2C Are superheroes good role models? PRE-READING Skimming Skim the passage.Check()the superheroes who are named as good role models ☐Superman☐Iron Man☐Spider-Man☐Daredevi 2.8 uperheroes are everywhere:in comic books,movies,video games,and in posters on buses and trains.But what effect,if any,do superheroes have on our behavior? A research team at Stanford University decided to explore this question by setting up a virtual reality experiment.In the study.people were given a mission-to find and rescue a sick child.One group of participants was made to feel as though they coul fiy like Superman,while another group attempted the same task in a virtual helicopter.After the mission,each participant was interviewed. During the interviews,the researcher pretended and fiction and,as such,the trait of superhuman to accidentally knock over a cup filled with pens. strength is completely believable to them,"she says ts People who had iust flown like Superman were not It"allows them to access some sense of power. only quicker to help.but picked up an average of Bailey adds,"The risk to superhero play is that 15percent more pens.Every"su perhero"picked sometimes children's behavior can become out up at least a few pens,whereas some of the of control and escalate into chaotic play as a child helicopter participants failed to offer any help at becomes submerged'in these roles."She advises all.This suggests that heroic behavior in a virtual parents to limit exposure to more aggressive environment might transfe to helpful behavior in shows and to have children focus on"other positive the real world. characteristics of their favorite hero,such as their Superheroes may have a particularly important clever thinking and care of others."Concem over influence on children.Children have very limited the potential effect of aggressive behavior has led 2s control over many areas of their lives.Therefore to some schools banning superhero play from the pretending to be a superhero allows a child to act classroom altogether out and process any anxiety that they have.and thereby resolve or reduce underlying f ers,claims Other psychologists share this concern.Some ooint to the evolution of the superhero over time. Dr.Amy Bailey,a clinical psychologist at kidsFIRST and are critical of modem renditions 2"There is Medical Center,Dubai."Children age three to four a big difference in the movie superhero of today years find it difficult to differentiate between reality and the comic book superhero of yesterday,"says 30
30 2C PRE-READING Skimming Skim the passage. Check ✓) the superheroes who are named as good role models. D Superman D Iron Man D Spider-Man D Daredevil 1 5 uperheroes are everywhere: in co111ic books, movies, video games) and in posters on buses and trains. But what effect1 if any, do superheroes have on our behavior? A research team at Stanford University decided to explore this question by setting up a virtual reality experiment. In the study, people were given a mission-to find and rescue a sick child. One group of participants was made to feel as though 10 they could fly like Superman, while another group attempted the same task in a virtual helicopter. After the mission, each participant was interviewed. During the interviews, the researcher pretended to accidentally knock over a cup filled with pens. 15 People who had just flown like Superman were not only quicker to help, but picked up an average of 15 percent more pens. Every "superhero" picked up at least a few pens, whereas some of the helicopter participants failed to offer any help at 20 all. This suggests that heroic behavior in a virtual environment might transfer to helpful behavior in the real world. Superheroes may have a particularly important influence on children. Children have very limited 2s control over many areas of their lives. Therefore, pretending to be a superhero allows a child to act out and process any anxiety that they have, and thereby resolve or reduce underlying fears) claims Dr. Amy Bailey, a clinical psychologist at kidsFIRST 30 Medical Center, Dubai. "Children age three to four years find it difficult to differentiate between reality and fiction and, as such, the trait of superhuman strength is completely believable to them," she says. It "allows them to access some sense of power." 35 Bailey adds, "The risk to superhero play is that sometimes children's behavior can become out of control and escalate into chaotic play as a child becomes submerged1 in these roles." She advises parents to limit exposure to more aggressive 40 shows and to have children focus on "other positive characteristics of their favorite hero, such as their clever thinking and care of others." Concern over the potential effect of aggressive behavior has led to some schools banning -superhero play from the 45 classroom altogether. Other psychologists share this concern. Some point to the evolution of the superhero over time, and are critical of rnodern renditions. 2 "There is a big difference in the movie superhero of today 50 and the comic book superhero of yesterday," says
Batman impersonator son visit osvchologist sharon Lamb of the University of o as Daredevil who is blind.and Charles Xavier (Professor X),who is paralyzed,promote diversity is "aggressive,sarcastic,and rarely speaks to the and present positive images of disability. virtue of doing good for humanity." It is becoming clear that superheroes offer us Lamb compares the selfish,playboy millionaire morethanjusterienanmenmtfyoudesgngames Tony Stark (ron Man)to a superhero of the past that are violent.people's aggressive behavior such as Superman.Superman,she points out. increases,claims Jeremy Bailenson.who led the had a real iob as a newsoaper reporter and was Stanford University study.But he also believes that vide games and other forms of superher o characters such as Stark "exploit women entertainment could be designed to train people to flaunt bling,and convey their manhood with o be more empathetic and helpful in the real world- high-powered guns." jefGrenberg.asocalpsychologyproessor at the University of Arizona.is less critical of moderr superheroes.According to him,superheroes give submerge:ad children confidence and can deliver a positive mor message.Many superheroes-such as Spider tauntbing女osowoepeseeey.cbing. Man or Supemman-use their powers to protect a.having the abity to understand somecne the weak.And more modern superheroes such elsa'sfeinas
Batman impersonator Leonard Robinson visits a sick child at a hospital in West Virginia, U.S.A. • psychologist Sharon Lamb of the University of rv1assachusetts. "Today's superhero," Lamb says, is "aggressive, sarcastic, and rarely speaks to the virtue of doing good for humanity." 55 Lamb compares the selfish, playboy millionaire Tony Stark (Iron Man) to a superhero of the past, such as Supen11an. Superman, she points out, had a real job as a newspaper reporter and was dedicated to fighting injustice. More recent 60 characters such as Stark "exploit women, flaunt bling,3 and convey their manhood with high-powered guns." Jeff Greenberg, a social psychology professor at the University of Arizona, is less critical of modern 65 superheroes. According to him, superheroes give children confidence and can deliver a positive moral message. Many superheroes-such as SpiderMan or Superman- use their powers to protect the weak. And more modern superheroes such 10 as Daredevil, who is blind, and Charles Xavier (Professor X), who is paralyzed, 4 promote diversity and present positive images of disability. It is becoming clear that superheroes offer us more than just entertainment. "If you design games 75 that are violent, people's aggressive behavior increases/' claims Jeremy Bailenson, who led the Stanford University study. But he also believes that video games and other forms of superhero entertainment could be designed to train people to ao be more empathetic5 and helpful in the real worldperhaps giving us all the power to be a little more like Superman. 1 submerged: adj. deeply involved 2 renditions: n. versions or interpretations iflaunt bling: v. to show off expensive jewelry, clothing, etc. .: paralyzed: adj. unable to move all or part of tl,e body "empathetic: adj. having the ability to understand someone else's feelings 31
UNDERSTANDING MAIN IDEAS Choose the main idea of the passage. a Parents should limit children's exposure to violent superhero movies. b Superheroes can have a powerful impact on children's behavior. c The concept of the superhero has evolved over time. UNDERSTANDING DETAILS A Complete the chart showing pros and cons of superheroes. Pros Cons The heroic behavior of superheroes can encourage Imitating superheroes can sometimes lead to children to be more' in real violent or 2_ behavior in life. children. Superheroes give children 5 Some superhero characters exploit and send a positive message about protecting and convey a narrow version of4 B Match the superheroes to the characterizations mentioned in the passage. 1 Superman oo He is self-centered and is not a good role model for children. 2 lron Man o He empowers children and stands for justice,fairness,and decency. 3 Professor X o o He shows children that it's OK to be different. BUILDING VOCABULARY A Match the words in blue from the passage to their definitions. 1 virtual o having contact with something and being affected by it 2 transfer 0 o existing only on computers or on the Internet 3 underlying o concealed but detectable 4 exposure to o committed to a task or purpose 5 dedicated to o to carry over from one situation to another B CRITICAL THINKING Reflecting Discuss these questions with a partner. 1 Do you agree with the characterizations of the superheroes mentioned in the passage?Why or why not? In my opinion,Iron Man is a...because... I disagree.I think that... 2 Can you think of any other examples of superheroes who make good or bad role models? 32
32 UNDERSTANDING MAIN IDEAS Choose the main idea of the passage. a Parents should limit children's exposure to violent superhero movies. b Superheroes can have a powerful impact on children's behavior. c The concept of the superl1ero has evolved over time. UNDERSTANDING DETAILS A Complete the chart showing pros and cons of superheroes. The l1eroic behavior of superheroes can encourage Imitating superheroes can sometimes lead to children to be more 1 ________ in real violent or 2 ________ behavior in life. children. Superheroes give children 5 _______ _ Some superhero characters exploit and send a positive message about protecting 3 ________ and convey a narrow 6 version of 4 _______ _ B Match the superheroes to the characterizations mentioned in the passage. 1 Superman o o He is self-centered and is not a good role model for children. 2 Iron Man 0 o He empowers children and stands for justice, fairness, and decency. 3 Professor X o o He shows children that it's OK to be different. BUILDING VOCABULARY A Match the words in blue from the passage to their definitions. 1 virtual 0 o having contact with something and being affected by it 2 transfer 0 o existing only on computers or on the Internet 3 underlying 0 o concealed but detectable 4 exposLIre to 0 o committed to a task or purpose 5 dedicated to 0 o to carry over from one situation to another . B CRITICAL THINKING Reflecting Discuss these questions with a partner. 1 Do you agree with the characterizations of the superheroes rnentioned in the passage? Why or why not? In my opinion, Iron Man is a ... because ... I disagree. I think that ... 2 Car1 you think of any other examples of superheroes who make good or bad role rnodels?