Our Superheroes, Ourselves

233 Pages·2013·0.644 MB·English

by  Robin S. Rosenberg

Our Superheroes,
Ourselves
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Our Superheroes,
Ourselves
Edited by Robin S. Rosenberg
3
3
Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford.
It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship,
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Published in the United States of America by
Oxford University Press
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© Robin Rosenberg 2013
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior
permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law,
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Our superheroes, ourselves / edited by Robin S. Rosenberg.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978–0–19–976581–2 (acid-free paper) 1. Comic books, strips, etc.—
Psychological aspects. 2. Superheroes—Psychological aspects. 3. Psychology in
literature. 4. Archetype (Psychology) I. Rosenberg, Robin S.
PN6714.O89 2013
741.5´9—dc23 2012035088

1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
To Stephen, with whom anything is possible
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Contents
Acknowledgements ix
Contributors xi
Introduction xiii
Robin S. Rosenberg
Part I: Our Relationship with Superheroes
ONE
Our Fascination with Superheroes 3
Robin S. Rosenberg
TWO
Superhero Comics as Moral Pornography 19
David A. Pizarro and Roy Baumeister
THREE
Are Superhero Stories Good for Us?
Refl ections from Clinical Practice 37
Lawrence C. Rubin
FOUR
Emotions in Comics: Why the Silver Age
of Comics Made a Difference 53
Peter J. Jordan
FIVE
The Effects of Superhero Sagas on Our Gendered Selves 73
Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz and Hillary Pennell
viii Contents
Part II: The Humanity of Superheroes
SIX
Our Superheroes, Our Supervillains:
Are They All That Different? 97
Travis Langley
SEVEN
Are Superheroes Just SuperGifted? 115
Robin S. Rosenberg and Ellen Winner
EIGHT
The Very Real Work Lives of Superheroes:
Illustrations of Work Psychology 139
Gary N. Burns and Megan B. Morris
NINE
How Super Are Superheroes? 159
Robert J. Sternberg
TEN
Seven Roads to Justice for Superheroes and Humans 175
Mikhail Lyubansky
Index 203
Acknowledgments
This book, like every book, is a result of teamwork. The teams
whose work has led to this book are numerous and varied.
Many thanks to the psychologists who contributed to this
book—for being willing to go a bit far afi eld from the usual type
of chapters you write, and for doing it so well. Without you, there
would be no book.
Thanks also go to the teams of comic book creators, interpret-
ers, and storytellers, whose stories have intrigued and inspired so
many of us.
The team at Oxford University Press deserves thanks both for
their interest in publishing not just one book on superheroes, but
a series, and for their faith in me to be series editor. Specifi cally,
thanks to editor Abby Gross, and Director of Publicity (and
superhero fan) Purdy, as well as Suzanne Walker, Justyna Zajac,
Joan Bossert, and Tracy O’Hara.