A Psychoanalysis of Clark Kent (Superman)

In this episode of "Emory Looks at Hollywood" Emory Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Jared DeFife, Ph.D., gives a psychoanalysis of one of the world's most beloved and heroic fictional figures, Clark Kent...aka Superman.
Emory University, a top research university located in Atlanta, Georgia, is an inquiry-driven, ethically engaged and diverse community whose members work collaboratively for positive transformation in the world through courageous leadership in teaching, research, scholarship, health care and social action.The university is recognized internationally for its outstanding liberal arts college, superb professional schools and one of the Southeast's leading health care systems.
Video Produced by: Stephen Beehler

[@JazzyZenBrotha]

This is a fantastic analysis. This video shows a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences talking Superman's struggles in a professional and academic manner. His intellectual prowess and knowledge deconstructs the Superman-hater's nonsensical comments. Excellent video.

[@AddMoreQuarters]

Clark, he's from another world has a very stable upbringing filled with love and nurturing. Bruce, born of Earth, had the world swept out from him aound the age of 6 when his parents are murdered.

[@daniellovesgabeebingspider7589]

best DC superhero

[@Imbetterthanpaulallen]

100% you should also watch the documentary of Superman Warner bros our out on youtube

[@reaality3860]

Clark Kent is super because he has godlike power over all others without becoming corrupt.

[@culvernile2255]

the great thing about most DC heroes. nurture triumphing over nature. kryptonians are hard wired to have great empathy during infancy. however, that wanes upon adulthood and is replaced with overconfidence, the sort that made them xenophobic and isolationist with no friends to aid their planet. but the Kents nurtured great Midwestern empathy into Clark that kept that infant trait from atrophying.

[@TheMichaelStott]

I think the Character Superman is a great discussion point for Nature Vs Nurture. I'm sure many people have had (and we have seen alternate versions of Superman in the comics) the Question "What if Kal El landed somewhere else and was found by some other people?" and have explored what he might of turned out like. I think the storyline in Man of Steel looks into this very well.

[@elliottknifton8902]

Michael Stott I'd recommend reading Superman Red Son as it's an interesting what if comic where he lands in the Soviet Union instead of America and is raised as a communist hero

[@cv4809]

Or maybe he gets raised by the talebans and becomes a soldier of jihad...so many possibilities

[@SebColina]

give the joker a psychoanalysis.

[@earnestyoung2440]

He's crazy....the end

[@SebColina]

Earnest Young but he's a special kind of crazy.

[@dispereverent]

+Seb Colina Why, thank you!

[@dispereverent]

+Earnest Young Nonono, cupcakes, don't conclude too quickly, 'kay? It's not that easy at all. In fact, my sanity might even beat yours - to tiny tiny pieces, heh.

[@teriyaki_chicken]

watch the ImaginaryAxis’s video on the Joker

[@slashandbones13]

anyone with the power to affect the world as much as superman can is required to have a clear line of right and wrong

[@MerryMohProductions]

Superman is the way he is because of his earth-raised up bringing from his adoptive parents. What most people tend to forget is that Superman was only born Kal-El but raised Clark Kent. He's Clark Kent before Superman, he already was true to himself and while there were struggles he manages to over come them thanks to his wise and helpful parents. Something that is yet another flaw with MOS... Because he already was Human! Sure he's an Alien but he's supposed to be human in nature.

[@TenteixSaigo]

Yup. It also make NO SENSE he's so naturally good when Kryptonians CLEARLY possess the capacity for evil or selfish action.

[@earnestyoung2440]

True I get what you mean, but I think with MOS, they tried to imply that his father's death and the fact that he knows he is different more or less masks his human nature that he has because (as you said) he was raised by human parents, and good ones more or less. Clark Kent is indeed who he really is, Superman aka Kal-El is who be finds once he meets his birth parents and who he realizes he has a responsibility to become due to the whole "with great power comes great responsibility" idea that every Super Hero possess. His parents (Earth parents) telling him that he is from another world and allowing him to find himself and even encouraging him that he will be a great change to the world is a wonderful thing.

[@MerryMohProductions]

Smokey McBongWater That's not what I said.

[@TenteixSaigo]

TroyTroodon Well, it doesn't make sense in MOS because his parents don't inspire him for good. His father inspires him for fear. That's my opinion.

[@MerryMohProductions]

That's another problem I have in MOS.

[@dcamaraman939]

Thank you, This is why I LOVE these type of movies.

[@ShrinkTank]

@Emory University, thanks for making this video on Psychology and Superheros. Looking forward to the next one!

[@juliettem1744]

I LOVE this! Kudos to Emory for this innovative series please keep them coming...now I have to see this movie!

[@TravelingPhilosopher]

Superman is my favorite fictional character of all time!! :)

[@JohnnyLuambo]

Clark kent is the man of steel. He can fly and is faster than a speeding bullet. Hiding your strengths is true power

[@vilstef6988]

Lincoln: Most men can stand adversity, to test a man's character, give him power.

[@ij1376]

Okay can we talk about the Gandalf death scene music playing throughout the whole video?

[@geccome]

Lex Luthor disliked! :D

[@eduardocandeias7533]

Amazing analysis

[@fadidabban]

It's very basic really , Clark is given the choice to rule over humanity by whatever way he deems necessary whether through compassion or tyranny, since his adoptive parents were compassionate and loving, he chose that way instead of leading humanity by force.As for the Clark Kent mask, well in the new 52 he perfectly explains that Clark Kent is a way for him to live among us and be accepted, he thrives acceptance by others so he wears the glasses and the nerdy outfit to reward himself with that love, that's why he likes to act normal, he cooks with a stove - travels in public transportation etc. We all can relate to him in a certain way, we all wear masks to be accepted and loved among our community.

[@apips.studios7677]

please do peter parker

[@devinsears1886]

emory university, can you do a psychoanalysis on wonder woman and shazam/captain marvel?

[@IsaacZiIla]

what's the soundtrack in the background?

[@judahthelion01]

Pikachu I'm actually thinking the same thing

[@christopherbucher7017]

It's from The Bridge of Khazad Dum, on The Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack.

[@r0bw00d]

Is there a reason why the MoS Superman is being shown in this video when he's clearly not the one being talked about?

[@judahthelion01]

Don't delete this video! Please

[@brtran]

more please

[@krono5el]

Just like The Matrix most these layers fly way over general population's heads.

[@Artybruh]

Clark is a mad Kent

[@zemorph42]

The Doctor.

[@Shan17992]

Dedicating to this video to all LGBTQ friends.

[@jpw928]

Clark Kent is nothing more or less than the way that Kal-El perceives humans to be. weak. clumsy. low self-image. so he becomes that. to blend in.

[@earnestyoung2440]

That is one analysis but you could also say it away to mask that he is Superman so people do not connect the dots thus putting love ones in danger. He was born Kal-El but he did know this heritage of himself until he was an adult, so while that is a duty he takes on ( as Superman) to protect and lead humans into being greater than what we already are; Clark Kent is who he was raised as. He never was acting weak ( in this adaptation) as Clark Kent, he just held back per his Dad's instructions. Once finding out his true heritage ( Krypton by blood, Earthling by Nationality or ...Planet-ality) he felt he had a duty, based on what his dad taught him growing up and even in death, to protect people. Clark Kent at the end of the movie is not necessarily a weak adaptation of how he perceives humans ( especially in this movie, we're not sure yet) but a way to separate the two. Kal-El aka Superman is actually the Clark Kent that grew up in personality and Clark Kent in the Daily Planet is just some cover, a polar opposite. Though I get your interpretation, it is the most common asserted one and it may be the one for all incarnations. I just don't see it here.

[@cksamking13]

First, Clark Kent and Superman are the same identity. Clark Kent is his mask, so people don't know he is Superman. Secondly, Superman is not similar to Batman and Spiderman. Batman and Spiderman are similar to Superman. Superman was the first superhero.

[@angelofdarkness243]

I think Superman is the mask so that People don't know that He is just a man with regular life. This is because even before he was Superman, He was Clark Joseph kent. There are two clark kent, the one that Is a clumsy reporter in front of the world and the real clark is when he is around his loved ones. The clumsy reporter and Superman are the masks used be the real man that is Clark Kent.

[@machinelearningmeetsmma3176]

BETA MALE

[@williammorganti8346]

DUDE grab a beer, relax and enjoy the movie. stop being such a killjoy

[@patoloco1000]

Psychoanalysis! Ha,ha,ha,ha! The fact that this pseudoscience still exists is frightening.