Trauma, Possession, and PTSD: Exploring Nogitsune Arc in MTV’s Teen Wolf
Amisha Bharat Jayakar, Dr Ashok Ghuge
ILN Journal: Indian Literary Narratives. March 30, 2026 DOI: 10.70396/ilnjournal.v3n1.a.10 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | PTSD |
| Keywords | Arc geometry Population Field mathematics Noise video |
| Key points | Argues that the Nogitsune possession in Teen Wolf metaphorically represents PTSD symptoms in the character Stiles Stilinski. |
Abstract
As a genre, supernatural teen television often engages with complex psychological themes pertaining to adolescents and their lives. One such show is MTV’s Teen Wolf (2011), centered around Scott McCall, a teenager coming to terms with his recent transformation into a werewolf. Teen Wolf, specifically Season Three, Part Two, exhibits these aspects, focusing on trauma using the background of spiritual possession based on Japanese mythology. The paper attempts to explore the Nogitsune arc as a metaphorical depiction of traumatic symptoms and, essentially, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This article focuses on the character of Stiles Stilinski, a close friend of Scott’s and his mental combat with the Nogitsune and how this possession manifests itself into symptoms like night terrors, recurring nightmares, dissociation, repression of memory and depersonalization. Drawing on Herman, Caruth, Balaev and other theorists’ literary and psychological trauma theories, the paper highlights the impact of traumatic triggers (here, possession) and the influence of social support in healing of said trauma. This article offers a nuanced perspective to understand the extent of trauma by integrating the mythical element of spiritual possession, adding to the understanding of supernatural teen television’s depiction of trauma and adolescence.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on PTSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theorizing that Psychedelic Assisted Therapy May Play a Role in the Treatment of Trauma-Induced Personality Disorders. | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The potential use of N-methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDMA) assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of eating disorders comorbid with PTSD. | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD in adolescents: rationale, potential, risks, and considerations. Adolescents with PTSD | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Agency in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Implications for Therapy | 2023 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Inner World in the Outer World: The Phenomenology of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder from a Psychoanalytic Perspective | 1996 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |