Psychoanalytical Theory - Blog Post #5

            Psychoanalytical theory is a method of analyzing a subject or media artifact using personality threats and behaviors. It is mainly based on Freud’s theory which argues that each person have an Id, Ego, and Superego. The Id represents the secret desires and impulses that everyone has. These are the instinctual urges and primitive thinking to maximize pleasure and minimize pain in life. The Ego is the rational system that uses principles to make decisions. It is heavy reality-oriented and it balances the demands of the Id and Superego. The Superego is all the ideas and values that are passed to us from the society or parents. It works as a conscious to block the unacceptable id impulses or urges.

            Analyzing a popular character will make this theory easier to understand. Let’s analyze Batman. Batman is an orphan who loses his parents in the hands of crime of Gotham city.  This is what drives him later to fight crime. The events of his childhood change his personality behavior and future actions as an adult. Batman Id represent his urges to fight and become Gotham’s vigilante. He have this urge, this unexpected desire, of fighting the evil that in the past kill his parents, and now is consuming the city. This gives him pleasure, and at the same time reduces the pain of the memory of his dead parents. The Superego of Batman is Bruce Wayne. He is the values and principles that his parents and the society passed to him. Bruce Wayne manage the company and act as a public figure for Gotham city. He is the façade that the normal people see and hides his true personality, Batman. The Ego is what brings Batman and Bruce Wayne together. Is the balance between each personality and role Wayne plays. It is portray by both Batman and Bruce Wayne. It is what makes Batman rationalize and don’t kill people (Id urges) and also undermine the values and ideals he have to fight crime outside the law (Superego traits).