Psychology of Psychonauts | The Flea Circus

[@exceedcharge1]

Ironicly, Raz ran away FROM the circus to start a new life

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

So true

[@danielcurren2119]

And ended up making another circus in his head at the end of the first game (with the synchronized trauma of Coach Oleander about their fathers)

[@dresdencypher]

And had to run TO the circus to save his old life.

[@Odd0ne303]

I think that the false family being represented as fleas is not solely due to their small size, but also because of the common belief that water is deadly to fleas. This connects well with the Aquato family's fear of the curse of The Hand of Galochio. It's also a bit ironic, considering that "Aquato" literally means water in Latin.

[@jeronimomartinezcalsina7690]

The intro did say they were "ironically named"

[@Odd0ne303]

@@jeronimomartinezcalsina7690 Yeah I know I love how the games ties almost everything together you know.

[@nzpowa._.6662]

If I remember correctly, before the curse they were a water themed circus.

[@ElderBugGames]

It’s important to note that the dam keeping Maligula back that Ford built is falling apart at the seams. The reason that he and Raz are unleashing Maligula is because she’s going to get out one way or another. By releasing her themselves, they stand a better chance of sealing her someplace she can’t escape from, unlike the dam.

[@maniczzz]

It’s how real dams work. When pressure becomes too high, it’s less dangerous and destructive to simply open the damn than to let it break

[@DisKorruptd]

Something in Nona's Quilts that others seem to miss when talking about it is the fount of doubts right before the last door. That question that even Nona asks of "Should we be doing this? Should we be unleashing that dam that holds back Maligula?"

[@chefmaikocook5233]

I think at this point it was too late. Lucrecia herself started to remember and it would be a matter of time before her old self would come out. It her mind you can see the dam itself leaking. The process had already started. The best you can do at this point was to push her back down before the dam itself was destroyed.

[@Artista_Frustrado]

i love that there are Scientific terms for Gaslighting

[@elinogales]

Oh Lucrecia’s Lament, a sorrowful level of memories, and uncovering what was buried long ago.

[@dgc1570]

Amazing how close we are to finishing up this series

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Im not ready for it to be over lol.

[@jean-bastienjoly5962]

@@GamingUniversityUoG Honneslty, neither am i lol.

[@derpmemes2301]

BABE WAKE UP! ANOTHER EPISODE OF PSYCHOLOGY OF PSYCHONAUTS DROPPED🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥🔥💯💯💯💯

[@grimmutt]

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Haha woot!

[@scootszilla]

🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@paulrus-keaton439]

In only a month?!?!

[@jackmack4181]

A detail that’s very obvious but I love is the comparison of the flea circus to Nona’s quilts is the level of detail. The flea circus looks makeshift, haphazard and generally rushed, it’s a show to keep Lucy content while the Quilt World is entirely made from her remnants of her ego, someplace that she has escaped form the 24/7 show and just enjoy the flowers

[@Nazo-kage]

There’s also something else to consider a weird kind of chicken/egg issue. When Ford used the Astrolave on her, was he the one that made the representation of her family fleas? Or was this what she already thought? The reason I’m curious about this is because this is not the first time this symbolism is used. It’s also used in the Ford Barber mindscape. Where Raz has to knock over some jars of water to wash away fleas. And the mental version of Ford chastises him but it’s calling him Lucy. So it kind of raises the question of whether or not he thought this was how she perceived the citizens. or was this a construct that he ended up forming after using the Astrolave on himself? Because it might’ve been some remnants, when he explored her mind. Ultimately leading to making the flea Circus. It’s kinda hard to try to figure out which comes first.

[@technologicalMayhem]

In the mindscape of Fords Barber aspect it's lice that are being washed away, not fleas. In Ford's mindscape the symbolism of washing away the lice is pretty straightforward, as Lucy (or rather Maligula) saw the protestors as a pest that needs to be rid of. However I never payed much mind to why it's a flea circus. Since it's a small circus show that Ford put up, making it a flea circus works as a funny way of representing that. I am not sure if there is deeper meaning there though...

[@Nazo-kage]

@ I know that it wasn’t exactly one-to-one, but it’s enough of a similarity that it kind of makes you wonder. Like I said, it’s kind of a chicken egg scenario of was that what Ford thought it should be or was the remnants of this mindset in her colored his barbershop mind. And when it comes to Psychonauts, the symbolism can be equal parts, subtle, and in your face.

[@Wandervenn]

​@@Nazo-kageActually this is an interesting observation. Ford sees the lice in his shattered mind as something to be protected and scolds Lucy when Raz washes them away, calling them innocent protesters or something like that. However, to her they are just pests in the way. She's totally disconnected from her empathy in order to cope with the horror she's inflicting on people. She no longer sees them for what they are. Meanwhile Lucy's family are made of fleas in her construct, which are another pest. Though these pests wear masks with the face of a family member. It makes me wonder if on top of the general flea circus symbolism if this is another aspect of Lucy having seen her own family as less significant until given a face to humanize them again. If not directly seeing her family as pests, then not being able to distinguish them anymore as a side effect of reducing most people to pests. It is what ends up killing her sister and brother in law after all, since they were part of the protest that Ford scolds her about in his own mind, so I think there is merit to your idea with that further connection. If that's the case then Ford's construct may have been able to bridge a gap for Lucy all that time, reintroducing her empathy to people when he gives her family. He's literally conditioning her subconscious to see pests as something to care for.

[@EGRJ]

"The wicked flea when no one pursueth."

[@codyboise9989]

Incredible, didn't realize this was out. Makes sense doing the flea circus as a separate topic all to itself, like basic braining: everything isn't as it appears. Also interesting realization of the teacup in the flea circus as the barrier/buffer between the fake memories and the truth that lies beneath the surface. (Sidenote: please include titles in the next Nona video like: "Over the river and through the woods, (through Nona's memories we go") "Down Nona's memory lane" and finally "Unraveling the Past")

[@DatHarlequinOni]

There's a song by the band Taking Back Sunday called "Error: Operator" that I feel is startlingly relevant to this game's themes of trauma and PTSD. The flow of the first 2/3 of the song goes like this: *Well there's been an accident (calm down) There's been an accident, breathe In then out calm down (in and out calm down) Breathe in and out calm down (in and out calm) We can't go back Can't go back Can't go back, we can't x2 But would you do it again, again And count backwards from ten (Look I don't make those mistakes no more) Because sometimes I swear I can see straight through you Just concentrate, control. But would you do it again, again* While the song presents lyrically as being centered on the reaction of a group of friends to an accidental homicide (further contextualized through the song's name, suggesting there is an urgent call to 911 being made in which the operator is trying to calm the caller down), the chorus and post-chorus verse lean heavily into a subtheme of post-traumatic stress disorder, presenting a person experiencing a major disassociation episode and being guided down from the anxiety through both breathing techniques and grounding through a mantra, e.g., "we can't go back." It's stuck with me my whole life, and with my PTSD diagnosis "we can't go back" has become my mantra and a stern reminder that all I can do is keep going forward.

[@mackthisarrowhearth295]

Interesting concept similar to gorced confabulation is "shared fantasy". In romantic/close relationships, you often enter a shared fantasy, concerning desires or new opinions. They can lift you up, help you improve or feel better, or actually break you down or enable bad treats. In the mean time, it changes your perceptions and biases, perhaps by the other, or indirectly yourself (echos). Regardless, you are affected by collective ideas or ideals, and more invested to change for a shared desire or goal. It might lead to external confabulation, sometimes even as a manipulation.

[@maltesegeek1]

Ahhhhhhh I just listened. I was wondering when saw what the video so small. Then I realised this is effectively part 1. AHHHHHH I Can’t wait for the next part!!

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Haha yeah she has three levels technically. Kind of like Ford's four worlds.

[@treynash1405]

Man, the suspense is killing me! Can't wait to see what you do in the next one.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Assets and notes already done. Just need to do the research and writing phase.

[@BlurRoux]

Damn bro, IT Feels like yesterday you've uploaded the last video. Thanks for making another great video bro

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Didn't have a 10 month hiatus this time lol

[@mevb]

Though, it wasn't a complete lie that the Aquatos were technically Lucrecia's family, they weren't her close family, as Augustus is her nephew and therefore Raz and her siblings are her grand nephews and nieces. If we're going with swedish (and possibly other languages), the english word for family is split up into either familj, the directly blood family, e.g. father, mother and children, and släkt, relatives, meaning those who are family by blood and marriage/partnership, like grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins (removed or not), second cousins etc. In this sense, Lucrecia/Nona are "släkt"/relations rather than "familj"/direct family. It wasn't as if she was "adopted" by a family who was related to them and consciously or not, made her think her real family, like a toddler being adopted by a fsmily who wanted her as a new family member, it thinks he or she is the true family as he/she doesn't remember her true parents, and weren't told she was adopted, even later in life when that person is an adult. So when Lucy had her memories altered, even though the lie was of her family, it wasn't 100 % or as Obi-Wan Kenobi says in Star Wars "So what I told you was true from a certain point of veiw". In that vein, the main viallian in the first Star Wars episodes Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious mixes lies with truths, that's how he managed to turn a Jedi into a Sith (Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader) and turning a democratic Republic to a tyrannical Empire. Ford Cruller's fabricating of Lucy's memories are similar to that by mixing lies with truths but obviously they were done with good intentions rather for personal gain.

[@ragequit4777]

"is it really that time again?" -gman

[@saxtonhale6029]

"Look at that woman's breasts. They're large." -gman

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

It's that time!

[@ragequit4777]

@@GamingUniversityUoG " it seems like it was yesterday you uploaded"

[@NashTheBlade]

Ah, Yes...20 years just flies by don't it....Ooh, who's our president now?....(Looks at newspaper...Trump still president, now his demented brain has been uploaded to the cloud and became Skynet...thankfully Skynet servers are slow as hell, soldiers and hackers took it down fast....)....How the hell did they let him have that in the first place?!

[@SpectralSlugger]

we goin from nearly 1 hour long bob's bottles to 12 minute flea circus

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Most of these videos are around the 10-20 minute range. Really only three of them were close to an hour.

[@ajerjavec4723]

Since at this point, there’s only one video left before you get nick mind I have an interesting idea. There are two parts of that level that are two sides of the same coin. The first part is how great his homeland was, and how much the people loved his family. The second part is how much worse it was after the deluge The first part will deal with nostalgia. The second part does with regulation bias

[@Kosmiverse]

Crazy to think I've been watching this series for nearly two years now since the first Psychology of Psychonauts video.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Holy crap! Has it really been that long. That is crazy.

[@Kosmiverse]

@@GamingUniversityUoG Oh yes! Given a few more months we will be approaching three years! Technically if you time things right you could make the last video an anniversary video as well.

[@kyle1598hffgyfv]

1:51 "... unravel his work?" I see what you did there.

[@Luba-LM]

WAKE UP BABE, ANOTHER PSYCHOLOGY OF PSHYCONAUTS VIDEO JUST DROPPED!!!

[@KaminoKatie]

Even though the Grolovian royal family does play a part in her upbringing. Lucrecia still ultimately chooses to destroy Grolovia on her own out of guilt-driven rage after she accidentally drowned her sister

[@edfreak9001]

I always appreciated how absolutely tiny this world felt in comparison to everything before.

[@spookykay4605]

it's such a delight seeing your editing skills evolve trough videos

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

There was a clear difference between the first game and second game. Basically I hired a professional editor between the two games. He is incredible!

[@spookykay4605]

@@GamingUniversityUoG oooooooooh cool! well he's doing a very good job!

[@Glitchyetiad]

8:00 another great example of confabulation is what people interpret in darkness. human brains are weirdly wired to recognize danger in fight or flight. so, when we see movement in darkness or in stress full moments the brain kinda just fills in the blanks to try to make sense of what was seen. "oh was that w ild monster that I say in the corner of my eyes?? don't know... might be... ow wait it's just a weird branch" . same concept for bar fights, I've heard several people say that a fight lasted maybe 5-10 seconds when in reality it lasted waaay longer. also great video ;)

[@Wandervenn]

I love the foreshadowing that we start the game in a construct, especially one that ends up failing. Not only is it easier to write off long before we visit Lucy's arguably far more important construct, but with it rhyming to the first with it failing in the end.

[@Kromosios]

How I wish there were more psychonauts games. Nice video!

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I'd love a third but I don't think we should hold our breath sadly.

[@Fluffkitscripts]

I like how the meat circus theme kind of stands in as the aquato family’s anxiety theme. We hear it when raz is running from his father issues and when nona is worrying about all the danger her family is in.

[@Diceyed]

These videos are honestly the best psychology lessons ive ever seen. It will be sad when this is over.

[@drakofox1362]

YES NEW LESSON!!! and now i watch keep up the great work Dean (so glad i met you with this game series) Wait whats left? After this mental world

[@dejaypage1575]

Spoiler: The prince’s world and Maligula’s domain

[@lightstar3817]

But question is how long it will take for those worlds to be covered

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

We have technically three more. Quilts, Fatherland Follies, And The final Maligula world.

[@lightstar3817]

@ Oh yeah I forgot that Lucrecia’s mind was technically a two sided adventure.

[@briansanders8122]

Are you gonna include a video on the interns and Otto Mentalis, like you did with the other campers in the first game?

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I'll give it a shot. It's tough for the Interns considering we don't get a lot of details on them. The campers had way more scenes and we had the Fanster web page which gave us more behind the scenes details. Otto would be less a psychology and more a theory since again we only get a bit of info.

[@berdlyistrans]

I've kept up with these videos since before you finished psychonauts 1's analysis, I'm so happy every time you post one of these, and i can't wait to see what's next

[@waddledee8387]

Something I think is also interesting about the construct taking the form of a flea circus is that in the past, flea circuses were a thing, and they were centered around making the fleas appear to dance, but in reality they were glued to the suitcase and were trying to break free

[@adiksaff]

Wooohh!! Psychonauts content in 2024 is such *chef's kiss* I've been watching someone else play through on their first time, but these deep analyses area always my favorite!

[@yourhorseyepona7309]

What a surprize, considering ur last video in the series was months ago, i thought there wont be another one for a while. 😊

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Weird that I got in the habit of long hiatus on this series. These take a lot of research but sometimes I'm in the mood for it so I can pop em out quicker.

[@AntonMonster]

Like a breath of fresh air to see new videos from you ❤

[@koathekid8255]

IT. IS. TIME.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I can never read those words without hearing Rafiki's voice.

[@twistedmyth5860]

What a nice Birthday gift! :D

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Happy birthday! Hope you have something fun planned

[@badwalnutt]

IT'S HEREEEEE

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

That it is lol

[@mrsaywhat6764]

Loved this series every step of the way. I anxiously but patiently await what will come next.

[@TransparentFLU]

ITS HERE ITS HERE!!!

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Someone sounds excited!

[@TransparentFLU]

@@GamingUniversityUoG I am! I started playing psychonauts because of your videos. They're great! Thanks man.

[@jesternario]

A short one, but important to look at.

[@TCO_404]

I really don't comment enough, given that your videos always do an amazing job covering two of my three favorite game series (RCU and Psychonauts). Now, we just need you to get into the juicy twisting lore and psychological tricks of Pathologic 2. 😁

[@Antidoxy]

Love it! Thanks for the video! ❤

[@chillmorte]

I absolutely love your breakdowns of each of these levels and the psycology behind it all. I remmeber first reading about implanting false memories from a book by richard Wiseman and it's all so fasinating

[@ljhawesstudios]

Finally, I'm semi on time for one of these. Excellent 😎👍 It's a fun thing to look forward to.

[@redknight5188]

I LITTERALLY WATCHED THE WHOLE SERIES YESTERDAY WOOOOOO

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Haha perfect timing!

[@siramaytheshowgundragon]

YEAAAHH BABY THATS WHAT IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THATS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT

[@maxleroux]

I'm curious. What made you decide to divide Lucrecia's Lament into multiple videos based on the different areas of her mind? 🧠

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I ended up doing the same for Hollis and Ford. Different themes expressed in each individual world.

[@FlippySuper]

Love this series

[@Royalhanburglar]

I don’t want it to be over :(

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Me neither. This series has been such a huge part of the channel's history.

[@Jamesbaldwin44]

Control was a great game and I loved the lore. Thank you for making these videos

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Same here!

[@Canadian-nun-appreciator9488]

i think after this series you should tackle persona, i kinda want to see your breakdown of the Palace rulers minds

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Spoilers! Haha that is my intention. Not necessarily he Palace Rulers but I do have a full thing planned for Persona that will replace this series.

[@willisrose9756]

I guess our new assignment shall begin!

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Homework is coming up lol

[@timezerohour8864]

here we are

[@theresablack9261]

class is in session.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I'm a super chill teach I promise haha

[@Wandervenn]

I wonder if there is further symbolism of what Nona is noticing about her family based on the acts they are part of in the circus. For example, Queepie being out of control. I would have to replay the level to think more on it.

[@nzpowa._.6662]

Im so glad after finally getting an xbox earlier this year that i can finally understand the nauces of these locations. But, HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE DOUBLE FINE MADE A GAME AKIN TO THIS CHARMIBG SERIES?

[@robfrank3423]

That was a quick one

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Weirdly enough this was the average length of the vids. With Psiking, Cassie and Bob there was a ton to talk about.

[@robfrank3423]

@GamingUniversityUoG that's fair

[@paulrus-keaton439]

Sir. SIR. What are you doing dropping a new Psychonauts video in less than 5-6 months?

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I'm being a rebel!

[@victormontes7007]

So the making of new memories to replace old ones is real?

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Usually it occurs because of an internal telephone game. We tell ourselves the same memory over and over. Sometimes it gets changed. It is common to remember things that are not 100% accurate.

[@victormontes7007]

@GamingUniversityUoG I always hated the telephone game

[@Eddiember]

Why is, ermm, _was,_ there a representation of Raz in the construct, considering what we learn from Nona's Quilt vault.

[@redrasegarden]

We…we only have 2 more 😢

[@Nibeni]

Let's go

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Hope it was worth the wait

[@connorgibes709]

Wierd, I just finished replaying Psychonauts 2 yesterday

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Perfect timing!

[@numatruehome100]

FINALLY

[@aku896]

W

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Thank you!

[@pierrecourtois5167]

You call it forced confabulation, I call it gaslight gatekeep girlboss

[@astralfloof]

YAAAYYY

[@QuestionDeca]

Sad that practically everything in this video was applied to the American Presidential Election