‘My Mind to Your Mind … My Thoughts to Your Thoughts’: Star Trek, Vulcans and the Issue(s) of Mental Health

Abstract

Throughout the Star Trek franchise, its philosophy towards diversity is perhaps best represented by the Vulcan Idic or Kol-Ut-Shan; a symbol of the belief in ‘Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations’ or ‘the glory of creation is in its infinite diversity’. As Gene Rodenberry remarked, this philosophy epitomises ‘an ideal based on learning to delight in our essential differences, as well as learning to recognize our similarities’. As long-time viewers of Star Trek can attest, although the franchise has a complicated history with coding and depictions of diversity, it similarly includes ever-evolving perspectives on the infinite combinations of life. One example of representation that appears, albeit in different forms, in all iterations of Star Trek is that of disability. As Kathryn Allan contends, ‘SF is inhabited by people (and aliens) whose embodiments are situated along the entire spectrum of ability’. From physical disabilities like Christopher Pike’s use of a wheelchair (TOS, DISCO and SNW) to sensory impairment such as the blindness of the Aenar species (ENT and SNW) and Geordi Le Forge (TNG), and the deafness of Riva (TNG). Similarly, cases of cognitive and psychological disability including PTSD as portrayed by characters like Nog (DS9) and B’Elanna Torres’s self-harm (VOY), and more recently Spock’s dyslexia or L’tak Terai (DISCO) have illustrated the potential for breaking down restrictive barriers in favour of a more equitable society for those with disabilities. However, as these and other examples highlight, the Star Trek franchise is only beginning to challenge negative perceptions towards disabilities. This is particularly evident in relation to the Vulcan species and Vulcan characters seen across multiple iterations of Star Trek.

This paper seeks to examine Vulcan attitudes towards mental health, their suppression and purging of emotions, and their rituals as the most long-lived examples of cognitive and psychological disabilities in the history of the franchise. Tracing the history of the Vulcan embrace of logic over emotion at the ‘Time of Awakening’, I explore how the philosophy of Surak impacted Vulcan society and the formation of Vulcan identity. With reference to the Vulcan Isolationist Movement, the Syrrannites, the V’tosh ka’tur and the Romulans, I investigate the culture of stigmatism and segregation towards those who do not follow the strict tenets of Vulcan society. Next, focusing on two neurological disorders, Pa’nar Syndrome (ENT) and Bendii Syndrome (TNG), I illustrate that through acts of scapegoating and the theatre of secrecy that surrounds the Vulcan psyche, attempts to conceal issues of mental health within their society only furthers an unwillingness to understand cognitive and psychological disabilities. Finally, discussing Vulcan practices and rituals such as mind-melding, Fullara, Kolinahr and Pon farr as seen in ENT, TOS and VOY, I argue that because of the extreme and erratic physical and psychological imbalances that manifest themselves during such actions, involvement in these practices, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, often has fatal consequences for Vulcans and other participants.