Andrew J. Hewitt, PMHNP-BC
Caliper Wellness — Pasco County, Florida
Author Note. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Andrew J. Hewitt, PMHNP-BC, Caliper Wellness (Telehealth). The views expressed are informational and educational, not a substitute for personalized medical or mental-health care.
Abstract
Scott Lang—Marvel’s Ant-Man—may be one of pop culture’s most “everyman” superheroes: a self-effacing dad with a record, a restless conscience, and a pocket full of Pym Particles. Beyond comic-book spectacle, Lang’s arc offers a surprisingly rich template for psychological resilience, identity repair after moral injury, and strengths-based fatherhood. In this blog, I synthesize recent media coverage and character materials with current mental-health scholarship (2024–2025) on resilience, narrative identity, media portrayals of mental health, and father-engagement outcomes. I argue that Scott Lang’s story models three clinically useful ideas: (a) resilience as a relational process—particularly via fatherhood and prosocial purpose; (b) narrative reframing—how people re-author identities after failure; and (c) scalable heroism—“thinking small” as an anti-grandiose antidote for anxiety and avoidance. Practical takeaways for clients and clinicians include using pop-culture narratives to rehearse coping skills, enhance help-seeking, and scaffold values-aligned behavior change.
Introduction: A Not-So-Super Man
Unlike many caped icons, Scott Lang did not start with genius billionaire resources or mythic birthright. He started with a mistake. Canon materials frame him as a reformed thief who steals the Ant-Man suit to save his daughter Cassie, then grows—sometimes literally—into a hero with a prosocial mission and a tender, irrepressible sense of humor (Marvel, n.d.). In the last two years, entertainment reporting has continued to position Lang as a key connective tissue for Marvel’s next team-up era, underscoring his longevity as a character who resonates with audiences because he feels human first, heroic second (Entertainment Weekly, 2025; GamesRadar+, 2025; The Direct, 2024/2025). This “approachability” makes Lang unusually useful for mental-health conversations: he looks like us on our best—and absolute worst—days.
As a psychiatric nurse practitioner serving adults via telehealth in Pasco County, Florida, I routinely help clients translate big, abstract wellness advice into small, repeatable actions. In that sense, Scott Lang is an instructive metaphor: the tiniest moves can unlock the biggest changes. Below, I bridge recent pop-culture coverage with 2024–2025 research on resilience, narrative identity, and media representations of mental health to show how Ant-Man can become a practical tool in the therapy room—particularly for clients working on anxiety, self-forgiveness, and values-based fatherhood.
Scott Lang 101: What the Recent Conversation Emphasizes
Marvel’s official character profile continues to present Lang as a redeemed ex-con whose heroism is inseparable from fatherhood and second chances (Marvel, n.d.). Coverage during 2024–2025 has kept him in the cultural bloodstream: features reminisce about the first Ant-Man (2015) as an underrated MCU entry with a “small-stakes” charm (GamesRadar+, 2025) and speculate about Lang’s involvement in upcoming ensemble films (Entertainment Weekly, 2025; The Direct, 2024/2025). The net effect is that Scott remains narratively active and thematically anchored in two motifs: redemption and relational purpose. Those motifs map cleanly onto contemporary mental-health constructs.
Resilience Is Relational: What the 2024–2025 Literature Shows
Recent scholarship continues to underscore resilience as a dynamic system driven by individual skills and contextual supports—family, community, and opportunity (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2025; Journal of Public Health, 2024). Systematic and narrative reviews emphasize that resilience correlates with better mental-health outcomes, but caution against over-personalizing responsibility while ignoring social determinants (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2025; Journal of Public Health, 2024). That nuance matters: Scott Lang’s recovery arc is not merely grit; it’s grit plus help—Hank Pym’s second chance, Hope van Dyne’s belief, Cassie’s unconditional love, and the Avengers’ communal mission (Marvel, n.d.).
In practice, I often help clients map supports at three levels:
- Personal skills (distress tolerance, cognitive reframing, values clarification).
- Relational anchors (family roles, trusted friends, peer groups).
- Structural access (stable work, legal aid, healthcare, safer housing).
Lang’s story vividly demonstrates all three. Clinically, that gives clients a concrete “ecosystem model” of resilience: not a single trait, but a networked capacity that grows when connections are strengthened (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2025; Journal of Public Health, 2024).
Narrative Identity: Re-Authoring After a Fall
A 2025 theoretical paper on narrative identity and recovery highlights how people re-script their life stories after adversity: they locate meaning, reclaim agency, and stitch coherence across “before,” “during,” and “after” the crisis (Livesley et al., 2025). Scott Lang’s charm is that he narrates openly—he jokes about his rap sheet, names his fears, and reframes failure as feedback. Fans and journalists alike celebrate this tone; it reads as psychologically safe comedy rather than defensive bravado (GamesRadar+, 2025).
In therapy, narrative work can transform shame into responsibility and then into contribution. A typical intervention might include:
- Plot mapping: “What chapter are you in? Who are your mentors? What’s the next small beat?”
- Counter-story practice: Replace global labels (“I’m a screw-up”) with precision (“I broke a law once. I paid the price. I’m building trust”).
- Values-anchored actions: Tiny, daily commitments that align with the identity you are writing next.
Scott’s “little guy” mantra is narrative CBT in street clothes. Clients often internalize the idea: I don’t have to be enormous to be effective; I have to be consistent. That shift reduces avoidance, a key driver of anxiety.
Media Portrayals and Mental Health: Opportunity and Caveat
A 2024 editorial series and literature reviews caution that media depictions wield real influence on help-seeking, stigma, and perceived norms (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2024; MDPI, 2024). Another 2024 empirical study underscores the downside: misportrayals can be felt as harmful by many viewers (Graham et al., 2024). Conversely, newer work suggests superhero narratives can scaffold resilience scripts for some audiences, especially when characters process adversity rather than simply “power through” (PLOS ONE, 2025).
Scott Lang typically models help-seeking without melodrama—he accepts mentoring, co-parents collaboratively, and lets teammates actually help him. In sessions, I sometimes invite clients to observe that difference: competence ≠ isolation. The cinematic spectacle may be fantastical, but the interpersonal micro-moves (apologizing, co-planning, following through) are teachable and transferable.
Fatherhood as a Protective Factor
The last two years have also brought renewed attention to father-engagement. A 2024 synthesis argues that fathers are doing more care work than ever and that father involvement predicts child and family benefits (American Institute for Boys & Men, 2024). A 2025 federal meta-evaluation highlights program elements that improve father outcomes (U.S. ACF, 2025). Meanwhile, popular coverage continues to link Scott Lang’s identity to fatherhood—his decision-making remains explicitly Cassie-centered (Marvel, n.d.; GamesRadar+, 2025).
For clients, fatherhood (or broader caregiving roles) often becomes a stabilizing identity that organizes recovery: I show up because they need me, and I need me to be the kind of person they deserve. We work to convert that inspiration into daily, bite-sized behaviors (bedtime routine, a weekly “micro-adventure,” a check-in text) that accumulate into attachment security. When anxiety is high, these rituals are the “Pym particles” of parenting—small inputs, outsized returns.
“Think Small”: Anxiety Tools From a Tiny Avenger
Anxiety nudges us toward catastrophic scale: everything feels big, permanent, and uncontrollable. Scott Lang’s signature move is the opposite—scale management—and it’s an elegant metaphor for evidence-based care:
- Shrink the problem: Break tasks into micro-steps; name the smallest helpful action you can do in two minutes (behavioral activation).
- Grow your resources: Expand what’s working (social connection, sleep hygiene, exercise); recruit mentors or teammates (resilience systems).
- Right-size threats: Use cognitive reappraisal to calibrate risk vs. values; practice exposure in small, repeatable loops (CBT).
- Suit up consistently: Identity follows action. Tiny routines—gratitude journaling, mindful breaths before hard conversations, taking meds—stack into narrative change.
Clients often resonate with this playful framing; it lowers shame and increases self-efficacy, which is repeatedly tied to better mental-health trajectories (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2025).
Moral Injury, Repair, and Prosocial Purpose
Scott’s conviction history invites another relevant lens: moral injury and repair. While most people’s “record” is metaphorical—a betrayal, an affair, a relapse—the emotional physics are similar: guilt, self-criticism, and withdrawal. Narrative identity work plus prosocial purpose (co-parenting well, mentoring others, volunteering) accelerates repair. Current reviews emphasize that resilience blossoms when individual effort is paired with community contribution and structural opportunities (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2025; Journal of Public Health, 2024).
Therapeutic prompt: If your life had end-credits, who would you thank for your second chance? How will you pay it forward this week? Scott’s arc answers both: he acknowledges help and makes himself useful.
Team Dynamics and Help-Seeking (a.k.a., The Avengers Are Group Therapy)
One of the joys of Lang’s portrayal is the way humor coexists with vulnerability. Recent interviews keep him in the public eye with the same lightness (Entertainment Weekly, 2025), which matters because modeling is persuasive: when admired figures normalize “not knowing” and asking for support, stigma softens (MDPI, 2024). Teams amplify resilience by distributing load, creating redundant supports, and offering corrective feedback in real time—precisely what we encourage clients to build around themselves.
Practical exercise for clients: Assemble Your Five. Name five roles (not necessarily five people): a mentor, a truth-teller, a cheerleader, a co-planner, and an accountability buddy. Then assign names, even if one person fills two roles. That small social architecture changes outcomes.
Using Pop Culture Clinically (Without Turning Therapy Into Trivia Night)
Drawing from Caliper Wellness’s integrative approach, here are structured ways to leverage characters like Scott Lang in treatment:
- Values-clarification via exemplars: Identify three Lang behaviors you respect (e.g., apologizing quickly, showing up for Cassie, accepting help). Translate each into a 7-day, measurable behavior.
- Exposure through metaphor: If social anxiety is the “Quantum Realm,” what are your safety cues and “re-size” tools? Write a graded exposure ladder and label each rung with a playful Lang reference to reduce avoidance.
- Narrative journaling: A weekly “Little Guy Log”—two minutes on one small win you would have missed if you hadn’t been paying attention.
- Fatherhood routines: Borrow the micro-adventure idea: 30–90 minutes weekly with your child/niece/nephew doing something novel but simple. Consistency beats extravagance, and novelty boosts mood.
- Team scripts: Draft a one-text “help request” you can send when overwhelmed. Make it easy to deploy.
These methods work because they are sticky—memorable, values-laden, and fun—while still grounded in CBT/ACT principles supported by recent research on resilience and behavior change (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2025; Journal of Public Health, 2024).
Cultural Temperature Check: Why Scott Still Works
Media cycles in 2024–2025 continue to revisit what made the original Ant-Man beloved: a “smaller,” grounded story that smuggles heart into a blockbuster frame (GamesRadar+, 2025). As franchise news teases Lang’s continued relevance (Entertainment Weekly, 2025; The Direct, 2024/2025), the character’s public image keeps circling back to humility, humor, and home. That triad is not just branding; it’s clinically actionable:
- Humility curbs perfectionism and invites help.
- Humor reduces physiological arousal and cognitive rigidity.
- Home—the stable attachment base—buffers stress reactivity and orients choices.
In short: Scott Lang is not merely entertaining; he’s therapeutically portable.
Limitations and Responsible Use
Caveats are essential. Media are not manuals. A 2024 study documents how misportrayals can distort expectations around treatment (Graham et al., 2024). The MCU is aspirational fiction; it compresses growth into two hours and hand-waves practical barriers (childcare, court dates, insurance prior authorizations). Clinicians and clients should use characters as metaphors, not metrics—friendly tools to unlock motivation and coherence, supplemented by evidence-based care and real-world scaffolding (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2024; MDPI, 2024).
Conclusion: Make the Small Move
Scott Lang’s enduring appeal comes from an accessible promise: You don’t have to be the biggest presence in the room to change a life—start with yours, and start small. The last two years of scholarship reinforce that resilience is co-authored by people and systems; that identity can be rewritten in the wake of failure; and that stories—when used wisely—can catalyze help-seeking and self-efficacy.
For clients wrestling with anxiety or shame, Lang’s arc encourages a sequence worth trying today:
- Tell the truth about what happened.
- Ask for a second chance—and accept it.
- Do the smallest next right thing, repeatedly.
- Let fatherhood, friendship, and community make you braver than you feel.
- Keep your jokes; they’re part of your medicine.
At Caliper Wellness, this is our favorite kind of heroism: realistic, relational, and renewable. Think small. Live big.
References
American Institute for Boys & Men. (2024, June 13). Dads rock: The evidence. https://aibm.org/research/dads-rock-the-evidence/ American Institute for Boys and Men
Entertainment Weekly. (2025). Paul Rudd discusses Ant-Man’s appearance in upcoming “Avengers” films: “They have my number.” https://ew.com/paul-rudd-discusses-ant-man-appearance-in-upcoming-avengers-films-11697989 EW.com
Frontiers in Psychiatry. (2024). Editorial: The representation of psychiatry and mental health in popular culture and media. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1432346/full Frontiers
Frontiers in Psychiatry. (2025). The correlation between resilience and mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1536553/pdf Frontiers
GamesRadar+. (2025). 10 years later, Marvel fans are looking back at one of the most underrated MCU entries: Ant-Man. https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/marvel-movies/10-years-later-marvel-fans-are-looking-back-at-one-of-the-most-underrated-mcu-entries-ant-man/ GamesRadar+
Graham, A., et al. (2024). It’s not just a movie: Perceived impact of misportrayals of mental health on treatment engagement. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science in Psychiatry, 4(2), 1–11. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468749924000528 ScienceDirect
Livesley, T., & colleagues. (2025). Mental illness and personal recovery: A narrative identity model. Clinical Psychology Review. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272735825000121 ScienceDirect
Marvel. (n.d.). Ant-Man (Scott Lang) — character profile. https://www.marvel.com/characters/ant-man-scott-lang/in-comics/profile (Retrieved November 5, 2025). Marvel
MDPI. (2024). What does media say about mental health? A literature review of media portrayals and public attitudes. Journal of Intelligence and Mental Health Media, 5(3), Article 61. https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5172/5/3/61 MDPI
PLOS ONE. (2025). Are adverse childhood experiences associated with heroism or villainy? Lessons from superhero narratives. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0315268 PLOS
The Direct. (2024–2025). Ant-Man (Scott Lang) — latest news & updates. https://thedirect.com/tags/ant-man/ The Direct
U.S. Administration for Children & Families (ACF), Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation. (2025). Which program elements are associated with better outcomes for fathers? Findings from Fatherhood TIES. https://acf.gov/opre/report/which-program-elements-are-associated-better-outcomes-fathers Administration for Children and Families
Note. Selected entertainment citations (Entertainment Weekly, GamesRadar+, The Direct) are used to contextualize current cultural portrayals of Scott Lang (2024–2025). Scholarly sources (Frontiers in Psychiatry, MDPI, PLOS ONE, Journal of Public Health, Clinical Psychology Review) inform the mental-health framework applied in this piece.
About Caliper Wellness
Caliper Wellness provides empathetic, holistic mental-health care—talk therapy, medication management, ADHD testing, and more—via telehealth in Pasco County, Florida.