… in Man of Steel.
"The Man of Steel movie hits theaters today, the latest cinematic reimagining of the iconic character of Superman. And while the "S" logo is recognizable the world over, some people say that the man of steel isn't the easiest character to identify with, either because he's too much of a "Boy Scout" with an antiquated moral code, or because his omnipotence and alien origin make him less relatable compared to other superheroes who are more grounded in reality.
But after taking a deeper look into Superman's psyche, we beg to differ. Sure, he's from another planet and can fly, shoot laser beams from his eyes, and see through unleaded objects. But, if you look beneath the "S" on his chest from a psychological perspective, you'll see that Superman is more human than superhuman, with the same sort of conflicts, crises and identity issues as the rest of us.
Superman's human experience ironically begins with his birth on an alien planet teetering on destruction. Who can forget the dramatic imagery of a baby Kal-El jettisoned from an exploding Krypton? Although a newborn wouldn't remember this catastrophe, we can't ignore the potentially harmful psychological effects of hurtling through multiple galaxies in solitude. So, is Superman's unscathed infant psyche beyond human?
Some might argue that Superman's physiological reaction to and avoidance of Kryptonite – a reminder of his long-dead planet – is representative of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). But you would be hard-pressed to find further evidence throughout Superman's 75 years to support such a diagnosis.
Witnessing the destruction of your entire planet might be one of the most traumatic experiences imaginable – just ask Princess Leia about Alderaan. Surely the impact of such a cataclysmic event could cause PTSD. So, assuming his Kryptonian neurochemistry is similar to ours, how come Superman doesn't have PTSD? Some may argue that the infant or toddler Kal-El doesn't show PTSD-symptoms simply because he was too young to process his home planet's destruction. But what about trauma as an adult?
One lesser-known fact about PTSD is that simply learning about the death of loved ones second-hand can be traumatic enough to cause symptoms like re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoidance or emotional numbing, and hyper-arousal. So why doesn't Clark Kent develop PTSD after learning of his biological parents' demise? Surely after such interpersonal trauma, he would've developed PTSD, right?
Not necessarily.
Superman positively adapts in the face of significant adversity, exhibiting the psychological phenomenon of resiliency. Fortunately, the Man of Steel has several factors that help promote such resiliency. For instance, Superman benefits from a high level of intelligence, sense of humor, the ongoing support of Lois Lane, his pal Jimmy Olsen, and of course, his parents, Ma and Pa Kent…"
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