Why We Love Movie Villains (According to Psychology)

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  • Опубліковано 29 лис 2024

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  • @SciShowPsych
    @SciShowPsych  4 роки тому +17

    Go to curiositystream.com/video/2996/walt-disney to start streaming American Icons. Use the promo code ‘scishowpsych’ during the sign-up process and you’ll get an annual subscription for just $1.25 per month.

  • @NekoChanSenpai
    @NekoChanSenpai 4 роки тому +575

    Villains are just generally more compelling characters. They tend to be more fleshed out compared to the heroes.

    • @Ikajo
      @Ikajo 4 роки тому +88

      Especially since they can have grey morals. Not being simply evil for the sake of being evil. In comparison many heroes becomes white.
      Personally I think that's why Tony Stark is such a popular character in the MCU. He was a grey hero.
      Loki is also a grey character and his popularity is also huge. Because most people are grey rather than white or black.

    • @Jason608
      @Jason608 4 роки тому +30

      @@Ikajo Same with Walter White in Breaking Bad. Clearly a terrible person by the end, but you can cheer him on the whole time because he's fictional, and various levels of gray as the show progresses.

    • @Ikajo
      @Ikajo 4 роки тому +5

      @@Jason608 I have never watched Breaking Bad...

    • @genesises
      @genesises 4 роки тому +15

      i don't know if i agree with that generally being true... most villains are just as big of stereotypes as protagonists imo

    • @suicune2001
      @suicune2001 4 роки тому +20

      Some villains can also be VERY charismatic. They kind of have to be for people to follow them and do what they say.

  • @TheVeryHungrySingularity
    @TheVeryHungrySingularity 4 роки тому +307

    I find villains are usually more interesting with more flexible and rounded character traits. Heroes typically stay more flat because they're around a lot more in the spotlight and are given more consistency. Villains in that respect are more relatable.

    • @TheSassi14
      @TheSassi14 4 роки тому +11

      My favourite are anti-heros

    • @johnnyw2593
      @johnnyw2593 4 роки тому +8

      The Very Hungry Singularity - I think because heroes are law biding, conformed with the norms and therefore squarish and boring character. Villains, on the other hand, are law breakers, always stepping outside the norms, going against the rules. So they always draw attentions to themselves. Villains have great internal conflict because they live in a community and yet, they are out to destroy the community. They need audience although they hate them. Heroes however, need villains to maintain their heroic status. It’s like, what’s good of a cop if there’s no criminal.

    • @TheSassi14
      @TheSassi14 4 роки тому +10

      @@johnnyw2593 That's exactly why anti-heros are the best. The fight between good and evil within. Take Anakin from Star Wars or Zuko from Avatar (Last Airbender), Snape from Harry Potter or Harley Quinn from Brids of Prey.
      No matter if they turn out to do good or bad, their torn nature is what we are drawn to.

    • @Future_Pheonix
      @Future_Pheonix 4 роки тому +1

      It's because an antagonist that evokes no empathy or conflict in the reader/viewer will make them boring. No one would care about them or become invested in their stories.
      It's also because they have a lot more room to grow and improve than a hero, who's usually already generally "good".
      Not always though. But heroes can't be too bad, or you wouldn't root for them as heroes.
      Antagonists are expected to be bad and are given more freedom to stretch moral boundaries.

    • @TheSassi14
      @TheSassi14 4 роки тому +2

      @Nick Couture Depends on the depiction, but sometimes yeah

  • @sophiejune4515
    @sophiejune4515 4 роки тому +135

    This is another one of those things I think needs more research. Most of the research seemed to be connected to analyzing the data from a quiz site which cannot be that accurate.
    Writers are taught to create villains people can empathize with as part of the process. I think that has a lot more to do with it than anything.

    • @why2goatdagame
      @why2goatdagame 4 роки тому +3

      True but there is also quite a bit of examples of characters in books & on screen films that purposely dedicated to making the villain non-relatable too. It’s depends on the presentation for sure👍

    • @jeevajyothis3785
      @jeevajyothis3785 3 роки тому +1

      I was wondering if it is possible to create heroes we cannot empathize with.

    • @koiboybud-dbee4556
      @koiboybud-dbee4556 2 роки тому +1

      @@jeevajyothis3785 I'd say watch "The Boys" then...🤣
      I'm just kidding, as I only watched 1 episode & fast forwarded through the rest to get the gist of it!

  • @NewMessage
    @NewMessage 4 роки тому +69

    They always have the coolest outfits.

    • @Knightmare919
      @Knightmare919 3 роки тому +3

      Don't forget villains always have the cool stuff compare to heroes who have to stick in their stuff like literally villains always have the best stuff high technology look at ultron that guy has better stuff the most heroes other examples are Doctor Octopus , Brainiac , Thanos , M.O.D.O.K , Darkseid , Trigon and others always have the cool stuff without plot armor many heroes have already been killed by one of these guys or others.

  • @SlimThrull
    @SlimThrull 4 роки тому +59

    "We human beings like to think of ourselves as... good people." Suckers.

  • @suicune2001
    @suicune2001 4 роки тому +175

    I always thought we liked fictional villains because they were more interesting. They usually have better songs and they have distinct personalities, looks, voice, and motivations. The good guy's motivation is always the same - beat the bad guy.

    • @Future_Pheonix
      @Future_Pheonix 4 роки тому +11

      I think that connects to what is said in the video. They are more interesting because they are often more complex and realistic/human.
      We often find things to identify with in their flaws, which makes us even more invested in their stories and interested in them and able to empathize with them.

    • @happy_waves9786
      @happy_waves9786 2 роки тому +4

      Better songs for sure. Just look at Naruto, orochimaru’s and akatsuki’s themes are by far the best musics in the series at least personally.

  • @Locut0s
    @Locut0s 4 роки тому +95

    I can think of another reason we like villains that is not mentioned which is that a LOT of us actually don’t think of ourselves as good people. That doesn’t mean we think of ourselves as villains or like doing bad things. Actually the complete opposite. But many of us have grown up with traumas and an image of themselves as wrong, bad, broken. Villains and black sheep are often easy for us to relate to in this sense. Those that society has shunned, who have experienced trauma and decide to get revenge. It’s not that we wish to do bad but thinking of ourselves as not enough and unloved most of our lives becomes an isolating experience and makes it difficult to connect and relate with hero images. Honestly I think it’s also the case that a well written villain is more often closer to a well rounded person to begin with as we all have shadow selves and unspeakable thoughts, feelings, drives and wishes at times. Villains in fiction allow us to relate in a socially acceptable way to the sides of us that we wish to deny exist.

    • @Justin-wj4yc
      @Justin-wj4yc 4 роки тому

      I see many people like you who try to passionately argue that other people aren't different to them, that other people can't have different values, and think characters like the Joker are deranged, uninteresting and pathetic. I'm not sure whether it arises from an inferiority complex, but I suspect so. It's very hard to get people to agree on anything, so I don't know why special pleading is invoked here.

    • @Justin-wj4yc
      @Justin-wj4yc 4 роки тому

      @TheIndelibleCaptain Heh, do you like reading about pedophiles too?

    • @Justin-wj4yc
      @Justin-wj4yc 4 роки тому

      @TheIndelibleCaptain Dude, it literally satisfies your "interpretation" in every way

    • @Flamingerudostalion
      @Flamingerudostalion 3 роки тому

      @Locut0s OP. PREACH IT!!!!! 😊👐 (Like, look no further than the Snape, Loki, and Phantom of the Opera fans for proof...)

    • @kamehousedragon9661
      @kamehousedragon9661 2 роки тому +4

      I also think that we want to believe that even the most evil people can come back from their mistakes because we want to believe in redemption for ourselves when we stray from our moral compass

  • @davidgold3nrose
    @davidgold3nrose 4 роки тому +45

    Yeah I'm a writer and love writing my villains a little *too* much

    • @IceMetalPunk
      @IceMetalPunk 4 роки тому +6

      It's always fun figuring out WHY they do the terrible things they do :)

    • @davidgold3nrose
      @davidgold3nrose 4 роки тому +2

      @@IceMetalPunk heheheheh

  • @JamesPetts
    @JamesPetts 4 роки тому +79

    I originally read the title as "why we love violins".

  • @IceMetalPunk
    @IceMetalPunk 4 роки тому +90

    I... don't know about that State Names conclusion. Isn't it more likely that people who live in a state are more likely to name their kids after that state, and those kids therefore consider that state their home?

    • @LyeBatenkaitos9974
      @LyeBatenkaitos9974 4 роки тому +5

      I was thinking the same thing.

    • @dryzalizer
      @dryzalizer 4 роки тому +27

      I was thinking that as well, hopefully they controlled for that and only studied people who moved to states that match their names.

    • @IceMetalPunk
      @IceMetalPunk 4 роки тому

      @Zita Á. How would you control for that? Just discard the results from anyone whose parents lived in that state or who were born in that state?

    • @IceMetalPunk
      @IceMetalPunk 4 роки тому +1

      @Zita Á. At which point, the sample size becomes too small to draw conclusions 😜

    • @annabellealpar5285
      @annabellealpar5285 4 роки тому

      They probably controlled for that

  • @blackshard641
    @blackshard641 4 роки тому +154

    "That's a little confusing because we tend to dislike real-life baddies." *laughs in post-2016 USA* You would THINK that, wouldn't you...

    • @VariantAEC
      @VariantAEC 4 роки тому +18

      The media champions real-life villains today also quite recent issue... Or more accurately the real issue is people are willing to cheer for the real-world criminals many of which are actually less redeemable than fictional villainous characters.

    • @DezzieYT
      @DezzieYT 4 роки тому +10

      It's interesting they found the effect with reality tv characters as people tended to think of them as fictional.

    • @WhoAmi2357
      @WhoAmi2357 4 роки тому +7

      Too soon, sir, try post-2020 USA ;P

    • @nathanielhellerstein5871
      @nathanielhellerstein5871 4 роки тому +8

      Trump surrounds himself with unreality, and so can play a fiction in real life. Really his show should have been called an unreality show - which is part of his compulsive lying. Projecting fictionality is indeed a power; an evil one, for it gives evil glamour; and like all evil powers in fiction, it exacts a terrible price.

    • @nathanielhellerstein5871
      @nathanielhellerstein5871 4 роки тому +1

      @Nick Couture I am baffled as to how this relates to my comment, or the video. As for gynocracy, surely you jest.

  • @lyndsaybrown8471
    @lyndsaybrown8471 4 роки тому +45

    I've always felt like good villains were the kind that were relatable. So that, if you find yourself in the future having thoughts along the lines of their villain monologues, you can stop yourself and do something better instead.

  • @DonnaLichvarcik-e1w
    @DonnaLichvarcik-e1w Рік тому +2

    Villains are iconic badass legends

  • @happylittlemisery
    @happylittlemisery 4 роки тому +14

    Our brains can emphatize with pretty much anything. We even project our emotions and personality on unliving things.

    • @davidgold3nrose
      @davidgold3nrose 4 роки тому +1

      Like in that episode of community where he snapped the pencil

    • @IceMetalPunk
      @IceMetalPunk 4 роки тому

      Our theory of mind is so effective that it doesn't stop after someone has died.

  • @cluerip
    @cluerip 4 роки тому +38

    "Under toilet paper" is useful when preventing a toddler from unrolling the whole thing by hitting it over and over for fun.

    • @Ikajo
      @Ikajo 4 роки тому +14

      The same can go for cats if they are in the habit of playing with the role.

    • @johnnydarling8021
      @johnnydarling8021 2 роки тому

      You people are monsters.

  • @jamestolbert1856
    @jamestolbert1856 Рік тому +1

    Heroes are compelling and fleshed out too. The villains can help them on their joirney

  • @robertlombardo8437
    @robertlombardo8437 Рік тому +6

    So many villains are just monsters that were created by society. Like Joker, Killmonger, Scar, Travis Bickle and the ultimate relatable bad guy, Frank Castle, "The Punisher."
    Society ignored, forgot and despised them. Often in spite of overwhelming effort on their part to fit in and be good. And now, society gets to deal with the monsters they always believed them to be.

  • @FluidForgeBlacksmithing
    @FluidForgeBlacksmithing 4 роки тому +19

    The only acceptable under toilet paper orientation is if cats are involved

    • @darkangelprincess101
      @darkangelprincess101 4 роки тому +4

      Why do people say this? As a cat mom it doesn't matter which way the toilet paper is the cat ruins it. If it's under it's ripped to shreds. If it's over it's just unraveled and easier to clean

    • @FluidForgeBlacksmithing
      @FluidForgeBlacksmithing 4 роки тому +2

      @@darkangelprincess101 my cat one time just spun the roll out, but when I flipped it around she got bored of it so for me it works

  • @Russo-Delenda-Est
    @Russo-Delenda-Est 4 роки тому +37

    I feel like this could be explored much more thoroughly with carefully designed video games. Watching a space villain demolish a planet in a superhero movie is one thing, wading through the recently disemboweled gore of a hundred NPCs you just massacred in a game feels like it'd be very different. Hopefully more studies will be done on this topic, it's interesting how our minds distinguish reality from fantasy. And I wonder how VR would affect the results...

    • @sylviadailey9126
      @sylviadailey9126 2 роки тому

      You bring up a fantastic point. This could change with video games. Games often try to depict the player as a hero. However in practice this tends to veer off the rails. There is a strong motive of material given how ubiquitous skinner box mechanics and extrinsic rewards are. There is also ignoring story, which provides the vital context to heroism. Granted story is not this mediums strong suit, but it can get ludicrous. Personally I can watch a few cut scenes without breaking a sweat. However some players really detest the prospect of sitting still for a moment for the story. Without context there is no apparent heroism. This makes a player who acts like a mercenary. They don't care if they are doing the right thing or not. They will do anything if the price is high enough. A mercenary is not as good as a true hero is. They can be manipulated into becoming bad guys. Greed and gluteny are deadly sins for a reason. If one does too much of this, this can lead to harmful actions.

  • @spurguvitunhuora9119
    @spurguvitunhuora9119 4 роки тому +5

    When we love villains its usually not a movie thats otherwise great. Its a movie where the main protagonist isnt well written. Then its easier to root for the cartoonisly evil character, just since that baddie usually has a clear agenda and fun. Great movies dont usually have great villains. Or no villains at all. Great movies are also rare. But dont you all just love how much fun Palpatine is having when hes becoming the senate and killing everyone in revenge of the sith, even if nothing in his plan makes any sense? :)

  • @RaeWakefield
    @RaeWakefield 4 роки тому +73

    If I did relate to a bad characteristic of a villain, I would know that the villain is an extreme of that trait, and I’m not. Also, I would have gained some type of awareness and could choose to better myself if I felt like it was needed. I could go much much deeper into this but I don’t think anyone would care to read it 😂

    • @davidgold3nrose
      @davidgold3nrose 4 роки тому +6

      I would

    • @RaeWakefield
      @RaeWakefield 4 роки тому +3

      Danae Kelly that’s awesome! Do you have an Instagram where we could talk more about it or would you rather hear it by replying in the comment section here?😊👍🏽

    • @davidgold3nrose
      @davidgold3nrose 4 роки тому +4

      @@RaeWakefield uh I do have an insta but I'm not comfortable sharing it publicly. Just lay your analysis and thoughts on me, my man

    • @RaeWakefield
      @RaeWakefield 4 роки тому +7

      Danae Kelly I’m a woman, but I’m alright with being called that. The video talked about how we don’t associate the bad character traits to ourselves because we don’t want our perception of ourselves to be less positive. However, I think that if we learned about those traits in extreme forms, it’s easier to see how those traits can go wrong. We like to relate to people, so we relate to certain characteristics of the movie villains, but that doesn’t make us that person. We are not them, they are an extreme of something we relate to. Once we recognise that relating to something like a villain doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing, we can self improve. Feeling like you have to be perfect all the time eventually gets tiresome and realising our own “toxic” traits do not make us bad people, will strengthen our self image. (At least, I think so. Doesn’t everyone want to be the best version of themselves?) some people just prefer to keep it black and white, villain and hero. It is to dehumanise the villain so that you don’t end up feeling bad when the bad guy loses. Movies are not real life, and some people prefer not to find real things in fictional movies, because that makes them realize they have the potential to be a villain. But I think it’s important that you can, to some degree realize you could. but that you also realize, because of your morals , and the way you can choose how *not* to be who you don’t want to be, you would never. Anyway, this probably has a lot a spelling mistakes, just pretend like you didn’t see them. My thoughts are all over the place but I have another thing to say. It’s very nice to experiment things you couldn’t do, but do them in a controlled environment. Our dreams are literally full of those type of experiments. I like to think that people, including me, using the fictional world with villains and heroes to explore those personality traits and characteristics. Everything is a lot less scary when nothing has any real consequence on our lives. This is one of the things I enjoy about writing too. There are possibilities you could find out with logic and reasoning some beliefs and ideas lead to a certain outcome and you wouldn’t know that until you try them or try to write them. Or watch them happen, as is the case for movies and books. This is another reason why people don’t relate to real life “villains” because of the moral picture, that they would go so far to do what they were planning to do and had no regard for the consequences of their lives and maybe the lack of awareness of this negative outcome to something they did as a result of a characteristic. In the real word a bad person is someone who does a lot of bad things (I assume) but in movies that works differently (I think) because you know more of a backstory, like you do with your own life. A villain has a reason to do the things they do, as people in their normal lives do. You get to see their lives and what lead them up to that point. You get to recognise where and went wrong and how. (Again, with no consequences for yourself) this makes them relatable, and if you’re watching a movie with a villain in it who’s played by a great actress/actor they have a way to make it accessible for the viewer to relate to as well, as you see they are just people. The dehumanising effect goes away that we have in real life, because we know bad actions have bad consequences. I still dislike villains a lot of times because I don’t like who they are, or I lack seeing background that made them who they are and it is very easy for me to dislike them. It also depends on what is classified as a “villain” but that’s up for interpretation because I’ve been typing for half an hour 😂 I don’t know how much of that made sense to you or anyone else but everything I said is just my opinion and shouldn’t be taken to offence by anyone as it is *not* a personal attack on someone.

    • @garysteven1343
      @garysteven1343 4 роки тому +3

      @@RaeWakefield Wow, you put too much effort on this. Don't want to be the creepy guy, but I think that's the first time I felt attracted to a girl by reading her comment.
      PS: attracted = wanting to know.

  • @carissstewart3211
    @carissstewart3211 4 роки тому +4

    2.:08 - having flashbacks to high school when my homeroom teacher posted newspaper clippings of a salacious murder right next to my desk. The murderer just happened to have the same last name as me.

  • @johnbillings5260
    @johnbillings5260 4 роки тому +3

    TLDR - "good" people like to live vicariously through evil imaginary characters

  • @Naiadryade
    @Naiadryade 4 роки тому +1

    You are such a natural host, Anthony! I'm so glad SciShow scooped you up.

  • @nommy8599
    @nommy8599 4 роки тому +14

    So asking "Who's your favourite villain?" is one way to get some idea what someone could be likely to be like.
    Then I guess you should also ask "Do you watch SciShow Psych" in case they know of this and deliberately lie...

    • @MisterYagibe
      @MisterYagibe 4 роки тому +1

      So who is your favourite villain?

    • @nommy8599
      @nommy8599 4 роки тому

      @@MisterYagibe Joker form Joker movie, partly b/c I watched it recently and loved it. You?

    • @MisterYagibe
      @MisterYagibe 4 роки тому

      @@nommy8599 I must say I really enjoyed the Joker too, to not say the exact, I will say Thanos in Infinity wars, just because he didn't select who to vanish. And although the cause is great, his solution is poor

    • @nommy8599
      @nommy8599 4 роки тому

      @@MisterYagibe You know, Thanos was 2nd one I was thinking of mentioning, for the exact same reason. Truly fair and in his own way truly considerate, over a longer time-span than most beings are capable of comprehending, which seems inconsiderate and impractical, though we can't really prove either. Something about him made me uneasy though.
      My other fav villain, perhaps my most fav is Gru from Despicable me. IDK why, but I love that guy!

    • @MisterYagibe
      @MisterYagibe 4 роки тому +1

      @@nommy8599 totally agree with you!! Well Gru is somehow fun, not that mean, and the whole Despicable Me universe with the minions probably helps a lot!

  • @DoctorX17
    @DoctorX17 4 роки тому +4

    I'm glad that SciShow recognizes the correct way to put toilet paper on the roll, and the true evil of those who put it under instead of over. (With the one and only exception of people who put it under in order to keep their cat from batting at it and unrolling the entire roll into the floor in 5 minutes, but they should probably just keep the cat out of the bathroom)

  • @megatronjenkins2473
    @megatronjenkins2473 4 роки тому +20

    I'm a self-proclaimed Agent Of Chaos, and yes, I hang the toilet paper from the rear!
    MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

  • @DonnaLichvarcik-e1w
    @DonnaLichvarcik-e1w Рік тому +1

    I think that villans are really antiheros and they are just misunderstood they have been abused and abandoned and unloved and just want acceptance love and respect

  • @nosferathu258
    @nosferathu258 4 роки тому +5

    I love how almost every episode of SciShow Psych is like "psychology has learned that some people like raisins on pizza, while some don't, and that might shed some light on why we have anxiety inducing thoughts when we're goint to bed"

  • @PowerhouseCell
    @PowerhouseCell 4 роки тому +8

    *Idk anyone who loved that Trunchbull lady from Matilda tho 🤔*

    • @Ikajo
      @Ikajo 4 роки тому +5

      That crosses over from a villain to a bully. It is the same concept behind Umbridge in Harry Potter. They become something we recognise in people of authority. They become too real and we sense it.

    • @JessyRenae
      @JessyRenae 4 роки тому +2

      @@Ikajo oh how I loathe Umbridge. I flip her off every time she's in a scene. My husband doesn't understand.

    • @Ikajo
      @Ikajo 4 роки тому +4

      @@JessyRenae Most people hate her. That's why she is a better villain than Voldemort who, let's face it, is a the boogie man. We are told he is supposed to be scary but he isn't.

  • @BZAKether
    @BZAKether 4 роки тому +3

    And what about those us us who can't do the "evil" quests of videogames becaue we fell bad for inexistent characters and people?

  • @Croz89
    @Croz89 4 роки тому +6

    You can be a dumb (or at least not very eloquent) meaty jock as the hero and audiences generally won't care. To have an interesting villain you really need a personality and be capable of articulating some elegant prose. It possibly why British actors tended to excel at villain roles, theatrical training is more common among UK actors which puts more emphasis on speaking and articulation.

  • @LyeBatenkaitos9974
    @LyeBatenkaitos9974 4 роки тому +6

    I did wonder where all my love came from

  • @End420Prohibition
    @End420Prohibition 4 роки тому +28

    Well let’s be honest here, most of the heroes almost all end up with the same motives/objectives, where with the villains, it a lot more complex figuring those things out . The hero wants to save the day, beat the bad guy, do the right thing. Where the bad guy might want revenge, a profit, just to cause chaos in general. This causes a lot more diversity and interesting psychology for the villains. And most successful authors start around developing the villains before the hero. Then how villainous they are is going to define how heroic of deeds the protagonist will need to overcome

    • @Croz89
      @Croz89 4 роки тому +4

      Also when the bad guy thinks _they're_ saving the day, beating the bad guy, and doing the right thing.

    • @Future_Pheonix
      @Future_Pheonix 4 роки тому +1

      Yes exactly! By attempting to write I reached the same conclusion, it makes more sense to figure out a story by starting with the villain. First of all, what is the PROBLEM? What is the THREAT? Next comes everything else. (and of course, an antagonist that makes you feel something is far more interesting and compelling).

  • @MelancholyCrypto
    @MelancholyCrypto 4 роки тому +3

    anti-heroes are the most compelling characters.

  • @HorzaPanda
    @HorzaPanda 4 роки тому +4

    I’m just going to out myself as an agent of chaos/cat owner

  • @callmekai97
    @callmekai97 3 роки тому +1

    It's because of Hollywood! They cast the most attractive actors and actresses as villians 😉😉

  • @anoyint
    @anoyint 4 роки тому +2

    My theory: Villains are dominant and get what they want when they want. They aren't disturbed or irritated easily, and when they are, they are able to do whatever they want to stop it. Being around such an individual / emulating that personality in ourselves would be beneficial to our survival, and could also explain why many people are attracted to villains.

  • @Samstar369
    @Samstar369 4 роки тому +2

    Garou makes a good point in the anime, One Punch Man, why he loves the villains and monsters more than humans, why the humans are the real monsters

  • @euniceong595
    @euniceong595 3 роки тому +1

    The villians typically have very bad trauma themselves and are actually struggling internally. Altho it doesn't justify their wrongdoings but when i put myself in their shoes, it feels exhausting and i feel bad for them

  • @sarmientoenricomiguelv.562
    @sarmientoenricomiguelv.562 3 роки тому +2

    let me put it this way
    Villains have more personality and presence than "heroes"

  • @pa5730
    @pa5730 3 роки тому +2

    Most people associate villains with romance but what they fail to realise is the villain already is in love with themselves and won't hesitate to kill you for their benifit. People are just obsessed with looks and power but don't want to face negetive consequences that's why they go for the fictional ones. We are just pathetically disgusting.

    • @ireneconti4353
      @ireneconti4353 Рік тому

      Some people like villains only because they find them interesting.

  • @scivolanto
    @scivolanto 4 роки тому +12

    ... and this explains a lot of successful politicians I'm afraid...

    • @randomuser5443
      @randomuser5443 4 роки тому

      They are literally the group stereotyped as “I’ll fight for you”

  • @wannabehistorian371
    @wannabehistorian371 3 роки тому +3

    Am I the only person who was always drawn to heroes more than villains lol.

  • @tomhannah3825
    @tomhannah3825 4 роки тому +3

    I have noticed that I admire Hannibal Lecter and The Joker, (and others I've forgotten) and I think it's because they are super-smart, they understand and use people much, much better than I ever could.

    • @Justin-wj4yc
      @Justin-wj4yc 4 роки тому

      Or you're just both deranged losers 🤷‍♂️

  • @Mimi-mq2wj
    @Mimi-mq2wj 3 роки тому +3

    it's also interesting that people love villains simply because it allows them to act out desires which are "morally incorrect"

    • @ireneconti4353
      @ireneconti4353 Рік тому

      Sometimes people love villains only because they find them interesting. Like, I love Hannibal Lecter, but I'm not a cannibal lol.

  • @Smokescale
    @Smokescale 4 роки тому +4

    HOLY CRAP I WANT THAT HOODIE, IT'S SO GOOD

  • @sarmientoenricomiguelv.562
    @sarmientoenricomiguelv.562 3 роки тому +1

    My Favoritw Villains
    Heath Ledger's Joker
    Lord Voldermort
    Darth Vader
    Davy Jones
    Killmonger
    Thanos
    Kylo Ren

  • @GMPabs
    @GMPabs 4 роки тому +5

    That's interesting. I wonder if there are also studies about rpg players loving to play the villain on games or to do villainous acts on games which are sometimes designed by game devs are how the story in the game is narrated.
    good example is playing the killer like in the game among us

  • @RiddhimaSingh28485
    @RiddhimaSingh28485 3 роки тому +1

    People just like fictional character since they are most misunderstood or they look hot or something. But then the real villain in this world are scary or inhuman.
    That’s all we don’t like the villain more in real life we just like the fictional character villain.

  • @rtn7229
    @rtn7229 4 роки тому +1

    If you want to be a villain number one, you have to chase the super hero on the run.

  • @JessyRenae
    @JessyRenae 4 роки тому +12

    I never root for the bad guy. Never. I can't believe that some people actually do.

    • @tumblingrosesstudio
      @tumblingrosesstudio 4 роки тому +4

      I guess if you consider comical villains like Loki from the Avengers it's not so bad......

    • @ladubadubadubiba8379
      @ladubadubadubiba8379 3 роки тому +3

      Same. I mean, sometimes I feel bad for the villain if there is a good back story, but I never ever ever could love the bad guy. I think it’s kinda sad how society roots for bad guys

    • @ireneconti4353
      @ireneconti4353 Рік тому +1

      ​​​@@ladubadubadubiba8379 In fact there's a big difference between loving a villain and rooting for them. I really like Loki, but I wasn't rooting for him during "The Avengers".

  • @twstf8905
    @twstf8905 4 роки тому +3

    This is easy. We seemingly, (and often secretly,) root for the antagonist, or "bad guy," in any particular story because they are a physical manifestation of the inhibitions we are all largely prevented, either socially, ethically, or even legally, from acting upon ourselves.
    It's the same reason most of us slow down when driving past a car wreck on the highway, secretly hoping to catch even the slightest glimpse of the carnage in that set of circumstances.
    It's also the same reason Horror movies are so popular, and images of violence and death are tolerated in our society while images of a sexually suggestive nature are considered, "taboo." Despite one being antagonistic to human survival and the other being fundamental.
    We like to act out those inhibitions through watching the events and deeds of others, a concept called, "vicarious."
    It's an extremely powerful concept, as far as people are concerned, the antagonist of a story isn't limited by the same factors as we are. Most of us who try to emulate them are typically not around, participating in society along with everyone else, for very long, anyway.
    We appreciate a well conceived "bad guy" because he/she/they represent the obstacle that the story's protagonist has to overcome. Besides being the physical representation of the dichotomy implied in any dualistic narrative. Like, we wouldn't be aware of the concept of, "heads" if the coin didn't also have, "tails."
    There would be no, "day" without, "night." No, "dark," without, "light." No, "Hate," without, "Love." And no, "pleasure," without, "pain."
    The protagonist is only ever as useful in any given story as their antagonist. So, it becomes something fundamental to storytelling, and often a film, or movie, or book, or any narrative story can so often stand or fall on how well developed its antagonist.
    Eye on the TV,
    'Cause tragedy thrills me.
    Whatever flavor it happens to be, like;
    Killed by the husband,
    Drowned by the ocean,
    Shot by his own son,
    She used a poison
    In his tea,
    And kissed him goodbye.
    That's my kind of story;
    It's no fun until someone dies.
    Don't look at me like,
    I am a monster.
    Frown out your one face,
    But with the other,
    Stare like a junkie,
    Into the TV.
    Stare like a zombie,
    While the mother
    Holds her child,
    Watches him die,
    Hands to the sky crying;
    "Why, oh why?"
    'Cause I need to watch things die,
    From a distance.
    Vicariously I live
    While the whole world dies.
    You all need it too, don't lie.
    Why can't we just admit it?
    Why can't we just admit it?
    We won't give pause until the blood is flowing.
    Neither the brave nor bold
    Were writers of the stories told.
    We won't give pause until the blood is flowing.
    I need to watch things die
    From a good safe distance.
    Vicariously I live while the whole world dies.
    You all feel the same, so
    Why can't we just admit it?
    Blood like rain come down
    Drum on grave and ground
    Part vampire,
    Part warrior,
    Carnivore,
    and voyeur.
    Stare at the,
    transmittal,
    Sing to the,
    Death rattle.
    Credulous at best,
    Your desire to believe in
    Angels in the hearts of men.
    Pull your head out of your hippie haze
    And give a listen.
    Shouldn't have to say it all again.
    The universe is hostile, so impersonal.
    Devour to survive, so it is,
    So it's always been!
    We all feed,
    On tragedy.
    It's like blood to a vampire!
    Vicariously I
    Live while the whole world dies.
    Much better you than I.

    • @ireneconti4353
      @ireneconti4353 Рік тому

      One of my favorite villains is Hannibal. Does that mean that I'm a cannibal? No.

  • @sirnobilant8077
    @sirnobilant8077 2 роки тому +1

    For me I’m drawn to villains more like me because I hope that they can find redemption for some of the bad qualities I have and seek redemption for

  • @jessiszk4676
    @jessiszk4676 4 роки тому +1

    I’ve always felt The Joker was my kindred spirit since i was 3 yrs old. I’m 34 now and nothing has ever changed my mind on that. Hahaha

  • @matthewjay660
    @matthewjay660 4 роки тому +1

    There is absolutely no story without antagonists.

  • @krisshinde1970
    @krisshinde1970 3 роки тому +3

    lets be real villains have better personality .

  • @KnighteMinistriez
    @KnighteMinistriez 4 роки тому +1

    Batman villains always and forever. Two-face, Joker, Harley Quinn, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, etc.

  • @justinwilliam6534
    @justinwilliam6534 Рік тому +1

    I do sometimes think that some people like villains because we just like to play as them in video games for fun such as Bowser and King K.Rool for example. It explains why some villains frustrate me because my own self imagine feels hurt or threatened as an instinctual habit of trying to protect myself and I only certain villains because they somehow give off an aura of respect in a sort of yin yang way because good and evil are obvious opposites that must be kept at balanced at all times.

  • @Ravenclaw_69
    @Ravenclaw_69 2 роки тому +1

    It’s either because they are cool or because the villain is rebellious and we agree with them

  • @matthewlofton8465
    @matthewlofton8465 4 роки тому +1

    There's a time and place for all things, and as a responsible adult who has been exposed to the "terrors" of mischievous young boys I can safely say that underroll toiletpaper-hanging totally beats mischievous young boys unravelling entire rolls of toilet paper. At least, the first few times...

  • @avielp
    @avielp 4 роки тому +1

    Because Hollywood heroes are hyper-moralistic goodigoodies and unrealistic while villains say and do things we're dying to

  • @alarcon99
    @alarcon99 4 роки тому +32

    I wonder if gender makes a difference when it comes to how much a villain is “loved”

    • @RaeWakefield
      @RaeWakefield 4 роки тому +1

      I think definitely in the general public, although that might become less now as people look into the psychology a bit more. That’s just my opinion, it doesn’t have to be yours! ♥️

    • @photonicpizza1466
      @photonicpizza1466 4 роки тому +2

      @@RaeWakefield The problem with your last sentence is that this is empirically verifiable data, not a question of opinion. More research is needed, but that doesn't make it subjective.

    • @ArawnOfAnnwn
      @ArawnOfAnnwn 4 роки тому +2

      Probably, but likely only in regards to certain specific villainous traits. Like if the villain was a sexual predator, etc.

    • @rocket_1288
      @rocket_1288 4 роки тому +4

      i had always wondered this with double standards especially in regards to how even murderers are more accepted than people who do sexual crimes

    • @AuntBibby
      @AuntBibby 4 роки тому +1

      Photonic Pizza right, cuz studies on psychology & social behavior are _soooo_ replicable, and their results are _soooooo_ definitive LOL 🙄

  • @TomasioTV
    @TomasioTV 2 роки тому

    My favourite villain is a guy named Troy from Suikoden IV. He's very relatable because all that makes him "evil" is him being on the opposing side of the war. What's more relatable of him is, when given the chance to be redeemed, he refuses and accepts defeat like a honourable warrior.

  • @NinjaMaxHaven13
    @NinjaMaxHaven13 Місяць тому

    In the case of a villain, we are following along in a story, getting to know them. It's like we learn about why they are the way they are. Some of them may or may not have similarities in their backstories as us, allowing us to connect with them to a certain degree. We may even have similar quirks habits as they do. Setting aside good and evil, you and that villain may have the same personality traits. The only difference (hopefully) is that they are a villain and you aren't.

  • @gab.lab.martins
    @gab.lab.martins 4 роки тому +8

    You know who else are villainous characters? Politicians. Reflect on that for a while.

  • @kurtreznor
    @kurtreznor 4 роки тому +2

    "people in the under-toilet-paper-camp are agents of chaos."
    Hey now! No need to go insulting chaos like that.

  • @kerryann9851
    @kerryann9851 4 роки тому

    The sources listed are a huge help to my thesis paper... which is on the topic of why we tend to root for the villain even with knowing they’re not good people.

  • @aurorakingslight9328
    @aurorakingslight9328 3 роки тому +2

    PLEASE TALK ABOUT AUTISM IN FEMALES

  • @frikativos
    @frikativos 4 роки тому

    In the cartoons "Norman Normal" that I used to watch as a child, the villains always tried to do fix the world by trying to remove uneducational channels on TV, or by transforming cities into forests, and so on. I always wanted them to win, but they never did.

  • @Rob-xf4tv
    @Rob-xf4tv 4 роки тому +4

    Basically the whole reason why Loki have a mini series coming 💚

    • @sdfkjgh
      @sdfkjgh 4 роки тому +2

      @Harisah Shahirah: Also, c'mon, it's Tom Hiddleston.

  • @UsefulLeaf
    @UsefulLeaf 4 роки тому +1

    When I laugh I sounds like a villain

  • @neonmaple5259
    @neonmaple5259 2 роки тому +1

    Honestly in this unusual day and age, I tend to sympathize with villains more than heroes from comics and movies lately. I think this is less due to understanding the motives of most villains, but realizing that a lot of heroes turn out to be incredibly flawed on their beliefs and values. A good example would be protagonists like Amber from Invincible series, and even Daredevil himself.
    Realistically however, I find a lot of things that people consider "heroic", just turn out to be circle jerk villainy. While ironically, things that are actually heroic get masses of hate.

  • @annabellealpar5285
    @annabellealpar5285 4 роки тому +1

    I think this makes sense. I am always drawn to villains who have a hard time understanding other people. I think my biggest problem is that while I am compassionate (as in I care about other people feeling sad, and trying to do things to alleviate their suffering), I can have a hard time understanding other people’s motivations. For example, while I don’t judge people for following certain religions, I have a really hard time understanding why people are religious. I don’t judge them for being religious, I just don’t get it. You know what I mean?

  • @XxThunderflamexX
    @XxThunderflamexX 4 роки тому

    Frankly I think this says less about empathy and more about stories. We *write* stories with villains to let us explore the darkness within us through the villain.

  • @moquirtle5259
    @moquirtle5259 4 роки тому

    As an agent of chaos, I can firmly say that I don't put the toilet paper the wrong way.

  • @generaldurandal3568
    @generaldurandal3568 4 роки тому +1

    1:10 Or they own cats and don't want the cat to unravel the whole thing.
    I've caught my cats playing with the toilet paper before, annoying, but funny.

  • @shanejensen3497
    @shanejensen3497 3 роки тому

    I always love a good villain, not necessarily because I identify with them, but because I believe most people are inherently good and it takes a lot to make someone do evil things and believe that what they are doing is right. Dr. Horrible is a good example. Having a good villain also makes the triumph of the hero much more epic.

  • @escheewloo
    @escheewloo 4 роки тому

    I feel like they've been saving this thumbnail for a long time waiting for the right video to use it for

  • @cholten99
    @cholten99 4 роки тому

    What I most want to know is where you got that awesome Voyager plaque / Google Maps mashup hoodie!

  • @AianaRaven
    @AianaRaven 4 роки тому

    I really like this host, btw. He's very pleasant to listen to and highly charismatic.

  • @nickthesoldier7260
    @nickthesoldier7260 2 роки тому +1

    I love villains because they make far more sense than the good guys, and in moslty movies they were right

  • @EnderError22-s2g
    @EnderError22-s2g 7 днів тому

    yeah... my favourite charakter is villain because we both know what life can be likw and got similar experience, along with those shared traits, I got obsessed with them. Mainly bc. I don’t feel like goodie and I love the straight contrast to "all good guys" who I find weaker and more childish, I rarely like heroes.

  • @kingfrozt2305
    @kingfrozt2305 4 роки тому

    Vagita rules and Tetsuya Namura new that which is why he made him an Allie in DBZ

  • @witchykei4109
    @witchykei4109 4 роки тому +1

    I wonder. Is it that people are drawn to characters with similar personality traits to them or do we like to think of ourselves as more similar to characters we like?

  • @donotgotthis
    @donotgotthis 4 роки тому +9

    Huh, I thought I was just a sucker for the queercoding. Cool video!

  • @Pandaemoni
    @Pandaemoni 4 роки тому

    I love his pulsar map hoodie.

  • @IceMetalPunk
    @IceMetalPunk 4 роки тому +6

    In other words: people don't want to admit they're in any way like someone who hurts other people, but fictional people aren't real so they can't be hurt so it's okay to admit you're like fictional villains.

    • @ireneconti4353
      @ireneconti4353 Рік тому

      Most people love fictional villains not because of the bad things they do but because of their abilities, certain personality traits, and even physical appearance. Moreover, I believe that using CharacTour as proof does not make sense because it associates a certain trait of your personality to a certain character and the compatibility results for the most part include characters from movies or TV series that maybe you have never watched. I say this because I took that quiz and most of the results included fictional characters that I don't know.

  • @irandomlydontgiveaflyingfek
    @irandomlydontgiveaflyingfek 4 роки тому

    *side eyes toilet paper snickers* you are not wrong...bring on the chaos!!

  • @Patmccalk
    @Patmccalk 4 роки тому

    1:11 I swear, that picture gave me anxiety

  • @matthewharris-levesque5809
    @matthewharris-levesque5809 4 роки тому

    I'd like to see what kind of episode SciPsych would produce if they read the author's note in Ayn Rand's book "Virtue of Selfishness"

  • @z0mbabe
    @z0mbabe 4 роки тому

    A question about complicit egotism and needing to see yourself as a good person: how does it affec the portion of the population that has low self worth and/or a mental illness, those who dislike or even hate themselves? Is it just the switch of love and hate creating an anathema with your own psyche?

  • @PillowKing
    @PillowKing 3 роки тому

    List villains you connect with

  • @tatuvarvemaa5314
    @tatuvarvemaa5314 4 роки тому +1

    5:00
    So thats how Ted Bundy got on a talk show.
    What a wierd world.

  • @anevenbluerjay
    @anevenbluerjay 4 роки тому

    Love the pulsar map sweatshirt

  • @LukaszSebastian
    @LukaszSebastian 4 роки тому +1

    If you have a cat you quickly learn that hanging toilet paper facing the wall is the only option... Otherwise you keep rolling up the whole fully unrolled paper roll, hopefully before cat decides to shred it or drag it across your house.

    • @Ikajo
      @Ikajo 4 роки тому

      Interestingly none of my cats does this 🤔

    • @LukaszSebastian
      @LukaszSebastian 4 роки тому

      @@Ikajo I have two cats now, before them I had one more. So in my experience two out of three cats do this. And every cat is interested what's inside a toilet if you leave a lid open. I have let's call it an "open" toilet paper hanger, so this makes it easy for cats to access, maybe you have one with some kind of lid or something.

    • @Ikajo
      @Ikajo 4 роки тому

      @@LukaszSebastian No, there is nothing stopping them from going at it. Granted, one of them is a former shelter cat and tend to stay in his lair most of the time but even the kitten leaves it alone. I close both lids so that has never been an issue.

  • @matteste
    @matteste 4 роки тому

    Always love me a good villain. A guy known as Masada is great at these with those like Reinhard stealing peoples hearts.

  • @AlabasterJazz
    @AlabasterJazz 4 роки тому +9

    Personally, I always try to emulate the thoughts and behaviors of heroes in fiction. Sure I can sometimes empathize with the villain if their motives have merit, or if circumstances led to their villainy, or if they're on a redemption arc. But for the most part I'd rather take on the traits of the hero over the villain any day of the week

    • @robertlombardo8437
      @robertlombardo8437 Рік тому

      Honestly, you and I believe just about the very same thing. Villains don't always get to choose their stripes. But when they choose to change them, it's very inspiring.

  • @ancientswordrage
    @ancientswordrage 4 роки тому

    Agent of chaos checking in