7 Weaknesses Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama Has In Mob Psycho 100:

Key Takeaways

Mob’s inability to express emotions leads to uncontrollable outbursts, endangering those around him.
His social awkwardness hinders him from making lasting friendships and attracts bullies.
Mob’s desire to be normal causes him to suppress his esper abilities and lack self-acceptance.

As a fellow traveler on this rollercoaster ride we call life, I find myself deeply moved by the story of Mob Kageyama, or “Mob” for short. This young man, blessed with extraordinary powers yet plagued by an overwhelming sense of ordinariness, is a beacon of resilience and determination.

Kageyama Shigeo, or Mob for short, is exceptionally powerful when it comes to psychic abilities, perhaps one of the strongest espers known. Without his esper skills, though, he’s just an ordinary, unremarkable child – skinny and bland with no notable traits. These insecurities are often exploited by others, using them as leverage to make Mob serve their own desires instead.

Throughout the thrilling journey of Mob Psycho 100, I’ve been diligent about addressing my flaws. Yet, these very weaknesses continue to be my Achilles’ heel, costing me dearly, such as possibly losing the one I love. Despite making strides in overcoming them, they have hindered me greatly, especially during my formative years in the Mob Psycho 100 series.

Emotional Suppression

Suppressing His Emotions Has More Disadvantages Than Benefits

7 Weaknesses Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama Has In Mob Psycho 100:

Effect: Makes him a walking disaster waiting to happen

In the majority of the show, Mob’s deepest vulnerability might very well lie in his struggle to articulate his feelings without his psychic abilities backfiring. Consequently, Mob often bottled up his emotions, earning him the ominous nickname “the ticking time bomb.

When under stress or experiencing prolonged emotional triggers, he would exhibit his psychic powers, the intensity of which reflected his emotions. However, as Mob worked on mastering his psychic skills, he found it harder to discern and express his feelings effectively, leading to unexpected and potentially dangerous outbursts that put those around him at risk.

Socially Awkward

All-Powerful, But Clumsy In Social Settings

Effect: Gets emotionally detached and struggles to form lasting bonds

Among the characters from anime known for their social discomfort, Kageyama Shigeo (also known as Mob) is undoubtedly one of the most prominent. His social awkwardness is evident even in his relationships with those he considers friends, let alone strangers. For instance, when he was asked to give a speech during an election, Mob found himself unable to speak at all.

As a devoted fan, I often find myself reflecting on Mob’s daily struggles, particularly his social challenges that seem to impact his relationships significantly. On one occasion, my long-time favorite character, Tsubomi, gently hinted at his predicament by saying, “Maybe you should pick up on some clues,” subtly referring to his difficulty in understanding social cues. Sadly, Mob’s social awkwardness prevents him from forming deep connections; instead, he tends to draw the attention of bullies who underestimate his resilience.

Heavily Dependent On Reigen

Mob’s Obsessive Reliance On His Boss

Effect: Hinders his emotional growth and independence

From the get-go, Mob relies heavily on Arataka Reigen, who serves as both his boss and mentor. As a character, Reigen is rather cunning and has no qualms about deceiving enemies, customers, or even allies when necessary. Remarkably, despite having no actual psychic powers, Reigen heads the Spirits and Such Consultation Agency and employs nothing but skillful manipulation and psychology to win over his clients.

As Mob appears on the scene, Reigen gains even more trust due to having an esper by his side. Yet, this esper eventually grew too complacent, delegating all issues to Reigen. Over the course of time, this situation turns into a challenge because Mob gradually abdicates personal responsibility, viewing Reigen as his problem-solver instead of managing his own life and actions.

Tsubomi

Loses All Sense Of Reasoning When It Comes To His Childhood Crush

Effect: Makes him vulnerable to be taken advantage of

In a nutshell, Mob, a character who struggles to openly express his feelings, tends to keep them hidden instead. But when it comes to Tsubomi, his long-time crush, he finds it hard to remain his usual subdued self. His emotions become chaotic. Originally childhood friends, Mob and Tsubomi drifted apart as she grew less interested in his psychic powers and found the idea less intriguing over time.

Based on what Tsubomi says or her response to his actions, Mob might quickly shift from being completely indifferent to extremely passionate, or vice versa. Over time, Tsubomi’s behavior has influenced various aspects of Mob’s life as he’s strived to please her. This demonstrates that when it comes to the woman he adores, Mob is quite susceptible to influence.

Low Self-Esteem

Struggling To See His Own Worth

Effect: Insecure relationships and Underestimation of his skills

Despite being one of the most powerful espers in the series, Shigeo Kageyama doesn’t find much solace in this fact as it doesn’t make him feel unique or special. Instead, he views himself as an ordinary and unremarkable person. This lack of self-confidence often hinders Mob from asserting himself in various situations, which in turn affects his performance across different aspects of his life.

Regarding decision-making, Mob’s low self-assurance and doubts about his skills cause him to heavily depend on others’ opinions. This dependence, in turn, makes him susceptible to manipulation. Throughout the series, however, Mob gradually becomes more confident, but his initial lack of self-confidence remains a key characteristic that shapes his personality.

Physically Weak

A Powerful Esper That Can Barely Lift Weights With His Hands

Effect: Helpless in non-supernatural combat situations

As a gamer, I find Mob’s powers to be nothing short of incredible – leveling cities in an instant and banishing evil spirits like they’re nothing. Yet, his physical strength isn’t exactly top-notch, making him a tempting target for bullies who can’t resist the urge to flex their muscles. I don’t enjoy picking fights or flaunting my powers for no good reason, so I usually take the abuse silently and keep my powers hidden unless it’s necessary against supernatural threats.

It’s praiseworthy that he chooses not to exploit his abilities for personal advantage, but as a physically frail person, this merely exacerbates the issue, making Mob an undeniably strong esper. However, this weakness – being unable to defend himself against ordinary humans – is something he’s working on by joining the Physical Training Club, a decision likely influenced by his affection for Tsubomi, who prefers athletic males. Fortunately, this club could help him mitigate this vulnerability.

Desire To Be Normal

Mob Tries To Conform To Society, Rather Than Accept His Abilities

Effect: Struggle with self-acceptance

Striving for ‘normality’ is frequently interpreted as an attempt to conform to the collective storyline in human societies. As a psychic, Mob deviates significantly from the norm, but he yearns for the ordinary, preventing him from fully acknowledging his psychic talents and identifying with them. Instead of enhancing and perfecting his abilities, Shigeo Kageyama prefers to conceal them in order to align with society’s perception of what is considered ‘normal’.

Due to this, he struggles with self-acceptance and holding back his abilities as an esper. At times, like during the 7th Division arc, we see him relinquishing his powers to Reigen Arataka, so that he can avoid the pressure of managing and utilizing them.

2024-09-13 19:35

7 Weaknesses Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama Has In Mob Psycho 100: