Holy Therapists! Why Batman Drives Shrinks Batty

Live Science ^ | October 16, 2010 | Jeremy Hsu

[decimon]

NEW YORK - No real psychiatrist has ever gotten the chance to diagnose and treat Batman, but they'd likely have as little luck as any of their fictional counterparts in Gotham City. A strong anti-psychiatry bias in the Batman comic book universe may even be why readers and moviegoers love the dark knight so much, according to a psychiatrist at New York Comic Con.

Psychiatrists and cognitive neuroscientists not only fail to stem the tide of mentally unbalanced supervillains that Batman fights, but often end up becoming villains themselves. That depiction may work so well because people often do feel uneasy around their head shrinks. [Related: Superhero or Supervillain: Which Lurks Inside You?]

"The fact is that therapists are pretty creepy people," said Daniel Debowy, a psychiatrist at North Suffolk Community Mental Health in Boston and a self-described Batman fan.

[Vaquero]

the therapist of the future….This is what America needs in a therapist

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks decimon.

A strong anti-psychiatry bias in the Batman comic book universe may even be why readers and moviegoers love the dark knight so much, according to a psychiatrist at New York Comic Con... "The fact is that therapists are pretty creepy people," said Daniel Debowy, a psychiatrist at North Suffolk Community Mental Health in Boston and a self-described Batman fan.

[TheOldLady]

Not a crazy ping.

[decimon]

He looks old for 66.

[Vaquero]

It's Not the Age, It's the Mileage.

Indiana Jones

[Slings and Arrows]

Physician, heal thyself.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I find that shooting things is great therapy.

Perhaps Batman should return to his roots and pack a gun. I am sure he would feel much better.

[Mr. Silverback]

Ping!

[martin_fierro]

Hey, sometimes a 15" gun is just a 15" gun.

[decimon]

Speaking of psychiatry, no nuts there.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

“The fact is that therapists are pretty creepy people,” said Daniel Debowy, a psychiatrist at North Suffolk Community Mental Health in Boston and a self-described Batman fan.

[TheOldLady]

"...Batman accepts his strangeness and dares readers to do the same..."

I'm just enjoying my strangeness. What's the big deal?

[Slings and Arrows]

But then the comics would be about two pages long.

[dixiechick2000]

There’s a reason why some, though not all, people are interested in becoming psychiatrists.

Think about it.......

[Slings and Arrows]

They're ?

[dixiechick2000]

LOLOL! That’s it!!!

Yer funny. ;o)

[Impy]

I was shy in grade school. So nosy school types thought my parents hit me or something and browbeat my mother to have me see someone.

So lame.