Summary of "Психоанализ Кратоса | История и разбор персонажей God of War сквозь призму психологии, часть 1 из 4"

Психоанализ Кратоса | История и разбор персонажей God of War сквозь призму психологии, часть 1 из 4

Summary

This video presents a psychoanalytic interpretation of Kratos, the protagonist of God of War (Part 4), examining his character and relationships through psychological theories, particularly psychoanalysis and analytical psychology. The analysis is authored and narrated by psychoanalyst Denis Petrishin, with research voiceover by Dmitry Zubarev.

Storyline and Psychological Themes

The core narrative of God of War Part 4 revolves around separation, a psychological process akin to a child’s emotional and symbolic separation from parents during initiation rites.
Kratos and his son Atreus both experience loss and grief following the death of Faye, Kratos’ wife and Atreus’ mother, who was an emotional anchor for both.
The journey to scatter Faye’s ashes atop the highest peak in the Norse world symbolizes both mourning and a rite of passage for Atreus’ psychological development.
Kratos’ relationship with Atreus is framed as a process of separation and emotional growth, complicated by Kratos’ own unresolved trauma and control issues.

Kratos’ Psychological Profile

Although Kratos exhibits traits resembling antisocial personality disorder (impulsiveness, aggression, disregard for norms), the video argues he does not fit this diagnosis.

Instead, Kratos is analyzed as having an obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) with compulsive and anxious-fearful dynamics. Key traits include:

Perfectionism and excessive self-control.
Rigidity in morals and values.
Intense internal anger that is controlled and repressed.
Omnipotent control as a defense mechanism to manage anxiety and fear.
Stubbornness and persistence, often acting “in spite of” failure.

His anger is rooted in early childhood experiences, particularly strict upbringing and harsh discipline (e.g., Spartan military training and potty training as a psychoanalytic metaphor).

Kratos’ personality operates at a borderline level of personality organization, characterized by:

Emotional instability.
Split identity and contradictory behavior (e.g., loving yet harsh father).
Black-and-white thinking in relationships.
Difficulty understanding and processing emotions without external support.

Father-Son Relationship Dynamics

Kratos is a “castrating father” figure, unconsciously suppressing Atreus’ potential to avoid being overthrown or replaced, reflecting deep fears of losing power and repeating his own traumatic history with Zeus.
He exercises omnipotent control over Atreus’ behavior, emotions, and thoughts, often punishing mistakes harshly (e.g., taking Atreus’ bow after a hunting error).
Kratos struggles with guilt from killing his own father Zeus, which influences his fear and suppression of Atreus’ divine potential.
Despite his harshness, Kratos’ love for Atreus grows, symbolizing his psychological maturation.
The son’s acceptance of the father marks a therapeutic breakthrough for Kratos, helping him confront and alleviate his guilt and trauma.

Mythological and Psychoanalytic Context

The video ties Kratos’ story to Freudian concepts, especially the Oedipus complex and the mythological cycle of father-son conflicts:

The overthrow of Uranus by Cronus, and Cronus by Zeus, parallels Kratos’ patricidal past and his fear of being overthrown by Atreus.
The father figure represents law, authority, and internal prohibitions in the psyche.

Kratos’ psychological conflict echoes the universal human struggle with authority, guilt, and the search for identity.

Key Psychological Concepts Explained

Separation: Psychological independence achieved by symbolically “killing” the internal parental object.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: Characterized by perfectionism, control, and restrained anger.
Borderline Personality Organization: Emotional instability, identity diffusion, and splitting.
Reactive Formation: Defense mechanism where unacceptable impulses are transformed into their opposites (e.g., hatred turned into care).
Omnipotent Control: A defense to manage anxiety by controlling self and environment.
Patricide and Guilt: Central trauma influencing Kratos’ behavior and fears.
Projection and Transference: Kratos projects Faye’s image onto Freya, explaining his protective behavior.

Gameplay and Character Insights

Kratos’ emotional state and psychological dynamics influence his behavior and interactions with Atreus throughout the game.
The father-son journey is not only physical but deeply psychological, emphasizing growth, grief processing, and breaking cycles of trauma.
Understanding Kratos’ psychological profile enriches the narrative experience and character empathy.

Viewer Engagement and Support

The video encourages feedback on content structure and presentation due to the complexity of the material.
It thanks Patreon sponsors for supporting the creation of such in-depth and controversial content.
Promises future videos analyzing Atreus’ personality and continuing the psychoanalytic series.