Let’s be honest: Vegeta is just a cooler guy than Son Goku in Dragon Ball. And all those who have placed the anti-hero above the shining hero are in a better position today, as a psychological study proves.
What kind of study is this? In a study on Science Direct by Dr. Mariska Kleemans and other scientists, it was found in 2017 why people are often more attracted to morally gray characters than to shining heroes.
Thus, our brain is not primarily captivated by pure morality, but by character development. We love to follow the unpredictable emotional rollercoaster and the inner growth of a character.
Another concept on Psychology Today by psychologists Geoff Kaufman and Lisa Libby describes that people are inclined to empathize. One does not only observe the character from the outside but mentally completely embodies them.
This way, one adopts their mindset, feelings, and experiences so much that it can positively change one’s own real behavior, attitudes, and moral orientation.
Vegeta enhances one’s own attitude and morality
What does this mean for Dragon Ball? Translating this to Dragon Ball, it would mean that adults who grew up with Vegeta as their favorite character learned more psychologically valuable life lessons than those who prefer Goku.
- Goku is the classic hero, who starts out as a kind-hearted character and remains so until the end. His world is divided into black and white and he offers hardly any moral gray areas.
- Vegeta, on the other hand, starts as an arrogant and cruel villain who wants to destroy Earth. Only over hundreds of episodes does he transform into a loving family man. That is a gigantic character development that is psychologically gripping.
Through this constant struggle with oneself and the lesson that people can be flawed but still have the ability to improve, adults find themselves better equipped in the real world. At least, that’s what the study suggests.
Who was your hero? Was it Son Goku, Vegeta, or someone else? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
Did you know that Vegeta has a little brother? He even still has the tail known for Saiyans. Unfortunately, he has few appearances, which is why many of you might not know him: Son Goku’s arch-rival from Dragon Ball has a relative that hardly anyone knows – Looks like a mini-Vegeta
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