Peering deep into the minds of popular superheroes, Dr. Natalie Petyk psychoanalyzed vigilantes such as Superman and Iron Man. Writers at entertainment publication 'The Credits' provided Dr. Petyk with anonymous biographies of heroes without telling her that they are fictional. Each description was stripped of references to super powers while providing an accurate look into their histories. Petyk then proceeded to diagnose each hero with stunning accuracy.
Each hero's inner thoughts and feelings, along with their motivations, were revealed by the psychologist. In addition, each hero was given a series of hypothetical recommendations that they could do to solve their mental issues. From a description of Superman, Petyk recommended that he "work through this is by trying on different identities for size ... Almost like a kid playing with masks."
Superhero Psychosis Diagnoses
Analyses from Natalie Petyk Looks at the Mental Problems of Heroes
Trend Themes
1. Superhero Psychology - Elevated interest in mental health perspectives for comic heroes.
2. Psychological Fictional Character Analysis - Increased psychological analysis of fictional characters for improved mental health of writers.
3. Mental Health Awareness in Entertainment - Growing industry interest in showcasing mental health issues in superhero stories.
Industry Implications
1. Mental Health - Opportunities in innovating, developing and launching new platforms for people with mental health issues.
2. Entertainment - Disruptive opportunities for introducing entertainment content that showcases mental health issues in superhero stories.
3. Publishing/writing - Opportunities to develop writing fiction with the help of psychological expertise.