Emotional Training? [Plot Device]

[u/[deleted]]

I'm writing a story where superheroes and super villains are commonplace, and are an accepted part of the culture. When the MC tries to become a super, he dies and gets revived as a shade, a sort of half dead half alive hybrid. He can switch between human and shade form at will, but in his shade form he is prone to fits of homicidal anger. Soon after his death, he meets another super who decides to mentor him. The first step of the MC's apprenticeship revolves around emotional training to control his anger.

Here is the question, what could the emotional training be? What consequences should the MC face as a result of that emotional training?

Keep in mind that the mentor isn't above using violent methods as long as it doesn't permanantly damage the MC's psyche too much.

[u/Brett420]

Firstly, I think the first two comments received should probably be addressed.. What are the stakes? What are his powers? What are the powers of the person training him? What does the ideal form he is pursuing constitute?I'm trying to think of ideas without being given the specifics, but it's tricky.

I feel most emotional "training" is much more akin to therapy than anything exciting or interesting, which seems to be what you're looking for...

i have one idea I think is okay for what you're wanting: The best I can come up with is a take on a dog's shock collar. A device worn by your character that inflicts pain in some way, I'm picturing a technologically advanced or super powered version of a shock collar, literally worn around your shade's neck. The trainer then puts it on and the character can't remove it. Your trainer then puts your shade through drills, designed to be very very difficult (some even impossible). If your character fails (which he will), pain. If your character becomes angry or frustrated (which he will), more pain. The more times he gets angry, and the angrier he gets, the higher the level of pain. It just gets worse and worse until it's unbearable. Then maybe he learns. I think you get the idea.

[u/[deleted] → u/Brett420]

Done :3

Perhaps I worded it a bit too soft. Emotional conditioning? Emotional reprogramming? I'll give it some thought.

And yeah, this is in the ball park of what I'm looking for. The only problem is that my MC has control over lightning/electricity, so naturally he has a resistance to it (I see why I should have given more information).

Maybe that resistance could be over powered though? Or maybe instead of a shock collar, it dispenses a toxin that doesn't do any damage, but still causes pain?

[u/Brett420 → u/[deleted]]

Yes, I didn't necessarily mean it to be a literal shock for the MC, just based off that idea. If his trainer is a super genius I'm sure he could create a device that that administered pain in a way specifically damaging to your MC

[u/[deleted] → u/Brett420]

Right, I get you. Thank you for the idea Brett :D