Background
Odin, ruler of the Asgardian gods, led his subjects into war against the frost giants. Laufey, the king of the frost giants and Loki's father, was slain in battle and the giants were defeated. After the war was over, the Asgardians discovered a small baby in the giants' main fortress. The baby turned out to be Loki, who had been kept hidden because his father was ashamed of his diminutive size. Odin remembered his father Bor's dying words, which were that he were to adopt the son of a father killed by his hands. And henceforth, Odin adopted Loki and raised his along with his biological son, Thor. As a child, Loki greatly resented the fact that Thor was loved more than he was. He began to study sorcery and developed a habit of causing mischief, while still secretly resenting Thor and the love Odin gave him. As he entered his teenaged-years, him and Thor would occasionally go on adventures together, though the competitive Loki would always look for the chance to take advantage of his brother. Due to the lack of love and attention in his childhood, Loki took a turn for the worse and became a villain.
Odin, ruler of the Asgardian gods, led his subjects into war against the frost giants. Laufey, the king of the frost giants and Loki's father, was slain in battle and the giants were defeated. After the war was over, the Asgardians discovered a small baby in the giants' main fortress. The baby turned out to be Loki, who had been kept hidden because his father was ashamed of his diminutive size. Odin remembered his father Bor's dying words, which were that he were to adopt the son of a father killed by his hands. And henceforth, Odin adopted Loki and raised his along with his biological son, Thor. As a child, Loki greatly resented the fact that Thor was loved more than he was. He began to study sorcery and developed a habit of causing mischief, while still secretly resenting Thor and the love Odin gave him. As he entered his teenaged-years, him and Thor would occasionally go on adventures together, though the competitive Loki would always look for the chance to take advantage of his brother. Due to the lack of love and attention in his childhood, Loki took a turn for the worse and became a villain.
Psychology Schools of Thought
Psychoanalytical Theory: Loki is the type of person who tends to follow his Id more than his Ego or Superego. Like most villains, Loki makes decisions that will allow him to have personal satisfaction, regardless of it is the right thing to do. For example, Loki craves power. This was caused by him being overlooked and underestimated by others, so in order to prove his worth Loki will go to many extremes to gain power, even if it's not morally right.
An interesting fact that I discovered when looking at Loki, Thor and Odin as a family, is that they each represent one of the three parts of the unconscious mind. Loki is clearly the Id, as stated above. Thor is the Ego, for he tries to keep balance and order with Mjolnir, his hammer. And Odin is the superego, for he is the father figure to both Loki and Thor, setting good examples and telling them how they should act and do what is right.
Behaviourism: There are many factors when it comes to Loki's actions. Here are just a few examples:
Problem A: Loki craves attention.
Cause: lack of attention in his childhood
Solution: commits reckless and risky acts to gain it
Problem B: Loki tries to prove his worth/lies and tricks
Cause: being overlooked in his childhood, never taken seriously due to his lack of importance to others
Solution: gain power and respect to prove his worthiness, getting his way through trickery and lies
Problem C: Loki enjoys inflicting pain
Cause: feelings of betrayal from his false family, receiving little to no sympathy
Solution: creates an emotional wall to protect himself, inflicts pain upon others to show his strength and power
Problem D: Loki emotionally and mentally isolates himself from others
Cause: the realization that his family isn't real and that Odin killed his father, the realization that he is adopted, receiving little to no emotional stimulation as a child
Solution: separates himself from others both emotionally and psychically
Learning Theory: Loki was not entirely taught a proper way to behave and grow up. In his childhood, he received little attention; most of it was focused on Thor. As a boy, Loki began to study the art of sorcery. He became infamous for causing mischief and during the production of Mjolnir, Thor's enchanted hammer, Loki interfered with its creation. And as a young man, Loki met Eldred the sorcerer who increased his training in the dark arts. From this being his primary source of education, Loki grew up under a mischievous influence.
Cognitive Dissonance
When someone is forced to do something publicly, which they privately don't want to do, dissonance is created between their cognition and their behaviour. Loki has a lot of emotional issues going on in his life. His main issue is his struggle for power and attention. Because he received very little in his childhood, Loki acts out in order to be recognized, even though he knows that it is wrong. It's in his nature to do wrong things but he can't help himself. The cognitive part of himself knows that it is wrong, but he does it anyways because he is so desperate to receive recognition.
Psychology Theorists
1. Sigmund Freud - Freud believed that early childhood experiences, usually involving relationships with parents and family, are stored in the unconscious mind and that these experiences can have a powerful influence on the way a person functions. Loki never really knew his parents, but instead grew up in the hands of an adoptive family. In his childhood, he never received as much love and attention from Odin and others like Thor did. The lack of attention and being overlooked as a child caused Loki to crave attention, emotionally and mentally isolate himself from others and enjoy dramatics & inflicting pain upon others due to his emotional needs not being met.
2. Alfred Alder - Alder believed that difficulties people encounter with gaining self-esteem and recognition, if not overcome can lead to compensatory behaviour and even personality disorders. Since Loki didn't have much attention and love as a child, his self-esteem level is quite low. Often he feels that he needs to gain power to prove his worthiness to others, which show that he does not have full confidence in himself. Some possible disorders that Loki could have include sociopathy, borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.
Bibliography
Marvel Contributors. (2012) Loki
Retrieved from: http://marvel.com/universe/Loki Psychoanalytical Theory: Loki is the type of person who tends to follow his Id more than his Ego or Superego. Like most villains, Loki makes decisions that will allow him to have personal satisfaction, regardless of it is the right thing to do. For example, Loki craves power. This was caused by him being overlooked and underestimated by others, so in order to prove his worth Loki will go to many extremes to gain power, even if it's not morally right.
An interesting fact that I discovered when looking at Loki, Thor and Odin as a family, is that they each represent one of the three parts of the unconscious mind. Loki is clearly the Id, as stated above. Thor is the Ego, for he tries to keep balance and order with Mjolnir, his hammer. And Odin is the superego, for he is the father figure to both Loki and Thor, setting good examples and telling them how they should act and do what is right.
Behaviourism: There are many factors when it comes to Loki's actions. Here are just a few examples:
Problem A: Loki craves attention.
Cause: lack of attention in his childhood
Solution: commits reckless and risky acts to gain it
Problem B: Loki tries to prove his worth/lies and tricks
Cause: being overlooked in his childhood, never taken seriously due to his lack of importance to others
Solution: gain power and respect to prove his worthiness, getting his way through trickery and lies
Problem C: Loki enjoys inflicting pain
Cause: feelings of betrayal from his false family, receiving little to no sympathy
Solution: creates an emotional wall to protect himself, inflicts pain upon others to show his strength and power
Problem D: Loki emotionally and mentally isolates himself from others
Cause: the realization that his family isn't real and that Odin killed his father, the realization that he is adopted, receiving little to no emotional stimulation as a child
Learning Theory: Loki was not entirely taught a proper way to behave and grow up. In his childhood, he received little attention; most of it was focused on Thor. As a boy, Loki began to study the art of sorcery. He became infamous for causing mischief and during the production of Mjolnir, Thor's enchanted hammer, Loki interfered with its creation. And as a young man, Loki met Eldred the sorcerer who increased his training in the dark arts. From this being his primary source of education, Loki grew up under a mischievous influence.
Cognitive Dissonance
When someone is forced to do something publicly, which they privately don't want to do, dissonance is created between their cognition and their behaviour. Loki has a lot of emotional issues going on in his life. His main issue is his struggle for power and attention. Because he received very little in his childhood, Loki acts out in order to be recognized, even though he knows that it is wrong. It's in his nature to do wrong things but he can't help himself. The cognitive part of himself knows that it is wrong, but he does it anyways because he is so desperate to receive recognition.
Psychology Theorists
1. Sigmund Freud - Freud believed that early childhood experiences, usually involving relationships with parents and family, are stored in the unconscious mind and that these experiences can have a powerful influence on the way a person functions. Loki never really knew his parents, but instead grew up in the hands of an adoptive family. In his childhood, he never received as much love and attention from Odin and others like Thor did. The lack of attention and being overlooked as a child caused Loki to crave attention, emotionally and mentally isolate himself from others and enjoy dramatics & inflicting pain upon others due to his emotional needs not being met.
2. Alfred Alder - Alder believed that difficulties people encounter with gaining self-esteem and recognition, if not overcome can lead to compensatory behaviour and even personality disorders. Since Loki didn't have much attention and love as a child, his self-esteem level is quite low. Often he feels that he needs to gain power to prove his worthiness to others, which show that he does not have full confidence in himself. Some possible disorders that Loki could have include sociopathy, borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.
Bibliography
Marvel Contributors. (2012) Loki
AmericanAngel117. (June 7th, 2012) Character Analysis Of Loki Laufeyson
Retrieved from: http://americanangel117.deviantart.com/art/CHARACTER-ANALYSIS-OF-LOKI-LAUFEYSON-306777250
Intellectual Economy. (March 4th, 2008) Freud's Theory of Norse Mythology
Retrieved from: http://intellectualeconomy.wordpress.com/2010/10/17/freuds-theory-of-norse-mythology/
