Norman Bates aka The Eternal Child

Norman Bates, also known as The Eternal Child, is a fictional character from the novel "Psycho" written by Robert Bloch and the subsequent film adaptations, most notably Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film. Norman Bates is the proprietor of the Bates Motel and exhibits a complex and disturbed personality.

Norman Bates is often portrayed as a shy and polite young man, but beneath his calm demeanor lies a deeply troubled individual. He is haunted by the influence of his overbearing mother, which manifests in his split personality. Norman's alter ego, Mother, takes control of his actions, leading to a series of murders.

The character of Norman Bates has become an iconic figure in popular culture, representing the duality of human nature and the depths of psychological torment. His story has been analyzed and interpreted in various ways, exploring themes of identity, repression, and the consequences of a traumatic past.

Through his portrayal, Norman Bates has left a lasting impact on the horror genre and continues to be recognized as one of the most memorable and complex characters in literature and film.

The Norman Bates villain is the eternal child of the villains and is reflective of an inner villainy that paints the world around them in whatever light they wish. They project the world that supports the view of themselves as deserving and needing to be taken care of or as the victim.

In Psycho, Norman creates the dynamic of a mother figure who disapproves of his crush, so much so that he dissociates into the guise of his mother and murders the object of his affection.

Symptoms of this Villain:

-Enneagram 4

-Human Design: Conditioned Undefined G-Center

-Mother Wound

-Inability to see others for who they are.

-Prone to strong outbursts of anger when their bubbles burst.

-Weaponized Incompetence

-Refuse to see their part in the creation of conflict

-Will prop up mother figures in their lives

-May appear traditionally egotistical if they have painted themselves as the hero of all stories. 

Inner Magic of the Villain: Storytelling and world building.

Stages:

Stage 0: Origin Villain

• Classic narcissist in your life. A person who refuses to see their part in any argument or conflict.

• A caretaker that needed to be cared for, and couldn’t handle their own feelings and problems.

• A partner or parent who is highly enmeshed with their own mother and insists on being taken care of.

Stage 1: Internalization

• Negation Examples: '“I need to be taken care of” “I am hungry”

• Often comes across as having traditional mother hunger, so will seek nurturance, guidance and protection in the form of self-soothing.

Stage 2: Diversification

• Victim Villain

• Will seek out relationships where they can be taken care of.

• Will never really be able to see other people for who they are, only what they can do for Norman.

• Daydreams a lot, imagines what the world would be like when they finally get what they deserve.

Stage 3: Externalization

• Will paint the world as happening to them.

• Sees themselves as the complete center of attention.

• When someone doesn’t act to serve them or act in the way that they projected, they will take it out on the person in sometimes extreme ways.

• Grow very cross when things don’t go their way (think violent tantrum).

The Internalization of Norman’s Mother’s Voice at the End of Psycho

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYDxxHrlmUg

In Depth Look at the Eternal Child

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49QFFiPb9VQ

Other Examples of the Eternal Child

https://screenrant.com/peter-pan-wendy-villain-movie-evil-theory/