Superheroes on the couch, episode 1: Spider-Man<

What major trouble do you perceive in Spider-Man?

One could imagine that he suffers from depression and melancholy. This is a phenomenon that is often found in teenagers. The psychoanalyst Françoise Dolto speaks of the “lobster complex”, because they also molt. The concept can be applied to superheroes, who put on a costume to transform and become more powerful. In Spider-Man's case, it's a defense mechanism to survive and protect himself after everything that's happened to him. He experiences mood swings and sleep disturbances, he is angry, irritable, he lacks self-confidence, he feels out of step with others, he feels sadness over the death of his parents and a feeling of self-reproach around the death of his uncle… It's very heavy and there are many signs of depression.

Does he suffer from post-traumatic stress?

Yes, even if this disorder is even more present in Batman, who witnessed the assassination of his parents. In these cases, one trauma echoes another, older one. Spider-Man is an orphan and he is already in pain. The death of his uncle will repeat this pain and trip his brain. This is what we have seen in certain victims of the Bataclan. For them, what had happened to them was absolutely unbearable and unbearable. Of course, the situation was atrocious. But their suffering was increased tenfold, because it echoed old traumas. There was already a rift and the new event only reopened it. This is what can be observed in the series En Thérapie with the character played by Reda Kateb: the painful or repressed past resurfaces in the light of the new trauma. The same goes for Peter Parker, who felt so helpless over his uncle's death that he, in a way, decided to become all-powerful. He does it “well”, in the sense that he is nice. This situation could have made him a pervert imbued with his power, but he decided to be a vigilante. Only, this repair is above all a repair of oneself, by the other lives that it saves, and not the reverse.

Do you think the guilt he's been feeling over his uncle's death is driving his drive to save others?

Like all superheroes, he has savior syndrome. He developed an overcapacity to solve problems, because, at a key moment in his life, it was not possible. There was a failure. He is convinced that he has omnipotence and that he can save the world. Each time, it's as if he was saving his uncle Ben. He refuses reality and is unable to mourn. Normally, there are several phases when one is in mourning: denial, anger, dejection… But he remains in denial.

Can we speak of personality disorder or schizophrenia in the case of Peter Parker?

Like all superheroes, young Peter Parker is a split character, as he has a civilian identity and a superhero identity. In psychopathology, there are two major structures: neurosis and psychosis. And there is an in-between called limit states. In neurosis, the patient is aware of his own identity. In psychosis, it is more fragmented, there is not such a clear identity, but scattered pieces of self. We find this fragmentation in Peter Parker, but he knows who he is and he chooses when he wants to become Spider-Man. So I would speak more of a limit state. There is a dissociative disorder, for sure, but not an identity disorder. In the case of schizophrenia, there is depersonalization and the person may experience hallucinations. A priori, Spider-Man does not have one, but the spectator sees the whole story under his prism so one could imagine that he is just delirious. This hypothesis is very unlikely, because, around him, everyone sees him climbing buildings and saving others. For me, we are closer to a form of bipolarity than schizophrenia.

So you think Spider-Man is bipolar?

The question of bipolarity could arise, but, at the same time, this disorder involves manic phases which are not present in Spider-Man (except to imagine that he takes himself for a superhero without actually being one) . In this phase, the person is very excited and overexcited, then she continues with a depressive phase where she sinks. I feel like the character is more generally in that depressed energy. Afterward, his feeling of overpowering is characteristic of type 1 bipolarity. to be able to fly (which he is, but he literally flies. Or at least climbs and weaves his web, since he is also truly a spider). Between his feelings of self-reproach and his internal questions, I would lean more towards a depressive disorder (with aspects of bipolarity still present).

He's a hypersensitive man, he has a real sense of justice, a developed instinct and he feels out of step with society… What if Spider-Man was in fact a HPI (High Intellectual Potential)?

In general, the HPI is accompanied by a high emotional potential. Spider-Man, like many superheroes, has a heightened sensitivity. He also has a keen sense of justice, a need for recognition, a borderline side, he feels out of step with others, he has a very strong ego ideal and, at the same time, he deeply loves people. and wants to forge solid ties with others… Indeed, this character could be a high potential, and not only intellectual, because he has developed extraordinary physical abilities. This is perhaps the best diagnosis.

Do you think his many troubles may get worse if he continues his superhero activity?

For it to work, it has to be contained and he can talk about it to other people. He must reflect and ask himself why he needs to save the world so much. His activity can aggravate his dissociative disorder if he loses sight of reality. From the moment Spider-Man takes over Peter Parker, it will become dangerous and perverse. He will be convinced that he knows what to do, what is good, and could use his powers to the detriment of others. As Nietzsche would say, he must remember that he is human, all too human.

What would be your recommendations for helping Spider-Man?

I think he should be part of a team and not be alone. His troubles are relatively mild, so it won't be an obstacle to his missions, he can save the world. But he needs to be accompanied to share his problems of men (and superman), and especially to cry. He needs to touch his vulnerability. The problem with superheroes is that they forget that they are vulnerable. But our greatest power comes from that.

Then, I clearly recommend to him a healthy lifestyle: that he rests, that he eats well, that he listens to his needs… He takes care of others, but not enough of himself. I think meditation would be a good solution for him to learn to control the flow of his thoughts. I also advise him to play sports, but not necessarily by climbing on buildings. That he accepts the help offered to him: a shrink, friends, a team… He must be able to rely on someone. And above all, it is necessary to work on mourning. Go to the graves of his loved ones, write a letter, look at photos… He must not remain in this taboo and accept what has happened.

Emma Scali is a psychoanalyst, actress, director and author of My therapy writing diary – I become the hero of my life published by Hugo Doc, 192 p., €14.95.