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Directions: Answer questions 33 to 48 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 thugs6 unworthy 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 hangouts8 and 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-supervillains-fascinate-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
One of the messages below is mentioned in the text. Mark it.
We have to face and know ourselves deeply in order to become better.
In fact, we are conditioned to expect more from the heroes.
A psychological study states that people have been intrigued by the question whether we are fiends or not.
Superheroes are empowered despite dominating the world.