Blogpost 7: Codename: Kids Next Door - Attack Mechanism

Codename: Kids Next Door follows the escapades of five eager, yet unskillful, ten-year-olds as they join forces in fighting against adults  to fight for the right to enjoy all the fun things in life, like the right to stay up late or to eat whatever they want. These adults seem to be a hindrance to their juvenile phase of life as these adults prevent them from having fun and all. But when taking a stand seems not enough, they proposed a top secret mission, recruiting other kinds in the their block to join forces with them, in fighting for their rights and defeating the evil adults who seem to be a great factor in their lives, the lives of the youth. For me, this show expresses the rebellion and retaliation of kids towards the antagonistic ways of adults. The stressing of this kind of attitude towards rebellion, and as presented before young audience, is somewhat inappropriate as it enhances the likelihood of children to rebel more against their folks. But what can be a rational view to this attitude? How can this show be seen in a psychological view?

Obviously, the remarkable tactics and strategies proposed by these children are impressive. To think that with their young minds, they can embark on such missions against adults. These principled kids tackle the really important issues facing their peers.  Like any good team, the agents in Codename: Kids Next Door each have their own distinct identities, skills and personalities. Numbuh One is Nigel Uno, the British-accented leader of the group. Hoagie P. Gilliam, a mechanical genius and expert pilot, is known as Numbuh Two. Diversionary tactics are the specialty of Kiki Sanban, also known as Numbuh Three. Brash and impulsive Numbuh Four (Wallabee Beatles) is a master of hand to hand combat. And Numbuh Five, alias Abigail "Abby" Lincoln, is the quiet one with the most common sense.

In a psychological view, this type of rebellion came from a certain depression or anxiety the draws these kids to act out and fight for themselves. For them to cope up with their depression, they develop a certain kind of coping mechanism that is particularly called Attack Mechanism. According to the website Changingminds on the article about Attack Mechanisms, it suggests that this mechanism pulls out your own anxious ways to push discomfort onto others. We cope with difficulties in various ways. Some are more positive than others. Perhaps the worst kind is where we may attack others. Arguably, all attacks on others are forms of coping with our own internal troubles.

Particularly, the certain attack mechanism this show presents is the Fight-or-Flight Reaction. It is when we perceive a significant threat to us, then our bodies get ready either for a fight to the death or a desperate flight from certain defeat by a clearly superior adversary.

On the show's case, the children finds a great discomfort and anxiety from the adults that they tend to retaliate as their way of coping up for heir depression. When they are retaliating, they are not thinking straight and can be manipulated. They are provoked to have this kind of reaction as the adults suppress their ways and limit their wants or even act as a hindrance to these children's ability to enjoy life. They also may become aggressive and unpredictable, that's why they tend to think of ways on getting back on them.

In the articles about Teenagers: Why do they Rebel?, written by Brunilda Nazario, M.D., he says that, "All teens go through similar phases -- the need for independence, a separate identity, testing authority. It's part of growing up; it's also linked to developmental changes in the brain that will eventually help them become analytical adults." It's true. we all need this at some point in our lives, and it's rather healthy at some parts, but to certain extent, it is harmful, as it may cause aggression and later be a part of the person's personality in life.

Rebellion is just a perfectly normal mindset incorporated in our early childhood. It's a normal process children and teenagers undergo. Remember when you were a child, your mother used to tell you stories about how you do your tantrums? It's a normal phase in life and we are bound to be rebellious about things. Yet it is a myth that all teenagers are big risk-takers. To some extent, rebellion can be somewhat be dangerous to our psychological health. Codename: Kids Next Door is a show that provides a cleat view of rebellion against adults because of failure of acquire their wants. It's evident that this is just a natural and psychological coping mechanism in life. And yet it is the most dangerous type of coping mechanism. I say, rebellion can be healthy, but as long as you don't harm anyone, you are expressing yourself. But if you cause damage to people's lives, you are breaking yourself.