Batman Effect: How an Alter Ego Transforms Your Life
The Batman Effect is when a person uses an alter ego for real world scenarios.
When you’re thinking of the Batman Effect, you may think of playing dress-up and acting silly.
But this effect can be highly practical when used correctly.
In this article, I am going to break down how an alter ego can give you clarity.
You will learn about the different forms of alter egos out there.
Also, I’ll share one of the dangers of alter egos.
A lot to cover!
Let’s begin by highlighting a popular figure who utilized the Batman Effect.
Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson used to be the king of late-night TV.
He knew how to captivate an audience, put celebrities at ease, and conduct a show.
Those who saw Johnny Carson on TV would assume that he was a larger-than-life personality when the cameras were off as well.
But that’s not accurate.
Those who met Johnny Carson in real life described him as aloof.
Many thought he was smug.
But that’s not how Johnny described himself.
Instead, he viewed himself as shy.
Wait a minute!
How was the king of late-night TV shy?
Johnny had a simple answer.
He said:
When the camera lights were on, he becomes Johnny, the performer.
But when the camera lights were off, he becomes Johnny, the ordinary guy.
When does the switch get activated?
- It may be when he was driving to the studio to record the show.
- It may be when he was getting his hair & makeup done.
- Or maybe Johnny’s switch got activated once the camera lights turned on.
Johnny’s alter ego allowed him to put on a show for a worldwide audience, while also being just another guy.
The Black Hoodie
When I go to the gym, I wear a big black jacket.
I put the hoodie over my head.
Before, I used to wear regular gym clothes that would show my face.
But I guess I have a friendly-looking face…
Gym workers would approach me to start a conversation & I would run into folks I knew.
A lot of chit-chatting took place.
This wasted my time.
So, I began to wear a big jacket and placed the hoodie over my head.
I’d make my face less visible.
When the hoodie went over my head, I became anti-social in the gym.
I had one target in mind:
- Work my body to exhaustion.
It doesn’t matter if I’m hot, the jacket does not come off.
After each successful workout, my faith in the black hoodie grows.
It’s equivalent to me putting on my cape.
The Different Types of Alter Egos
An alter ego does not always have to be a personality.
A lot of times, it can be a possession or place.
For Johnny Carson’s alter ego, he had an alternate personality.
But for me, it was a black hoodie, aka: a possession.
Michael Jackson was a bit of both.
He had the personality of the King of Pop.
And he had the possession of the shiny glove.
An alter ego can also be a place.
Maybe you have a segment of your living facility designed to be productive.
No horsing around happens in that segment.
Alter egos come in all shapes & sizes, but the intent is the same:
- To activate a switch.
Is the Alter Ego Needed?
As some people are reading this, they may be rolling their eyes. They think:
‘I would like someone who is not dependent on a hoodie to lift weights. Give me the guy without alter egos or any of that hoopla!’
This is a perfectly logical thing to say.
But understand this:
- The great ones were never logical.
Instead, they were somewhat bizarre.
Although the alter ego may seem silly to a logical mind, those who are seeking greatness in a field may resonate with the idea.
It’s a switch.
Hopefully, the switch can be turned off as well…
Dangers of an Alter Ego
The potential danger of an alter ego is when the switch cannot be turned off.
This is bad when the attributes of the alter ego are somewhat sinister.
Kobe Bryant’s alter ego was the ‘Black Mamba.’
When Kobe was lacing up to play a game, he was trying to be deadly.
He wanted to rip off his opponent’s head.
This mindset is fine and dandy when he’s playing a game.
But once the game ends, if he does not turn that switch off, then he will try ripping off his daughter’s head.
Which wouldn’t be fun for his poor daughter.
Some alter egos are easy to turn off.
Like me and the black hoodie.
All I needed to do was take it off.
Other alter egos can get tricky.
Sort of like personalities.
Luckily, personality-based alter egos are often activated in a boundary.
The boundary can be:
- Socials
- Basketball games
- Hosting a show
Etc.
Once the boundary ends (the basketball game is complete) it can signal:
‘Time to turn Black Mamba off.’
Should an Alter Ego Become Your Personality?
I gave you a dark example with Kobe Bryant’s Black Mamba alter ego.
But let’s say your alter ego is glamorous.
This identity is:
- Giving
- Charming
- Ambitious
And much more.
Should this alter ego be turned off?
In my opinion, nah.
In some situations, the alter ego serves as an ideal.
This ideal gives clarity to the mind.
When your mind has clarity, it uses the Batman Effect in a completely different way.
A boundary is not needed.
Now you know you are making progress in life as you slowly morph into your alter ego.
For more practical tips on mind management, be sure to check out:
- Level Up Mentality: A Guide to Re-Engineer your Mindset for Confidence
In this book, you will learn:
- How to create a north star.
- How to effectively network with others.
- Frameworks to turn dark emotions into fuel.
- Simple productivity hacks.
- The power of 1% improvements.
And much more!
