You Are Not Patrick Bateman

“Patrick Bateman is literally me!” Let me just say that, no, Patrick Bateman is not “literally you,” and you would not want him to be. 

In recent years, the notion of the “sigma male” has become highly regarded among heterosexual, cisgender men who seek to differentiate themselves from society. The term is more specifically defined as “a slang term used in masculinist subcultures for a popular, successful, highly independent and self-reliant man.” In other words, those who label themselves as sigma males strive to isolate themselves from mainstream social hierarchies and external validation in order to become a “loner.” Although this sigma mindset seems commendable on the surface, it reflects a deeper layer of modern toxic masculinity. In reality, it isn’t as desirable and cool as twelve-year-old boys on TikTok believe it to be.

When it was first published in 1991, Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho did not receive the praise it does today. It was met with intense criticism as the public was outraged by its depictions of violence, pornography, and objectification of women. Deeming it inappropriate for the younger generations, it has even been named the 53rd most frequently banned and challenged books of the 1990s by the American Library Association. A couple decades later, however, it seems as if society has taken a turn. Especially after the 2000 movie adaptation, American Psycho has become a cornerstone of the media and popular culture, so much so that it has gained a reputation on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. There, the movie has become a template for countless memes and edits. But do social media users, particularly young men, truly understand the intentions of this movie?

Both critics and twelve-year-old boys find American Psycho to be an acclaimed book and movie, but perhaps not for the same reasons. The story follows the life of Patrick Bateman, a preppy, rich investment banker on Wall Street who leads a secret life as a serial killer. Although he seems to live a life of discipline, as demonstrated through his meticulous morning routine, workouts, and estimable occupation, he seems to spend his days idling and never working. Critics would understand how his behavior, in fact, reveals him to be a materialistic and conceited character who lacks emotional stability. He goes to extreme lengths to maintain his physique and reputation among his coworkers to cope with his insecurities. It is this narcissism and immaturity that leads him to murder those who come in his way. Bateman himself often acknowledges that he is “simply not there,” as he has no humanity or emotion present within him. He acts in a way that makes him appear as a successful businessman who conforms to images of wealth and power, but in reality, he is nothing more than an insecure shell of a person who cares too much about how others perceive him. 

On a broader level, the book and movie comment on the idea of toxic masculinity through a satirical stance. It may be for this reason that people have mistakenly understood Bateman’s character as one of confidence and success, and this misunderstanding traces back to the time of its publication. From the beginning, readers and viewers have taken the work much too seriously, missing the humor and satire in its exaggerated portrayals of characters. Throughout the story, Bateman and his friends, who all seem to be identical versions of each other, continuously talk of women, members of lower social classes, and minorities in such a derogatory manner that it becomes obviously absurd. The men agree that “there are no girls with good personalities,” and Bateman, being the notorious, murderous main character, even brags that he likes “to dissect girls.” One who takes the characters’ conversations and perspectives seriously would undoubtedly become disillusioned with their society (or attracted, in the case of certain men on TikTok). However, the book’s true intention is satirical in its commitment to the destruction of popularized values and masculinity. The seemingly strong, independent, white male businessmen who spend their days in opulence and indulgence are really just weak and vain. In short, people on the internet mistakenly comprehend the book in a way that admires Bateman and overlooks the book’s commentary that is meant to challenge his fragile masculinity.

Given the extreme manner of the book’s satire, how and why could he become so misinterpreted as to become a symbol for the very people his character is meant to criticize? To begin to understand why people are so intrigued by this archetype, we must first understand the similarities between these characters and their fans. For one, characters like Bateman serve as a mirror image for hetero-cis men who are self-conscious of their social appearance and seek to alienate themselves from a lower society. They adhere to traditional perceptions of male power, but as society has begun to condemn the misogyny and physical aggression that defines toxic masculinity, more men are becoming insecure about these traits. Thus, they find it necessary to search for public validation with an intense desperation that leaves them ignorant of the inherent irony or criticisms associated with these characters. Self-proclaimed sigma males may feel a sense of sympathy toward characters like Bateman when they believe that they share a situation in life. With this connection between character and fan, it becomes easy for the fan to become oblivious of the weaknesses and to focus exclusively on the character’s “cool,” luxurious lifestyle. For them, these sigma male characters are everything they want to be: they’re physically attractive, trendy, and rich.

Although there may be a certain sense of humor and irony in the widespread glorification of the sigma male character, it speaks to a deeper problem that has long been ingrained in our society. Over the 33 years since the book’s publication, we might have expected our society to better recognize the criticisms and satirical commentary of the book. The reality, however, of young boys aspiring to become their own Bateman indicates that the issue presented in the book and movie never really went away. Even with the societal progress we pride ourselves in, our culture continues to idolize misogynistic characters and their absurd lifestyles. The truth is that we have not really stopped producing and consuming works that promote manners of toxic masculinity, and the popularity of such movies as The Wolf of Wall Street serves as a reminder that society’s preference has not changed for the better. Ultimately, the “silly” nature of social media representations of Bateman and the sigma male reflects a real problem that continues to penetrate our society. 

The danger does not lie solely within those who misinterpret works and promote toxic traits. In fact, it is a rather pitiable situation in which men are identifying with these characters in a futile attempt to fight their own inadequacy. Rather than blatantly calling people out, we should shift our attention to properly educating them about their values. With a nourishing upbringing starting from a young age, we may help people feel comfortable in their healthy masculinity.

Sources 

Alexander, John. “sigma male Meaning & Origin | Slang by Dictionary.com.” Dictionary.com, 5 February 2021, https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/sigma-male/. Accessed 14 November 2024.

Hamid, Rahim. “American psycho and the death of satire.” The Carletonian, 6 April 2023, https://thecarletonian.com/17689/viewpoint/american-psycho-and-the-death-of-satire/. Accessed 14 November 2024.

Mannion, Connor. “Are people missing the point of ‘American Psycho’?” Medium, 15 December 2020, https://medium.com/@FiletMannion/are-people-missing-the-point-of-american-psycho-47ffcdbed266. Accessed 14 November 2024.

Parker, Theo. ““American Psycho:” Misunderstood Masterpiece.” THE HILL NEWS, 29 September 2023, https://thehillnews.org/ae/jjjjjjjjj/american-psycho-misunderstood-masterpiece. Accessed 14 November 2024.

Pasternack, Jesse. “Satire and Subjectivity in American Psycho (2000) – Establishing Shot.” IU Blogs, 21 November 2022, https://blogs.iu.edu/establishingshot/2022/11/21/satire-and-subjectivity-in-american-psycho-2000/. Accessed 14 November 2024.

Sharma, Ruchira. “Sigma grindset: TikTok’s toxic worshipping of Patrick Bateman is another sign young men are lost.” British GQ, 7 November 2022, https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/lifestyle/article/sigma-grindset-tiktok-trend-2022. Accessed 14 November 2024.

Welsh, Irvine, and Samantha Harvey. “Irvine Welsh – American Psycho is a modern classic.” The Guardian, 10 January 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jan/10/american-psycho-bret-easton-ellis-irvine-welsh. Accessed 14 November 2024.

Williams, Jack. “Opinion: No, Patrick Bateman isn’t “Literally You.”” The Highlander, 8 April 2023, https://seaholmhighlander.wordpress.com/2023/04/08/opinion-no-patrick-bateman-isnt-literally-you/. Accessed 14 November 2024.