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Why You Should Act Like a Bounty Hunter from The Future
The practice of self-expansion through fictional characters.
Everyone needs role models. They show us how to achieve our goals, overcome obstacles, and how to exist in the world. Most people model themselves after pop stars and athletes, or morning talk show hosts. But some of us need an excuse to wear black all the time.
Psychologists refer to aspects of role-modeling as the Michelangelo effect, when two people sculpt each other toward their ideal selves. The same can happen when we form attractions to fictional characters, or archetypes. These fictional characters serve as self-guides.
They help us expand ourselves.
We craft ourselves after these characters, forming parasocial relationships (one-sided). We want what a slice of what makes them so awesome. Most of us can get down with this idea, even if we don’t like the typical nonsense that surrounds stereotypes of well-adjusted people.
We can’t be the hero, but we can be the anti-hero. We don’t have to attend a yoga retreat, or share our deepest feelings with spirituality coaches around a campfire, while folding paper cranes.
Bounty hunters from the future serve as the perfect role models for the slightly misanthropic among us…
