History Main / PsychoactivePowers

** [[Characters/MarvelComicsExodus Exodus]] has power levels that are based in large part on his confidence, along with his [[KnightTemplar certainty in the righteousness of his cause]] at any given time. This is why his power levels fluctuate so wildly, swinging from being able to thrash an entire team of X-Men ''plus'' an entire team of Avengers during the ''ComicBook/{{Blood Ties|MarvelComics}}'' story to suffering more than one [[TheWorfEffect embarrassing defeat]] during ''ComicBook/MessiahComplex'' (which saw him forge a very reluctant alliance with noted StalkerWithATestTube Mr. Sinister). He'd probably surpass his mentor ComicBook/{{Magneto}} if he ever overcame this limitation.

** ComicBook/{{Gambit|MarvelComics}}'s powers include an interesting take on this -- in addition to his much more well known kinetic card charging, he also has a low-level CharmPerson ability. The catch is that this ability is dependent on his own emotional state and self-perception, so if he is feeling particularly depressed and self-loathing (as he was when his role in the infamous Mutant Massacre was exposed) those around him pick up on it and are influenced to feel the same way. This was what caused his own teammates to abandon him to die in the Arctic wastelands.

* As of the ''Comicbook/CaptainBritainAndMI13'' series, Captain Britain's powers work like this; super strength and durability in proportion to his confidence and emotional stability. His alternate universe teenage counterpart Kid Briton introduced in ''ComicBook/AvengersArena'' has the same powers which he fuels by being TheBully at the Braddock Academy.
* ''Comicbook/{{DIE}}'': Matthew's alter ego, the Grief Knight, transforms emotion into power. Judging by his reaction when he's forced to revisit that identity 20 years later, that doesn’t work out well for him.

* ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk is rooted in this, as Bruce Banner only transforms into the Hulk when angry, and the angrier Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets. This does [[DependingOnTheWriter depend on the writer]]; sometimes the Hulk's transformations are portrayed as the result of adrenaline, both in the form of anger and excitement or fear, other times it is portrayed as a pure survival mechanism, activating to save Banner's life regardless of emotional state. But the anger fueling strength connection is generally maintained.
* Gladiator, a.k.a. Kallark, of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, is like this; his power is based on his confidence. This spirals both ways; being the [[SuperpowerLottery most powerful mortal in the universe]] when he's on top of his game, he's ever-more-confident when things are going his way- but when something finally does go wrong for him, the shock can make his power collapse ''quick.'' A good example of this is when he lost a fight with Cannonball of the X-Men, who's nowhere near Gladiator's level...but knows how Gladiator's powers work. He was able to goad Gladiator into punching him at full strength, and creatively used his own powers to redirect the force of the attack and give the illusion of a complete NoSell. The shock of this weakened Gladiator to the point that Cannonball could knock him out.
* In ''ComicBook/NewWarriors'', the superhero Speedball, after becoming [[DarkerAndEdgier Penance]], found that his [[DiscardAndDraw new powers]] only worked when he was in pain. Cue the iron maiden styled combat suit. Except, Creator/WarrenEllis [[ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}} realized]] that people who cut themselves process pain abnormally; the adrenaline rush of self-mutilation triggers an endorphin reaction, in effect making them ''high''. Thus, his powers have the same trigger as always; he can't use them unless he's happy. As the FunPersonified character he had been before ''ComicBook/CivilWar2006'', it makes some sense that this had previously not been noticed. Doc Samson points this out, and in the process helps him start overcoming his depression.
* ComicBook/SheHulk (Jen Walters, that is) can usually use her powers at will, but she has been stuck before in her Hulk form due to subconscious unwillingness to change back, and in her human form when she was too scared to become She-Hulk again. If you make her angry enough, she can also turn into a Savage She-Hulk that is very reminiscent of her cousin's form.

* Comicbook/{{Superman}} once lost his powers for a year, then got them back when he cheered up and enjoyed his life.
* The ComicBook/XMen have a few examples among their ranks:
** Much like Gladiator above, [[Characters/MarvelComicsExodus Exodus]] has power levels that are based in large part on his confidence, along with his [[KnightTemplar certainty in the righteousness of his cause]] at any given time. This is why his power levels fluctuate so wildly, swinging from being able to thrash an entire team of X-Men ''plus'' an entire team of Avengers during the ''Bloodties'' story to suffering more than one [[TheWorfEffect embarrassing defeat]] during ''Messiah Complex'' (which saw him forge a very reluctant alliance with noted StalkerWithATestTube Mr. Sinister). He'd probably surpass his mentor ComicBook/{{Magneto}} if he ever overcame this limitation.
** ComicBook/{{Gambit}}'s powers include an interesting take on this -- in addition to his much more well known kinetic card charging, he also has a low-level CharmPerson ability. The catch is that this ability is dependent on his own emotional state and self-perception, so if he is feeling particularly depressed and self-loathing (as he was when his role in the infamous Mutant Massacre was exposed) those around him pick up on it and are influenced to feel the same way. This was what caused his own teammates to abandon him to die in the Arctic wastelands.

** Just like Gambit above, the mutant terrorist and Acolyte of Magneto Spoor has low-level Charm Person abilities that affect those around him. But unlike the usually cool and confident Gambit, Spoor is a hot mess of emotional issues and self-loathing, leading to just about everyone that comes into contact with him despising him on sight. But since Spoor is also a DeathSeeker, this suits him just fine.
** ComicBook/{{Storm}} is incurably claustrophobic due to having been buried alive for days with only the corpses of her parents for company when she was a small child. She has control over it most of the time, but when underground or trapped in a situation where she cannot breathe, her need to be free manifests in her powers, which grow stronger and more destructive.

** ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseFuture'': at 16 Steven has mostly mastered his previous powers, but develops destructive PowerIncontinence that worsens along with his mental state.