I'm as Human as Anyone

[DISCLAIMER]

*Superman (2025) spoilers contained herein

Photo credit, property of Warner Bros. Pictures, fair use

For most of my life, I’ve enjoyed portrayals of superheroes (fictional heroes having extraordinary or superhuman powers), as being superhuman (being above the human) was a theme of my imagination as a child. Of this, I said in a blogpost entitled Boggles the Mind:

I can’t recall exactly when in my youth I began to appreciate graphic novels and comic books. What I do remember from childhood was watching Christopher Reeve play the role of Superman (1978) and enjoying his embodiment of the superhero.

Superman [born Kal-El] represented popularized values of the time, such as “truth, justice and the American way.” I didn’t know much about nationalism or jingoism at the time, though I appreciated the idea of serving a cause greater than that relating to my own interests.

Each year in my early youth, reruns of Superman films played on television. One of my earliest memories from the first house in which I lived was running outside after watching a Superman movie, with a sheet tucked into the back of my shirt, and pretending to fight the wind.

Throughout the years since, I’ve paid little attention to how Superman has been represented. This is because the version portrayed by Reeve has been altered to a degree by which I’m largely disinterested in seeing a once beloved character become less…super.

Still, I watched Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). Though I was moderately entertained, I didn’t care for how Superman was represented in the film. Recently, I decided to watch Superman (2025), hoping the character I used to cherish would once again become super.

Yet, I was somewhat disappointed by my beliefs about what I observed. Unlike a number of fans online who’ve accused the film of focusing too heavily on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, or immigration, I’ve come to tolerate how the film industry subverts expectations.

Especially where superhero films are concerned, it seems as though the industry deliberately attempts to play a significant role in self-disturbance regarding those who’ve valued media content featuring superhuman representation. Yet, having seen the latest film, I’m unbothered.

After all, I’m a professional practitioner of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Therefore, I can move toward helpful distress, rather than unhelpful disturbance, through use of the ABC model and unconditional acceptance when watching Superman depicted as a “bitch.”

For the record, this is how Supergirl (real name Kara Zor-El), the superheroine appearing in Superman (2025), as Superman’s cousin, refers to him…a “bitch.” With beliefs about this depiction, I’m distressfully disappointed. Other fans appear to be self-disturbed into anger.

Instead of focusing on common talking points associated with displeasure of the audience, I will address one matter from the perspective of rationality (that which is in accordance with both logic and reason). In order to do this, some context is needed.

When Clark Kent (Superman’s alter ego) speaks with his earthly dad (Jonathan Kent), the former expresses self-doubt. The latter replies, “Your choices, Clark, your actions, that’s what makes you who you are.” Bear in mind, the inference is that decisions and behavior determine the self.

This is in stark contrast to being who or what one is by matter of simply existing. Later in the film, as Superman challenges his archenemy (Lex Luthor), the following dialogue unfolds:

Luthor: You piece of shit alien!

Superman: That is where you’ve always been wrong about me, Lex. I’m as human as anyone! I love, I…I get scared, I wake up every morning, and despite knowing what to do, I put one foot in front of the other, and I try to make the best choices I can! I screw up all the time, but that is being human! And that’s my greatest strength. And some day, I hope, for the sake of the world, you understand that it’s yours, too.

The term “who” is defined as what or which person or persons. For instance, if my clients are asked who provides them psychoeducational lessons on REBT, they may identify me. As an example, “Deric Hollings,” a client may reply.

The term “what” is defined as being used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the identity, nature, or value of an object or matter. For instance, if my clients are asked what style of therapy they practice, they may identify REBT. As an example, “REBT,” a client may say.

In the case of Superman (2025), Jonathan Kent tells Clark Kent that choices and actions define who a person is. To better understand whether or not this is a rational claim, let’s evaluate the proposition through use of a syllogism.

Generally, a syllogism is comprised of a major premise, a minor premise, and a resulting conclusion. For the sake of argument and understanding, it’s inferred that both premises which lead to a conclusion are presumed to be true.

Bear in mind that the premises in an argument, proposition, or belief of this form will always lead to the conclusion. This is the case even when the premises aren’t actually true.

Equally, in order to be considered “rational,” the argument, proposition, or belief empirically must remain in accordance with both logic and reason. Otherwise, the proposed syllogism may simply follow logical form while not remaining in accord with reason. As an example:

Form (modus ponens) –

If it is true that p, then it is also true that q; p; therefore, q.

Broken down into its specific premises, this form of syllogism is as follows:

Premise 1: If it is true that p, then it is also true that q.

Premise 2: It is true that p.

Conclusion: Therefore, it is also true that q.

A simpler form of writing this type of syllogism is as follows:

If p, then q; p; therefore, q.

Example –

If I make the decision (choice) to identify as a female named Sheila (action), then who and what I am in regard to sex is a female (what) named Sheila (who). I make the decision (choice) to identify as a female named Sheila (action). Therefore, who and what I am in regard to sex is a female (what) named Sheila (who).

This proposition follows logical form, and I don’t doubt that many people who’ve engaged in semantic arguments over the past couple decades may consider the syllogistic example as reasonable. For context, it’s worth distinguishing between the terms “gender” and “sex.”

“Gender” is defined as a subclass within a grammatical class (such as noun, pronoun, adjective, or verb) of a language that is partly arbitrary but also partly based on distinguishable characteristics (such as shape, social rank, manner of existence, or sex) and that determines agreement with and selection of other words or grammatical forms.

“Sex” is defined as either of the two major forms of individuals that occur in many species and that are distinguished respectively as female or male especially on the basis of their reproductive organs and structures. Whereas gender is arbitrary, sex is deterministic.

Furthermore, gender refers to terms such as boy, man, girl, woman, etc. Yet, sex refers to male or female. Although there are abnormalities (e.g., intersex), these exceptions prove the existence of the rule that sex is binary.

Therefore, it isn’t rational to maintain that if I make the decision to identify as a female named Sheila, then who and what I am in regard to sex is a female named Sheila. I realize that some people may not like what I’m proposing.

Yet, as stated by el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, “I know you don’t like me saying that, but I...I’m not the kind of person who come[s] here to say what you like. I’m going to tell you the truth whether you like it or not.” You don’t have to like a proposition, and it can nonetheless remain true.

Though it’s been normalized relatively recently to conflate gender and sex, treating these terms as synonymous, doing so isn’t in accord with rationality. Likewise, Superman saying that simply because he behaves as a human doesn’t, in fact, a human make. For context, one source states:

The origin of Superman and his superhuman powers have been a central narrative for Superman since his inception, with the story of the destruction of his home planet of Krypton, his arrival on Earth and emergence as a superhero evolving from Jerry Siegel’s original story into a broad narrative archetype over the course of Superman’s literary history and as the character's scope continues to expand across comics, radio, television and film.

Superman is an alien. He isn’t a human. It doesn’t matter how much he loves, how scared he becomes, whether or not he wakes up and knows what to do, how he walks, what choices he makes, or how much he screws up. He isn’t as human as anyone else. He’s an alien.

Perhaps you’re asking yourself why it matters to me if a biological male decides to call himself Sheila and identify as a female, or if a fictional superhero considers himself a human even though he’s from a planet other than Earth. I maintain that the words we use matter.

Therefore, in the interest of rationality, I choose to act in accordance with one who promotes use of logic and reason, à la Johnathan Kent’s description about who people are. As such, I’m Deric (who), a psychotherapist that values truth (what)—a virtue Superman originally valued.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

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