History Main / TheoryTunnelvision

* In ''Anime/{{Monster}}'', detective Lunge initially believes protagonist Dr. Kenzo Tenma to be the serial killer. Over the course of the series, evidence that Johan is the real killer is practically thrown at him, from close acquaintances of Johan to criminal psychiatrists. However, Lunge continues to believe that Johan is a pseudonym for Tenma. It isn't until [[spoiler:near the very end, when Lunge sees Johan with his own two eyes, that he realizes Johan is a real person]].

* In ''Anime/KillLaKill'', Ryuko comes to believe that StudentCouncilPresident Satsuki Kiryuin was responsible for her father's death before the start of the series, since Satsuki claims to have knowledge about why it happened. She becomes so fixated on this that her flashbacks from when she barely saw the killer fleeing the scene start to shift so the figure resembles Satsuki, meaning that when [[spoiler:the ''real'' killer, Nui Harime, whose MegaTwintails make her a dead ringer for the initial silhouette, reveals herself, it comes as quite a shock to her.]]

* Lex Luthor once discovered evidence that Clark Kent is ComicBook/{{Superman}}... and promptly dismissed it, because why would a PhysicalGod use such a humble personality? A lot of his rage can be put down to [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Superman not acting the way Luthor would act with all that power]], and it drives Luthor nuts.

* The {{ComicBook/Daredevil}} comic "Seventh Circle" has him run into ComicBook/ThePunisher during a Russian gangster's high-profile trial that Matt Murdock is trying to move to Texas, since it'd be impossible for the gangster to get a fair trial in New York. Frank is convinced Matt is trying to get the trial held in a state where the death penalty applies and calls Matt a killer, one using a jury rather than a gun... [[DramaticIrony to Daredevil.]]

* ''Fanfic/RainbowDoubleDashsLunaverse:'' The Element Bearers are utterly incapable of seeing Corona (also known as [[spoiler:Celestia]]) as anything but an arrogant, cruel, greedy monster who'd kill them all given half a chance. This backfires when they're [[EnemyMine forced to work together]], and the six of them think backstabbing the PhysicalGod who's agreed to work with them is a better idea than stopping the necromancer who's trying to become immortal. In fairness, though, they're part of a culture that's been fed a thousand years worth of stories about how evil she is, and when they first met, she kidnapped some of their loved ones, on account of being completely insane. But even after she's cooled down somewhat, they still refuse to think she's not pure evil.

* After she's replaced in ''FanFic/BurningBridgesBuildingConfidence'', Alya immediately leaps to the conclusion that Vexxin must have ''stolen'' the Fox Miraculous, quickly banging out a blog post accusing the new heroine of being a thief. When Lila spins her own sob story about what supposedly happened, Alya's willing to listen since she's '[[CelebrityLie Ladybug's friend]]'... but it's not long before her anger gets the better of her, and she dismisses everything that doesn't support her belief that Vexxin ''must'' have stolen the Fox.
** This is effectively Alya's FatalFlaw: despite claiming that 'a good reporter always checks her sources', in ''practice'', she sees no need to do so once she's set her mind on something. This makes her an ideal pawn for [[ManipulativeBitch Lila]], who transforms her from [[WeUsedToBeFriends Marinette's best friend]] to [[TheHeavy her personal one-girl attack crew]].
** This flaw is prominent in many other [[Recap/MiraculousLadybugS03E01Chameleon Post-Chameleon]] [[RevengeFic salt fics]] where Alya is presented with hard evidence against Lila's lies and her own erroneous theories but she doesn't believe it.
* In ''Fanfic/AvengersInfiniteWars'', Dooku begins to basically speculate that Palpatine is a victim of this, as Darth Sidious continues to focus his efforts on trying to return to his original plans for the Clone Wars, rather than work on adapting his plans to properly incorporate the Avengers and Ultron and their impact on his schemes (such as Anakin spending more time with the Avengers and thus limiting Palpatine's opportunities to corrupt him).

* Henrietta Garland from ''Fanfic/CatarinaClaesMustDie'' is the reincarnation of a bullied girl that found relief watching ''[[FictionalVideoGame Fortune Lover]]'' HateSink bully Caterina Claes die in the bad ends. So when she is reincarnated in the world of ''LightNovel/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'', she remain firmly convinced that Caterina is a villainess who should end in doom, despite evidence that Caterina is now a NiceGirl thanks to regaining memories of her past life. For example, when hearing how Caterina is treated like a beloved [[ClassPrincess Saint]], Henrietta is convinced that she is really a BitchInSheepsClothing that secretly bullies her adopted brother Keith and the commoner student Maria, when in actually the latter two are among of Catarina's loved ones.

* ''Film/TwentyTwoJumpStreet'': {{Discussed}} and leads to an EurekaMoment. While chatting with a therapist about their partnership issues, the therapist tells Schmidt and Jenko about embedding and how people latch on to the first bit of information that they're offered while ignoring anything contradictory. This causes the duo to realize that [[spoiler:they've been basing their whole investigation on Captain Dickson's briefing that the victim was buying the drugs when in truth she was the one ''selling'' them]].

* In ''Literature/TheRook'', Graf Gerd De Leeuwen is so fixated on the idea that the Checquy have his missing brother in custody that he ignores Myfanwy's protests that they don't actually know where his brother is (as it turns out, [[spoiler:the Graf was right, but [[IgnorantOfTheirOwnIgnorance even the Checquy]] didn't know that they had the brother in question)]].

* ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'': [[AfterTheEnd After the Big Whoops]], when The Computer was trying to figure out what the hell to do next, the first usable files it found were civil defense files from 1957. It promptly decided that Alpha Complex was being invaded by [[RedScare the Commies]], and rejected all evidence to the contrary as an elaborate Commie plot to obscure the truth.
* ''TabletopGame/GeniusTheTransgression:'' A common form of madness for Geniuses in general, but a particular ailment of the Etherites, who are convinced their theory of everything is the correct one and will ignore, or outright eradicate all evidence to the contrary and get very violent with all that try to challenge their theory.

* In ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'', upon hearing that Mushroom Castle was attacked and Princess Peach was kidnapped (AGAIN!), Luigi immediately decides that Bowser must've been behind it. (He would have been right the [[RecycledPlot last fifty times]]...)

* The ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'' version of Riddler is so convinced that Batman is nothing more than a thug that bullies those weaker than him and that his tech is stolen from others, that [[spoiler: after Scarecrow removes Batman's mask in live television, Nigma [[IRejectYourReality refuses to believe it and "figures out" that the entire thing was a conspiracy]] ''created by Batman, Scarecrow, and most of the human populace'' just to trick him.]]
* In ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2'', it's subtle but almost every time a major job goes wrong, the gang automatically assumes there was a mole, no matter how improbable. The Saint Denis heist is a great example, as the gang normally goes south or east to evade the law, so it wouldn't be a stretch for the law to guess Saint Denis would be their next target. Some gang members also take certain circumstances, such as Abigail being able to escape when [[spoiler:Hosea]] didn't or John being captured but not killed right away, as evidence of them being traitors. It isn't until the end that Arthur realizes how flawed their strategy is. [[spoiler:Of course, there really ''is'' a mole, but they didn't turn traitor until after Guarma.]]

* In ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'', during the Mahuilotu arc, the local police just cannot get over the idea that the [[EverythingsEvenWorseWithSharks killer shark]] was some kind of "murder-sub" built by John der Trihs. (They knew that their terraformed planet didn't have any sharks. Why blame John? They probably figured that he who smelt it dealt it.) The Toughs later threaten to sue the idiots for what their lawyer calls "impersonating a police force".
* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', Terezi finds the corpse of [[spoiler:Tavros]] and immediately concludes that Vriska is the most likely suspect. As she searches the crime scene for clues, Terezi admits to herself that she's only pretending to not already know who the murderer was. Then she finds the bodies of [[spoiler:Feferi and Nepeta]] and concludes that Vriska's on some kind of killing spree. She's a bit taken aback when Vriska freely admits to killing [[spoiler:Tavros,]] but isn't even aware that the others died.
** Note that while [[spoiler:Gamzee]] had staged the last crime scene to frame Vriska, it was only after they found out about Terezi's personal conviction, and [[spoiler:John]] later remarks on how poorly staged said scene was.

* In ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'', Lord Vyce is completely convinced that he alone can defeat [[EldritchAbomination The Entity]], that he absolutely refuses to believe Linkara when he says the latter already defeated it. When Linkara points out that there's video footage and sensor readings of The Entity's defeat, Vyce brushes it off as either The Entity FakingTheDead or Linkara doctoring the evidence.

* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'': When Rorschach investigates the Comedian’s murder, he comes to the conclusion that someone is specifically targeting superheroes based solely on a [[BatDeduction hunch]]. As he tries to investigate further, he stubbornly ignores more obvious and logical answers in favor of his “mask-killer” theory. As a result, he spends most of the story on a wild goose chase and by the time he finally figures out the true scale of what has happened, its too late to do anything about it.

* ComicBook/Watchmen: When Rorschach investigates the Comedian’s murder, he comes to the conclusion that someone is specifically targeting superheroes based solely on a [[BatDeduction hunch]]. As he tries to investigate further, he stubbornly ignores more obvious and logical answers in favor of his “mask-killer” theory. As a result, he spends most of the story on a wild goose chase and by the time he finally figures out the true scale of what has happened, its too late to do anything about it.

SelectiveObliviousness is the supertrope of this; FlatEarthAtheist and TheScully are subtropes. A staple technique of the TautologicalTemplar. TheFundamentalist is the logical extreme of this, building everything around a few notions held this way. What develops into Theory Tunnel Vision may start out as AggressiveCategorism. Also compare IRejectYourReality.

* ''Manga/DeathNote'': [[VillainProtagonist Light Yagami]] is firmly convinced that he's a good guy and that everything he does as Kira is necessary to [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans create a better world]], and refuses to see that his actions his actions [[HeWhoFightsMonsters make him no better]] than the criminals he's trying to rid the world of. [[CantTakeCriticism Heaven help you]] if you so much as ''suggest'' that what Light is doing is evil.

* In ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2'', it's subtle but almost every time a major job goes wrong, the gang automatically assumes there was a mole, no matter how improbable. The Saint Denis heist is a great example as the gang normally goes south or east to evade the law so it wouldn't be a stretch for the law to guess Saint Denis would be their next target. Some gang members also take certain circumstances, such as Abigail being able to escape when [[spoiler: Hosea]] didn't or John being captured but not killed right away, as evidence of them being traitors. It isn't until the end that Arthur realizes how flawed their strategy is. [[spoiler: Of course, there really ''is'' a mole, but they didn't turn traitor until after Guarma.]]

** Tsukiko firmly believes that HumansAreBastards, and as the opposite of the living, undead are good underneath everything, despite the total lack of evidence for this. She starts to realize she may be wrong as [[spoiler:her wights are controlled into draining her to death.]]
** Miko is unable to comprehend that anyone who is good might disagree with her methodology, therefore the Order (who defend Belkar, who is evil) are also evil. Her determination to stick to this belief in the face of all the evidence eventually leads her to full-blown paranoia [[spoiler:and falling from paladinhood when she concludes that her sworn lord, since he "conspired" with the Order, is also evil...and betrays her oath by killing him. This, of course, she interprets as further evidence of the Order's evil. They "tricked" her into abandoning her vows.]]

'''O'chul:''' You find the idea that I have some sort of secret knowledge implanted in my brain by the elders of the Sapphire Guard that has been so deeply suppressed that no magical effect can unearth it to be ''[[OccamsRazor simpler]]''...than the idea that I just don't know anything?\\

* In ''WebVideo/ThereWillBeBrawl'', Mario immediately assumes Bowser is behind Peach's latest kidnapping, and refuses to hear any other explanation...not that you could blame him, of course. He only relents when [[spoiler:Luigi tells him of Bowser's death.]]

* Denzel Crocker in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' immediately attributes anything slightly unusual to [[SuddenlyShouting FAIRY GODPARENTS!]] Granted he is correct a lot of the time, but he is just as quick to attribute completely mundane events to them.

* Henrietta Garland from ''Fanfic/CatarinaClaesMustDie'' is the reincarnation of a bullied girl that found relief watching ''Fortune Lover'' HateSink bully Caterina Claes die in the bad ends. So when she is reincarnated in the world of ''LightNovel/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'', she remain firmly convince that Caterina is a villainess of doom, despite evidence that Caterina is now a NiceGirl thanks to regaining memories of her past life. For example, when hearing how Caterina is treated like a beloved Saint, Henrietta is convinced that she is really a BitchInSheepsClothing that secretly bullies her adopted brother Keith and the commoner student Maria, when in actually the latter two are among of Catarina's loved ones.

'''O'chul:''' No doubt.

** The Twelfth Doctor, who despises war and killing and hates himself for hurting innocent people, cannot believe that Clara's ex-soldier boyfriend Mr. Pink is anything but a BloodKnight who glories in death and destruction. Mr. Pink, now a middle-school teacher [[NotSoDifferent who also despises war and killing and hates himself for hurting innocent people]], upon learning the Doctor is a Time ''Lord'', cannot believe that an officer ("an ''aristocrat!''" at that) is anything but an UpperClassTwit GloryHound who doesn't care about "lower people" getting hurt. In the end, they agree that Clara loves them both and that's all that really matters. (The Doctor also settles on referring to Pink as a muscle-headed PE teacher [Pink teaches maths], which is probably an upgrade from heartless killer soldier.)

* J. Jonah Jameson is convinced that Franchise/SpiderMan is a threat and a menace, and no matter how many acts of heroism Spider-Man performs, nothing will change his mind.

* The ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'' version of Riddler is so convinced that Batman is nothing more than a thug that bullies those weaker than him and that his tech is stolen than others, that [[spoiler: after Scarecrow removes Batman's mask in live television, Nigma [[IRejectYourReality refuses to believe it and "figures out" that the entire thing was a conspiracy]] ''created by Batman, Scarecrow, and most of the human populace'' just to trick him.]]

* In the ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' episode "I Only Have Eyes For You", Giles is initially convinced that a haunting is [[spoiler:Jenny]] trying to communicate, despite all evidence to the contrary, until he is forced to accept that Jenny would never be that cruel.

* ''Film/TwentyTwoJumpStreet'': {{Discussed}} and leads to an EurekaMoment. While chatting with a therapist about their partnership issues, the therapist tells Schmidt and Jenko about embedding and how people latch on to the first bit of information that they're offered while ignoring anything contradictory. This causes the duo to realize that [[spoiler:they've been basing their whole investigation on Captain Dickson's briefing that the victim was buying the drugs when in truth she was the one ''selling'' them.]]

* Denzel Crocker in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' immediately attributes anything slightly unusual to fairy godparents. Granted he is correct a lot of the time, but he is just as quick to attribute completely mundane events to them.

* Frequently played for laughs in ''LightNovel/SupposeAKidFromTheLastDungeonBooniesMovedToStarterTown'', where much of the comedy involves various characters being EntertaininglyWrong about outlandish circumstances or {{contrived coincidence}}s. For example, Selen believes that [[TheHero Lloyd's]] love for her unlocked the cursed belt that covered her face all her life. From there, she also assumes that love is the man she's destined to spend her life with and, when the belt turns out to also be a magical artifact that protects her from any harm, that it has been blessed and thus represents the strength of their destined love. Whenever evidence or a person contradicts any level of this logic, Selen will either dismiss it, [[MovingTheGoalposts add a new insane theory]], or just flat out [[{{Yandere}} murder/destroy]] whatever's causing the contradiction.

'''O'chul:''' You find the idea that I have some sort of secret knowledge implanted in my brain by the elders of the Sapphire Guard that has been so deeply suppressed that no magical effect can unearth it to be ''simpler''...than the idea that I just don't know anything?\\

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', Terezi finds the corpse of [[spoiler:Tavros]] and immediately concludes that Vriska is the most likely suspect. As she searches the crime scene for clues, Terezi admits to herself that she's only pretending to not already know who the murderer was. Then she finds the bodies of [[spoiler:Feferi and Nepeta]] and concludes that Vriska's on some kind of killing spree. She's a bit taken aback when Vriska freely admits to killing [[spoiler:Tavros]], but isn't even aware that the others died.

** Miko is unable to comprehend that anyone who is good might disagree with her methodology, therefore the Order (who defend Belkar, who is evil) are also evil. Her determination to stick to this belief in the face of all the evidence eventually leads her to full-blown paranoia [[spoiler:and falling from paladinhood when she concludes that her sworn lord, since he "conspired" with the Order, is also evil... and betrays her oath by killing him. This, of course, she interprets as further evidence of the Order's evil; they "tricked" her into abandoning her vows.]]

'''O'chul:''' You find the idea that I have some sort of secret knowledge implanted in my brain by the elders of the Sapphire Guard that has been so deeply suppressed that no magical effect can unearth it to be ''simpler''... than the idea that I just don't know anything?\\

* In ''WebVideo/ThereWillBeBrawl'', Mario immediately assumes Bowser is behind Peach's latest kidnapping, and refuses to hear any other explanation... not that you could blame him, of course. He only relents when [[spoiler:Luigi tells him of Bowser's death]].

* Shredder in ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012''. He claims [[NeverMyFault Splinter is responsible for everything bad in his life]]. At first it seems like he's just lying to manipulate his henchmen, but soon it becomes clear that [[BelievingTheirOwnLies he seriously believes in the bizarre conspiracies he attributes to Splinter]], violently rebuking any evidence to the contrary. He clings to this theory so obsessively that he sometimes seems to be outright delusional; at one point he sincerely claims to have watched Splinter murder somebody that he himself killed.