Muggles rejoice

Not that millions of readers young and old need convincing, but the American Psychiatric Association says Harry Potter’s all right. A symposium at the APA’s annual convention analyzed the boy wizard with the shock of unruly hair, the round glasses and the lightning bolt scar and found him to be a specimen of good mental health.

This might seem a rather frivolous way for several thousand highly trained scientists to spend their time, but given the increasing concern about the impact of popular entertainment upon kids, it was a symposium well spent. The conclusion is that not only are the four best-selling novels by J.K. Rowling witty, exciting and enormous amounts of fun, they teach – but don’t preach – valuable lessons.

According to the panelists, the orphaned hero is exceptionally well-balanced – adventuresome and determined, always tolerant, never arrogant; Harry survived a terribly abusive childhood without ever using it as an excuse for depression or aggression.

Further, the psychiatrists found, no kids, not even those who listen to the most offensive rap or play the most violent video games, identify with the forces of evil Harry and his friends battle. The dark wizard Voldemort has no following.

While that alone qualifies the fictional boy as a true role model and his real-life creator as a genius, perhaps the most interesting finding may be that the books provide a rare opportunity for kids and adults to connect. Several practicing psychiatrists reported that the Potter novels, with their appeal across age groups, give families a common interest, a neutral territory to converse about a shared experience. Given the extent to which the entertainment industry thrives upon creating division between kids and parents, that’s pretty magical.