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Why Do We Love Darth Vader? It’s Science.
Star Wars has brought us some of the most iconic villains of all time. It’s so much fun to watch Emperor Palpatine’s scheming and Darth Vader’s brutality. But why do we enjoy bad guys so much? Science says we like them because we resemble them.
There is a lot to like about Star Wars villains. First, there are the catchy personal theme songs of the big players. And unlike today’s gritty nuanced bad guys, Star Wars baddies seem to be having a lot of fun. Once they embrace the dark side of the force, the Sith and the imperial military commanders who serve them are gleeful. Their delight is palpable as they blow up planets and crush the resistance.
Psychological researchers are curious about why we like bad guys, and what that says about us. For instance, there is plenty of research to show that we actually don’t like the immorality of villains like the Emperor. One study showed that even with today’s sympathetic villains and flawed heroes, we still don’t like evil characters.
Darth Vader is certainly evil. The first time we meet him, he walks into a room and strangles an unarmed prisoner to death. He is both morally repugnant, and one of the most beloved characters of all time.
I asked a top Star Wars expert for his opinion on why Vader is so popular. “Darth Vader has a cool helmet. Plus he always…
