There was once a Superman, kryptonite invincible in the red suit and blue hid Clark Kent, so aspiring journalist, clumsy and shortsighted. A good example of a superhero, an injection of faith for generations of young slender and shy, they learned how courage and virtue can also hide behind a pair of glasses are too thick.
But Superman and his colleagues are now a distant memory, the American experts complain American Psychological Association (APA) meeting this week in San Diego, California, for their annual convention 118esima.
Somebody Killed Spider-Man and the place of the old defenders of humanity are the new superheroes all muscles and power: too macho and abusers, pimps and violence, bullying and bad teachers of ostentation, denounced the special API .
"There's a big difference between the modern superhero movie and the comics of the past," says psychologist Sharon Lamb, professor of mental health at the University of Massachusetts Boston. "The superheroes of today are constantly engaged in acts of violence non-stop - he says - I'm aggressive and sarcastic, rarely talk about what is right to act for the good of the people. "
The 'ancestors' of the new superheroes, pressed American psychologists, in the suit had a heart, and he is not playing the champion of justice were" vulnerable persons with much of the real problems and weak points. "Quite the opposite of the heirs of Superman & Co." Even when not in costume, they are violent. "More:" They exploit women, show their virility and power flaunting flashy accessories ". I mean, could lead young people astray and can identify with that dream of becoming like them.
To understand how the models conveyed by the media influence attitudes and behaviors the very young, Lamb and his team monitored 674 men aged between 4 and 18 years. They also visited various shopping centers, talking with traders to gauge trends in purchasing the most common among children and teenagers.
Result: "From what they learn from the media, young people today seem to have only two alternatives," said Lamb. "The first option is guided by the new superhero" aggressive, macho and violent. "The second is to grow 'passive', systematically fleeing from his responsibilities" prior to school later in life.
In another study presented during the summit, PA, a group led by Carlos Santos Arizona State University examined in 426 male students of average ability to reject behaviors conventionally considered synonymous with masculinity: to show the Stoics, too independent and strong physically, in short, to act tough.
The sample consisted of white kids (27%) and African-Americans (20%), as well as students of Puerto Rican origin (9%), Dominican (17%), Chinese (21%) or even different (6%). Contrary to stereotypes, and 'found that the courage and independence of mind which does not allow you to adapt to the false models of masculinity are not dependent on ethnic belonging, the researchers provide. The
'impermeabilità stereotypes has more to do with family relationships and the level of psychological well-being, but in general tends to decrease in the transition from childhood to adolescence. How to say 'convince' the child to maintain well into the middle, and then throughout adulthood, innocence and purity of childhood is an enterprise worthy of Superman.
Source: Televideo.rai.it
