Synopsis: The Enterprise is ordered to take part in a war game exercise.
In “Peak Performance” there is an interesting subplot in that after being defeated by the visiting master strategist Sirna Kolrami in a game of Strategema, Lt. Commander Data begins to feel that there is something wrong with his programing. Data reasons that because his programing is perfect that he should have won. Captain Jean-Luc Picard tells Data: “It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life” (Kemper & Scheerer, 1989). Data goes on to challenge Kolrami to a rematch and this time he plays not to win, but to play to a draw. This frustrates Kolrami to the point that he stops the game. Data, the most human of androids has learned a powerful lesson.
From a depth psychological perspective Data is behaving much like our Logos-driven rational conscious ego does when we are confronted by a bit of material from our Eros-driven irrational unconscious. What Data feels about his programming, is what we feel about our conscious ego; and when something breaks through our unconscious to challenge the rational ego, we have difficulties dealing with it just as Data did. Data stopped doubting himself and came up with a new plan to defeat Kolrami after integrating Picard’s words into his programing. Similarly, when instead of ignoring or repressing that piece of unconscious material it is integrated into the ego, the psyche becomes stronger.
Reference:
Kemper, D. (Writer), & Scheerer, R. (Director). (1989, July 8). Peak performance (Season 2, Episode 21) [TV series episode]. In G. Roddenberry (Executive Producer), Star trek: The next generation. Paramount Television.
Original post created 17 July 2021
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