Superhuman strength

"Super-strength" redirects here. For the beverage, see Super-strength lager.

Superhuman strength, also called super-strength, super strength, increased strength, or enhanced strength, is an ability commonly employed in fiction. It is the ability for an individual to be stronger, tougher, more durable, and more physically powerful than humanly possible. Superhuman strength is usually seen in fictional stories and mythology, and it is not a term commonly applied to humans in reality. There are instances in which humans may exercise great feats of strength (e.g., lifting a car to save a loved one) - however this phenomenon is described as hysterical strength.

Characters and deities with superhuman strength have been found in several ancient mythological accounts and religions. Superhuman strength is also a common feature across a wide range of media such as novels, comic books, television, movies, and video games.

Superhuman strength is also used by several characters in fantasy and science fiction. This is generally by means of mechanisms such as cyborg body parts, genetic modification, telekinetic fields within science fiction, or magical/supernatural sources within fantasy. A plethora of comic book superheroes and super-villains usually have some degree of super strength. Some films also employ the use of a fictional substance or drug that gives the character superhuman strength. The level of strength portrayed can vary greatly, from just outside the "normal" human range of the strongest weightlifters (e.g. unarmored Master Chief), to nearly unlimited strength (e.g. Hulk, Superman, Supergirl, Superwoman, Thor, Hercules, or Goku).

Besides just writing about superhuman strength in fiction, humans are actively trying to achieve superhuman strength through means of technology and science experimentation. Athletes have turned to various methods to improve performance, such as blood doping or taking anabolic steroids. Other technologies being researched are robotic exoskeletons to be worn by humans to enhance movement and strength.

History

Hercules and the Hydra (ca. 1475) by Antonio del Pollaiuolo. The hero is known for his strength.

Superhuman strength is a common ability of many gods and demigods in ancient mythology, such as Hercules/Heracles (Roman/Greek), Beowulf (Norse), Karna (Hindu) and Achilles (Greek). Throughout history, the attempt to modify the human body in order to gain extraordinary strength is very common, as seen in both the real world and especially in fiction through characters such as Robocop, Iron Man, and Cyborg.

Humans have tried to gain enhanced strength through the use of substances. Accordingly, “in ancient Rome, gladiators would drink herbal infusions to strengthen them before chariot races.” Currently, drugs including stimulants, anabolic steroids, diuretics and β-blockers are still used to enhance human strength and other attributes.

Humans have also tried to use external devices to enhance human strength. The earliest device that was invented and patented for this specific purpose can be credited to Nicholas Yagn, who filed the patent in 1890. The device was described to be an “apparatus for facilitating walking, running, and jumping” through the use of bags of compressed air. In 2007, it was also reported that a nanotechnologist from the University of Texas, Ray Baughman, developed a new type of fabric that is 100 times stronger than human muscle fibers. It is reported that the United States Department of Defence, in search of an exoskeleton intended for military use, is seeking to apply this technology in developing devices to enhance the performance of soldiers.

Real-world Application

In the real world, extraordinary strength can occur via science. A person can become stronger, tougher, and more physically powerful than humanly possible when using enhancements such as doping, substances, and training. There are also recorded instances of people going beyond "normal" strength without taking any form of drugs, as in the case of Tom Boyle, who was able to lift 3,000 pounds in order to rescue a person under a car. Penn State professor of Kinesiology Vladimir Zatsiorsky had stated that maximal strength can occur when a person’s muscles are being forced through the conscious “exertion of will”. Zatsiorsky claims that trained athletes can improve their strength under specific conditions of competition. Fear can also cause a person to exhibit enhanced human strength.

File:Tom Boyle Jr.jpg

Tom Boyle Jr in 2006

Fictional Use

Many fictional works involve superhuman strength not only rooted in religious imagination, but also in scientific form. In fictional literature, the use of superhuman strength dates as far back as 2,500 years to Greek mythology legends such as Hercules. Greek mythology legends like these portray characters gaining their superhuman strength from the gods and exhibiting characteristics of both heroic humans and gods.

More recently in fictional literature, superhuman strength is employed by characters called superheroes in comic books that date back to the 1930s. Characters such as The Incredible Hulk, Superman, and Wonder Woman possess the strength to perform physical feats impossible for the human body. These characters and their powers draw from many Greek myths before them, namely Wonder Woman, who descended from the Amazons, a group of women possessing superhuman strength. In many of these fictional works the dilemma and solution lies in the character's superhuman abilities. Having these powers alienates them from society, but also aids them in their quest. Recurring adaptations of well-known characters are often employed, which continue to perpetuate the use of superhuman strength in fiction.

See also

• Physical strength