AFA 2019

Instruction: Answer the question according to the text.

TEXT

WHY DO SUPERVILLAINS FASCINATE US? A PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

    Why are we fascinated by supervillains? Posing
the question is much like asking why evil itself intrigues
us, but there's much more to our continued interest in
supervillains than meets the eye.
[5] Not only do Lex Luthor, Dracula and the Red Skull
run unconstrained by conventional morality, they exist
outside the limits of reality itself. Their evil, even at its
most realistic, retains a touch of the unreal.
    But is our fascination with fantastic fiends1
[10] healthy? From a psychological perspective, views vary
on what drives our enduring interest in superhuman bad
guys.
    Shadow confrontation: Psychiatrist Carl Jung
believed we need to confront and understand our own
[15] hidden nature to grow as human beings. Healthy
confrontation with our shadow selves can unearth new
strengths (e.g., Bruce Wayne creating his Dark Knight
persona to fight crime), whereas unhealthy attempts at
confrontation may involve dwelling on or unleashing the
[20] worst parts of ourselves.
    Wish fulfillment: Sigmund Freud viewed human
nature as inherently antisocial, biologically driven by the
undisciplined id's pleasure principle to get what we
want when we want it – born to be bad but held back by
[25] society. Even if the psyche fully develops its ego
(source of self-control) and superego (conscience),
Freudians say the id still dwells2
 underneath, and it
wishes for many selfish things – so it would love to be
supervillainous.
[30]    Hierarchy of needs: Humanistic psychologist
Abraham Maslow held that people who haven't met
their most basic needs will have difficulty maturing. If
starved for food, you're unlikely to feel secure. If
starved for love and companionship, you'll have trouble
[35] building self-esteem. People who dwell on their deficits
may envy and resent others who have more than they
do. Some people who are unable to overcome social
shortcomings fantasize about obtaining any means,
good or bad, to satisfy every need and greed.
[40]    Conditioning: Ivan Pavlov would say we can learn
to associate supervillains with other things we value –
like entertainment, strength, freedom or the heroes
themselves. Behaviorist B.F. Skinner would likely argue
that we can find it reinforcing to watch or read about
[45] supervillains, but without knowing what's reinforcing
about them, that's a bit like saying it's rewarding
because it's rewarding.
    Our Motivations for Seeking Out Supervillains
    Throughout history, humans have been captivated
[50] by stories of heroes facing off against superhuman
foes³. But what specific rewards, needs, wishes and
dark dreams do supervillains satisfy?
    Freedom: Superpowered characters enjoy
freedoms the rest of us don't. Nobody can arrest
[55] Superman unless he lets them (at least not without
kryptonite handcuffs). As much time as supervillains
spend locked up, they seem to escape as often as they
please, to run unconstrained by rules and regulations.
Cosplayers who dress like Wonder Woman and
[60] Captain America can't do any crazy thing that crosses
their minds without seeming to mock and insult our
heroes, whereas those dressed as villains get to go
wild. Supervillainy feels liberating.
    Power: Maybe you envy the power these evil
[65] characters wield⁴ .While that's also a reason to adore
superheroes, good guys don't ache to dominate.
Stories like Watchmen and Kingdom Come show how
heroes become menaces⁵ when they try to take over.
So when dreaming of superpowers, maybe you relate
[70] to characters who dream of power as well, from the
Scarecrow (who controls individuals' fears) to Doctor
Doom (who's perpetually out to dominate the world).
    Better villain than victim: Physiologically, anger
activates us and feels better than anxiety or fear. One
[75] who feels victimized and cannot figure out constructive
ways to stand up, be strong or become heroic might
twist the need for self-assertion into destruction.
Alternately, a healthy person simply might focus on how
all characters assert themselves in any given story.
[80]    Better villain equals better hero: A hero only
appears as heroic as the challenge he or she must
overcome. Great heroes require great villains. Without
supercriminals, the world's finest heroes seem like
overpowered brutes nabbing thugs⁶unworthy of them.
[85] Through myths, legends and lore across time, we have
needed heroes who rise to the occasion, overcome
great odds⁷ and take down giants.
    Facing our fears: Instead of dreading the
darkness, you might reduce that dread by shining a
[90] light and seeing what's out there. Fiction can help us
feel empowered and enlightened without literally
traipsing into mob hangouts⁸and poorly lit alleyways⁹.
    Exploring the unknown: Our need to challenge
the unknown has driven the human race to cover the
[95] globe. This powerful curiosity makes us wonder about
everything that baffles¹⁰ us, including the world's worst
fiends. Knowledge is power, or at least feels like it.
When gritty details repulse us, exploring evil through the
filter of fiction can help us contemplate humanity's
[100] worst without turning away or dwelling almost
voyeuristically on real human tragedy. Even when the
fiction is about improbable people doing impossible
things, the story's fantastic nature reassures us that this
cannot happen – and therefore we don't have to turn
[105] away.
    Supervillains' Ultimate Purpose
    In the end, our interest in supervillains can be
healthy or unhealthy. Even the more maladaptive
reasons for such fascination tend to arise from
[110] motivations that were originally healthy and natural –
frustrated drives that went the wrong way.
    Remember, though, that superheroic fiction
ultimately begins and ends with the heroes. Comic book
writers and artists create supervillains, who move in and
[115] out as guest stars and supporting cast, first and
foremost to reveal how heroic the comics' stars can be. 

(Adapted from https://www.wired.com/2012/07/why-do-supervillainsfascinate-us/)

Glossary:

1. fiend – an evil and cruel person

2. to dwell – remain

3. foe – an enemy

4. to wield – influence, use power

5. menace – threat

6. to nab thugs – arrest criminals

7. odds – probability

8. to traipse into mob hangouts – walk among places where gangs, criminals meet

9. poorly lit alleyways – narrow road or path with little light

10. to baffle – confuse somebody completely