The Psychology of Rick Sanchez: Intelligence does not equate to Happiness

What Rick wants to be is much simpler, he wants to be Happy. But for someone like Rick, Happiness is near unobtainable. Largely due to his own set of beliefs and actions which is centered around…

Nihilism

Nihilism is a branch of philosophy which states that life is meaningless, that there is no great purpose to life and nothing really matters. And it also goes without saying that nihilism does not believe in life after death, or any supreme entity that judges us after death.

It’s easy enough to see that Rick is a nihilist, the show itself has its roots and ideas taken from cosmic horror popularized by H.P.Lovecraft, and many plots revolve around this concept of the insignificance of the individual.

Also the giant Cthulhu at the start is a huge giveaway

Rick too understands this at a fundamental level and has stared into existential horror and came to the conclusion that nothing he does matters in the end, which leads him down a more destructive path. For if nothing he did mattered then perhaps it would be best to give into his most carnal pleasures.

Hedonism

Hedonism is a popular form of belief in living just for one’s own pleasure and nothing else. I’m simplifying of course but for someone faced with Nihilism you can understand why this acts as such a tempting concept. If nothing one does matters then might as well live for carnal pleasures.

We can see this so much in Rick’s actions: He constantly drinks and gets high, had sex with an entire planets worth of people and then an actual planet and he lies cheats and steals into always getting his way and he is smart enough to always escape from the consequences. He can do whatever the hell he wants!

Which is sometimes turning himself into a pickle

That’s it then right! A great life where he has found his happiness: Wubba lubba dub dub!

Wubba lubba dub dub… that random statement alone speaks volumes about him in an alien language it translates to: I am in great pain, please help me.

You see hedonism is not the solution to happiness, it is merely a distraction. While all the insane adventures and pleasures help distract Rick from his pain it does not help him in his quiet moments. In the end it does not save him from his depression.

Intelligence & Depression

Let’s take a moment to look at another character from the show, Rick’s son in law: Jerry. Jerry is an average man, no less than average. His relationship with his wife, Beth is toxic, his kids don’t respect him and he is unemployed for a lot of the stretches of the show. He is in every sense of the word a loser.

Now Rick being Rick, does not hold back his disdain for Jerry in any way. After all he is the Anti-rick. Stupid, feeble, weak-willed and pathetic. It probably does not help that he’s sleeping with his daughter and it is Jerry who Rick blames for Beth not making much of her life. 

 Still he’s a useful lab rat at time

But Jerry is also the personification of the saying “simple things entertain simple minds”, and because of this it is easy to say he is objectively happier than Rick.

Studies have shown an alarming rise in depression rates and issues related to it are at an all-time high, and a large reason for this is because we live in the information age were near unlimited amounts of knowledge is available at our finger tips.

This correlation between intellect and depression is too high to be ignored as coincidence, and in turn is something which Rick personifies.

The reason Rick cannot stand someone like Jerry is because despite his below average levels of everything, he is much closer to living a happy life than rick with all his intellect and achievements.

So what does this mean? Is Rick and in turn all individuals with high intellect shackled to a life of misery?

Of course not, don’t be stupid. In Rick’s case his solution of fighting of his depression is the same for many individuals, making real connections, being understood and having a purpose.

And whether Rick knows it or not, he does have real connections in his life, most primarily in the form of Morty and all his other family members as well (even Jerry!). And while his God complex would never let him admit how much he needs them in his life, in a way he already knows it.

I mean why else do you think a guy who has an entire planet hidden away for him to take a dump in, still stay in his daughter’s garage?   

As for a sense of purpose that too is one he himself must decide on. Perhaps constantly reminding the universe that he is in fact the smartest creature in the galaxy is a noble enough task to fulfill.

 

For some Greek Gods with literal God complexes try out the NEW WORLD ODYSSEY series