Answer to Question 1
Since there are some admirable superheroes, there is not a need to totally eliminate the behavior. The role of the educator is to help children recognize some of the causes of the behavior and to help children increasingly have their needs met in other ways. In addition, the role of the educator is to foster nonviolent behaviors such as being a friend, thinking before acting, being a good group member, accepting differences in others, and feeling good about yourself.
Answer to Question 2
In general, the causes cited should include childhood stress and pressure. This is brought on by such things as feelings of powerlessness, feelings of incompetence, expectations that boys need to take command, understandings that in life boys will be the agents and objects of violence, expectations that boys not express feelings, and the acceptance that superhero play is the established norm for boys. Each of these factors is unhealthy in one way or another.