Unraveling the Mind of Joe Goldberg:A Psychological Analysis of the Protagonist from Netflix's "You”

Netflix's hit series "You," spanning four seasons, has captivated audiences worldwide with its thrilling and suspenseful narrative. The show follows the character Joe Goldberg, a seemingly charming bookstore manager, as he spirals into a dark obsession with the women he falls in love with. While many viewers have labeled Joe as a psychopath, it's essential to delve deeper into his character from a psychological perspective to better understand his motivations and behaviors. This blog post will explore Joe's psyche through the lens of various psychological concepts and references.

Defining Psychopathy

Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by a lack of empathy, remorse, and conscience, often accompanied by manipulative and impulsive behavior. The Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is a widely used diagnostic tool for assessing psychopathy, which includes 20 items such as grandiosity, callousness, and poor behavioral control (Hare, 2003). To be considered a psychopath, an individual must score highly on this checklist.

Is Joe Goldberg a Psychopath?

Joe does exhibit some traits consistent with psychopathy, such as manipulation, deceitfulness, and a lack of conscience. However, he also demonstrates genuine feelings of love and attachment, which are typically absent in psychopaths. For example, his relationship with Paco, a young boy living in his building, highlights Joe's capacity for empathy and compassion.

Moreover, Joe's behavior aligns more closely with stalking, which is not synonymous with psychopathy. Stalking involves a pattern of fixation, surveillance, and obsession with another person, often stemming from a desire for control or possession (Mullen, Pathé, & Purcell, 2009). While Joe engages in stalking behavior, it does not necessarily qualify him as a psychopath.

Attachment Theory and Joe's Behavior

John Bowlby's attachment theory may shed light on Joe's behavior. According to Bowlby (1969), early attachment experiences with caregivers influence our ability to form relationships throughout life. In the case of Joe, his tumultuous upbringing and lack of secure attachment with a primary caregiver could have resulted in an insecure attachment style, fueling his obsessive tendencies and unhealthy relationships.

Cognitive Dissonance and Joe's Justifications

Joe frequently justifies his actions to maintain a positive self-image. This phenomenon can be understood through Leon Festinger's cognitive dissonance theory (1957), which suggests that individuals will adjust their beliefs or behaviors to reduce the discomfort caused by inconsistencies between their attitudes and actions. Joe rationalizes his stalking and violence as necessary to protect the women he loves, alleviating the cognitive dissonance he experiences.

In summary, while Joe Goldberg exhibits some traits of psychopathy, he does not meet the full criteria. Rather, his actions are driven by a combination of stalking behavior, insecure attachment, and cognitive dissonance. Understanding Joe's character through the lens of psychological theories and concepts allows us to recognize the complexity of his motivations and behaviors, avoiding the oversimplification of labeling him as a mere psychopath.

References

Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment. Basic Books.

Festinger, L. (1957). A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford University Press.

Hare, R. D. (2003). The Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). Multi-Health Systems.

Mullen, P. E., Pathé, M., & Purcell, R. (2009). Stalkers and their victims. Cambridge University Press.