Are Superhero Role Models Good For Children?

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“Avengers assemble” has become one of the most popular rallying cries in the last couple decades. Hundreds of fans flock to theaters and streaming services to watch as heroes fight, struggle, and eventually win their various battles. Fans of all ages and backgrounds have been enamored with superheroes for over half a century, with big names such as Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, the X-Men, and Fantastic Four capturing the hearts and imaginations of many. But with the rise of superhero prominence in popular media in the last two decades, many are asking the question: are superhero role models good for children? I believe relatable superheroes can become positive role models that boost children’s creativity and social awareness.

A major reason why superheroes are effective is because they are relatable. Elizabeth Robinson argues that “media characters hold more power the more children relate to and interact with them” (15). Similarly, M. J. Lerner explains “that people are intrinsically motivated to believe in a just world where everyone is treated with dignity, equality and fairness” (qtd in Martin 241). Captain America is a great example of a relatable superhero who stands up for what’s right. Before he was enhanced, Steve Rogers was a weak and challenged young man being bullied. After he was enhanced, he used his strength to lead and protect others. Robin, Batman’s protege, is a relatable superhero because he is a young teenager who is still learning and being taught by his mentor how to do good. My personal favorite superhero is Spider-Man. When the web-slinger isn’t fighting crime, he’s just another teenager making his way through school. Even though these heroes have their larger-than-life villains, they still struggle with similar issues that real kids do. Superheroes are effective role models for children because they are people standing up for the type of ideal world that kids want to live in. 

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Superheroes are so inspirational to people because they embody morals that many people cling to. Children, especially, look up to superheroes because they allow kids to emulate bravery, perseverance, and selflessness. Megan Margulies calls this effect “magical thinking”, looking for symbols to find strength in. Children learn many morals from their favorite superheroes. For example, Captain America teaches children the value of selflessness and integrity, even when it makes him unpopular. Sagari Gongala references Superman as a role model for humility, explaining how he strives to serve humans even though he could lord over them. Professor X teaches kids to not judge others at face value, because even though he is crippled, he is the leader of the X-Men and has the most powerful mind of them all. Iron Man teaches kids that no matter who you were, you can grow to be a hero. There are also the many teams of superheroes such as the Avengers, Justice League, X-Men, and Fantastic Four that teach kids the importance of teamwork. Superheroes are designed to be pillars of morality for readers to follow in their own lives.

Superheroes can also help children grow in school. According to a study by Hamna Atif and her colleagues, “[p]articipants who reported having a hero had significantly more interest in education . . ., participated in safer behaviors . . ., and had higher happiness levels . . . than those without a hero.” Intelligent superheroes like Batman, Iron Man, and Mr. Fantastic can inspire children to embrace STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and careers. Mrunal argues that “[t]he heroic deeds and positive qualities of superheroes can motivate children to consider careers where they can make a difference.” In my own life, superheroes like Captain America and the Falcon have inspired me to consider counseling and therapy for my future career because of their roles as mentors, counselors, and therapy leaders.

Superheroes can also inspire children to be more creative. Throughout the comics and movies, superheroes are put in challenging situations that they must think their way through. Mrunal argues that “[w]atching or reading about these problem-solving processes can help children learn to think critically and come up with solutions to their own problems.” For example, in The Dark Knight, Batman creatively uses cell phone microphones to track the Joker. Also, in Ant-Man, Scott Lang creatively uses his size-manipulation to outwit his opponents and improvise his fighting style. In Doctor Strange, Stephen Strange creatively manipulates time rather than using brute force to manipulate an overwhelming foe to negotiate on his terms. Similarly, Gongala suggests that “[s]uperheroes inspire children to think creatively as they envision themselves in heroic roles, leading to enhanced imaginative play and storytelling abilities.” The vast diversity of superheroes and their powers invite children to create their own unique superhero and develop stories for them. Many of these stories are then posted online, creating a community of creative writers to support each other. As a fanfiction author, myself, I can not count how many fan-made stories I’ve read, many with the author’s own superheroes in the center of the action. While many adults look down on fanfiction, it is often one of the first ways that children practice their storytelling skills. Even many award-winning authors enjoy fanfiction about their favorite characters. Rachel Kurzius claims that “Percival Everett’s novel ‘James,’ which won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for fiction, is basically ‘Huckleberry Finn’ fan fiction.” Today’s young superhero fan could become tomorrow’s Pulitzer Prize winning author if adults support their creativity. 

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Superhero media can also shape children’s cultural and social awareness. Many superheroes are based on or from various cultures such as Wonder Woman from Greece, Thor and Loki from Norse myth, Black Adam and Moon Knight from Egypt, Namor from Latin America, Black Panther from Central Africa, and Shang-Chi from China. Even different versions of Spider-Man are from various cultures. Not only do these characters represent various cultures and connect with kids from those cultures, but they also raise cultural awareness for other kids. Mrunal suggests that “[e]xposure to a diverse range of superheroes can help children appreciate differences and promote an inclusive mindset.” There’s still more to this than just cultural differences, though. Superheroes can build children’s social awareness. Part of why people love superheroes is that they aren’t perfect. Superheroes have their own problems that they struggle with. For example, many superheroes have some sort of loss such as Spider-Man and Robin. Others are narcissists like Iron Man and Batman. Martin highlights the importance of the X-Men because “they are minorities and outcasts in a society where the majority of humans hate them because they are different” (242). Many superheroes have some sort of trauma that they are dealing with. As viewers follow these heroes, they can learn how to manage their own traumas and support others with theirs. 

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There are several opposing views, however. One of the most common is that superheroes may cause violent behavior. While there have been studies that seem to show that children become more violent after watching superhero movies, Dr. Janina Scarlet argues that “for a lot of these studies, children watch a specific clip, as opposed to watching the entire film,” removing the context as to why they are fighting (qtd in Margulies). Also, many superheroes do their best to avoid violence whenever necessary. Great examples include Superman, Batman, and Quicksilver fighting to disable and disarm rather than kill and Captain America and Falcon trying to talk down opponents before using force. The perfect example is Spider-Man, whose most well-known moral pillar is “with great power comes great responsibility.”

Another common opposing view is that superheroes may make children delusional or prefer fantasy over reality. Gongala suggests that authority figures such as parents or teachers should talk with their children about what they watch. Express interest in what the children are interested in and discuss the similarities and differences between their media and real life. 

A third opposing view is that many superhero movies might not be age-appropriate. In many cases, that might be completely true. I definitely would not show a child part of Iron Man or any of the Deadpool franchise. This is another instance in which parents should be active in the child’s life. Every movie has an age rating, and if the parent wants to go deeper, there are film review websites that a parent can go to and decide whether they want their child to see the movie.

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No parent should underestimate the influence they have on their children. Their discussions and interest can shape how kids view their world, including their superheroes. In 2015, Sarah Erdman and Meredith Downing discussed the experiments they conducted with their preschool class. Their goal was to reframe the children’s superhero play to be more collaborative and uplifting. Their first week in the experiment focused on helping the children design superhero personas for themselves. This gave the teachers an opportunity to see how much the kids knew about superheroes to begin with. They also focused on reframing the idea of sidekicks. They structured games and challenges that forced the kids to think collaboratively rather than a single child taking the lead. In the second week of the experiment, the teachers talked about real-life superheroes: the leaders of their school, volunteers at museums, and first responders. They allowed their students to meet several of these heroes, and later in the week, they organized ways for the kids to be heroes, too, such as a food drive and making thank you cards for their heroes.

In the third week, Erdman and Downing taught the kids about superpowers in the animal kingdom. They focused on butterflies and their camouflage, cheetahs and their super speed, fish’s gills, birds’ flight, and others. For each power, the teachers made the lessons interactive like letting the kids run as fast as they could or play with paper airplanes. Finally, in their fourth week, they cemented their development by letting the kids create their own museum exhibit based on their superheroes and what they’ve learned. The kids took on several roles in the event such as exhibit designers and security. The event let the teachers know how much their kids learned and enjoyed the experiment. They successfully reshaped the kids’ views on superheroes and gave them real-world role models to follow. Any parent can do similar things with their own child and shape their life.

Superheroes are fascinating characters. They have inspired many children, young adults, and even seniors for decades. Their struggles help us relate to them. Their losses make us cry for them. Their victories make us cheer for them. Superheroes remind us that our differences make us unique, that strong morals can guide our lives, and that anyone can change the world. Why should we hold that back from our children, who will become the future leaders after us? With some guidance from their parents and mentors, superheroes can become an important tool in shaping the children of tomorrow.

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Further Learning

If you want to learn more about the psychology of superheroes, Cinema Therapy on YouTube is a channel that specializes in that. They are led by a licensed therapist and a professional filmmaker who discuss real mental effects through movies. Topics include Iron Man and Batman with narcissism, Hulk with anger management, Thor with depression, Spider-Man and Up with grief, How to Train Your Dragon with family therapy, and more. (92) Cinema Therapy - YouTube

Also, if you want to learn more about Sarah Erdman and Elizabeth Downing’s experiment with preschoolers, here is the link to their article. www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/feb2015/science-superheroes 

 

Works Cited

Atif, Hamna et al. “The Impact of Role Models, Mentors, and Heroes on Academic and Social Outcomes in Adolescents.” Cureus vol. 14,7 e27349. 27 Jul. 2022, doi:10.7759/cureus.27349

Erdman, Sarah, and Meredith Downing. “The Science of Superheroes.” NAEYC, Mar. 2015, www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/feb2015/science-superheroes. 

Gongala, Sagari. “16 Positive and Negative Effects of Superheroes on Children.” MomJunction, 20 Feb. 2025, www.momjunction.com/articles/positive-negative-impact-of-superheroes-on-children_00692531/. 

Kurzius, Rachel. “Fan Fiction Is Everywhere, If You Know How to Look - The Washington Post.” The Washington Post, 28 July 2025, www.washingtonpost.com/books/2025/07/28/fan-fiction-traditional-publishing/. 

Margulies, Megan. “Kids Need Superheroes Now More than Ever (Published 2020).” New York Times, 21 Sept. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/09/21/parenting/kids-superheroes.html. 

Martin, Justin F. “Children’s attitudes toward superheroes as a potential indicator of their moral understanding.” Journal of Moral Education, vol. 36, no. 2, June 2007, pp. 239–250, https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240701325381. 

Mrunal. “Positive & Negative Effects of Superheroes on Children.” FirstCry Parenting, 30 July 2024, parenting.firstcry.com/articles/effects-of-superheroes-on-children/. 

Robinson, Elizabeth. “The Influence of Superhero Characters on Moral Judgment in School-Age Children.” ProQuest Dissertations and Thesis, 22 Mar. 2024, www.proquest.com/docview/1530478260?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromunauthdoc=true&sourcetype=Dissertations%20&%20Theses.