, that players tend to confess in the hope of beating out the other. But since both confess, both lose. Maybe the Batman movies aren't so dark after all.