Superheroes aren't what they used to be, and that's bad news for the boys who look up to them, psychologists warn. While old-school heroes like
Superman and
Green Lantern worked hard at their ordinary day jobs and fought for social justice, too many of today's superheroes are self-serving millionaire playboys, according to the authors of a new study that surveyed boys ages 4 to 18 about the TV and movies they watched.
"Today's superhero is too much like an action hero who participates in non-stop violence. He's aggressive, sarcastic, and rarely speaks to the virtue of doing good for humanity," one of the researchers tells the
Telegraph. "When not in superhero costume, these men, like
Iron Man, exploit women, flaunt bling, and convey their manhood with high-powered guns."
