Gi-Hun from Squid Game: Unraveling His Psychological Struggles

Squid Game - Netflix

About Squid Game

Squid Game, the gripping South Korean Netflix series, dives into the lives of desperate individuals participating in deadly children’s games for a life-changing cash prize. The show explores themes of inequality, morality, and human survival under extreme circumstances. Among the participants is Seong Gi-hun, a down-on-his-luck chauffeur drowning in debt and estranged from his family. His journey highlights not only the external struggles of survival but also his internal battle with psychological distress.

Gi-Hun and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Through the course of the series, Gi-hun exhibits symptoms consistent with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD often arises after exposure to life-threatening events and is characterized by four main clusters of symptoms: intrusive thoughts, avoidance, negative alterations in mood and cognition, and hyperarousal.

Symptoms Exhibited by Gi-Hun

1. Intrusive Thoughts and Nightmares:Gi-hun frequently recalls the violent deaths of his fellow participants and the immense guilt he feels over their suffering. His memories and dreams are filled with these haunting experiences, meeting the intrusive thought criterion of PTSD (Squid Game, episodes 8-9).

2. Avoidance Behavior:After surviving the games, Gi-hun avoids engaging with people and places tied to his trauma, such as the bank representative and his daughter. This avoidance reflects his difficulty facing reminders of the horrors he endured (Squid Game, episode 9).

3. Negative Mood and Cognition:Gi-hun struggles with survivor's guilt and self-blame, evident when he hesitates to use his prize money, feeling undeserving after witnessing others’ deaths. This aligns with the mood disturbances associated with PTSD (Squid Game, episode 9).

4. Hyperarousal:Gi-hun’s heightened vigilance and irritability manifest when he reacts strongly to seemingly minor provocations, a classic symptom of PTSD (Squid Game, episodes 8-9).

   
   

Treatment for PTSD: Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Why TF-CBT?

Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is the gold standard for PTSD treatment. This approach combines cognitive restructuring with gradual exposure to traumatic memories, helping individuals process their trauma and develop healthier coping mechanisms (Ehlers & Clark, 2000).

How it Helps Gi-Hun:

1. Cognitive Restructuring:TF-CBT could address Gi-hun’s distorted thoughts about guilt and self-blame, reframing his survival as a testament to his resilience rather than a moral failing.

2. Exposure Therapy:Controlled exposure to traumatic memories in therapy could reduce the intensity of Gi-hun’s intrusive thoughts and flashbacks, allowing him to confront his past without becoming overwhelmed.

3. Relaxation Techniques:Relaxation strategies incorporated into TF-CBT could mitigate Gi-hun’s hyperarousal symptoms, enabling him to regain a sense of safety.

Supporting Evidence

Studies demonstrate the efficacy of TF-CBT in reducing PTSD symptoms, with patients showing significant improvements in emotional regulation and symptom severity (Foa et al., 2008). Additionally, a meta-analysis by Bisson et al. (2013) found TF-CBT to outperform other therapies in sustained symptom relief.

Conclusion

Seong Gi-hun’s journey in Squid Game is a harrowing depiction of trauma's psychological impact. Understanding his symptoms through the lens of PTSD reveals the depth of his struggles and highlights the importance of seeking evidence-based treatments like TF-CBT. His story resonates as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of unimaginable hardship.

References

• Ehlers, A., & Clark, D. M. (2000). A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 38(4), 319-345.

• Foa, E. B., et al. (2008). Prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD: Emotional processing of traumatic experiences. Oxford University Press.

  
  
  
  

• Bisson, J. I., et al. (2013). Psychological therapies for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.