History Main / VillainousDemotivator

* In ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'', Lordgenome treats his QuirkyMinibossSquad in this manner. Most blatantly, when Adiane withdraws from a battle with the heroes to avoid harming Lordgenome's [[RebelliousPrincess own daughter]], he scolds her because said daughter had been abandoned - and when Adiane remarks that she was never TOLD that, he responds with even more threats. In fact, the only one of the Miniboss Squad who doesn't seem to be affected by this is Guame, who is assumed to be Lordgenome's NonhumanSidekick from [[spoiler:his time as a Spiral Warrior. Guame was Lordgenome's Boota!]]
* We don't ''see'' him threaten them, but [[MadBomber Kimblee]] of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' seems to have taken this approach with his [[EliteMooks chimeras]]. In fact, one of them claims there's no point in the heroes showing them mercy because of this. [[spoiler:Doing so anyway works out rather well, since another of these chimeras is eventually responsible for Kimblee's death.]]
* in ''Literature/{{Gate}}'', when [[spoiler: the Yellow Rose Knightly order, have to fight their comrades]], the Imperial soldiers rightly question why they are fighting loyal knights, obeying the last few orders of the Emperor. They only go through because they fear their families would be killed if they didn't fight them. Because of this, the Knights of around 300 fend off over a thousand soldiers for presumably days. In the end, [[WhatMeasureIsAMook you feel particularly sad for the Imperial Soldiers who got caught up in it all.]]

* Despite his pop-cultural portrayal, Creator/NiccoloMachiavelli was aware of this trope. In his ''Literature/DiscoursesOnLivy'' he cites examples of rulers who punished their military leaders for failures with death or exile. He concludes that such measures drastically decreased the army's ethusiasm and willingness to risk, so he severely discouraged use of YouHaveFailedMe tactic.

* The fate of Joshua Graham in VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas. He was the co-founder and [[TheDragon legate]] of Caesar's Legion, but after his humiliating defeat at the battle of Boulder City Caesar had him covered in pitch, [[KillItWithFire set on fire]] and thrown into the Grand Canyon as an example that even high-ranked members were [[YouHaveFailedMe not safe]] from the consequences of failure.

* In the ''TabletopGame/AxisAndAllies Miniatures'' game, the Commissar, a Soviet infantry piece, had the ability to destroy another Soviet infantry piece near it, which granted a one-round bonus to attack for all other nearby Soviet infantry. Given that the Soviets had a lot of really cheap (and therefore easily expendable) infantry at their disposal, this turned out to be [[GameBreaker incredibly broken]] and its ability was [[ObviousRulesPatch quickly changed]] into instead granting nearby infantry immunity from the disrupted condition.

** [[BadBoss Visser Three]] has this as his predominant character trait - his reputation for cruelty, megalomania, and ambition are dwarfed among his own kind by his reputation for being [[BadBoss absolutely ruthless to his subordinates.]] The penalty for failure, incompetence, or low morale is instant [[OffWithHisHead decapitation.]]

--> ''"Don't fear him... fear my wrath if you fail me!!"''

* {{Inverted|Trope}} in Chapter 22 of ''Fanfic/CodePrimeR1Rebellion'', [[spoiler:Megatron beats the crap out of the Seekers and Airachnid before ordering them to work together, with the added threat that if any of them screw over the Decepticons in any way, ''all'' of them will be terminated]]. Notably, Megatron is actually aware of positive reinforcement, it's just that the lackeys in question are [[DirtyCoward spineless]] [[TheStarscream backstabbers]] [[WeAreStrugglingTogether who have their own motivations for fighting the Autobots and Black Knights]].

* Invoked in ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'', where Voldemort admits he was [[spoiler: just role-playing an EvilOverlord]] and didn't expect his fear-driven organization to accomplish much. Eventually, [[spoiler: Tom Riddle tired of playing both sides of the Wizarding War and embraced the "Voldemort" persona, planning to rule Britain as an over-the-top villain]]: it may not be intellectually stimulating, but it's a lot of fun.

* Invoked in ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'', where Voldemort admits he was [[spoiler: just role-playing an EvilOverlord]] and expected his fear-driven organization to break down. The plan called for [[spoiler: his alter-ego "David Monroe" to win the Wizarding War and become a hero]], but the bureaucratic Ministry of Magic turned out to be an equal match (i.e., [[spoiler: pathetically incompetent]]) and the war devolved into a decade-long stalemate. Finally, [[spoiler: Tom Riddle decided to embrace the "Voldemort" persona and rule Britain as an over-the-top villain]]: it may not be intellectually stimulating, but it's a lot of fun.

* Deconstructed in ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'', where Voldemort admits he was [[spoiler: just role-playing an EvilOverlord]] and expected his fear-driven organization to break down. His plan called for [[spoiler: his alter-ego "David Monroe" to win the Wizarding War and become a hero]], but the bureaucratic Ministry of Magic turned out to be an equal match (i.e., [[spoiler: pathetically incompetent]]) resulting in a decade-long stalemate. [[spoiler: Tom Riddle then decided to embrace the "Voldemort" persona and rule Britain as an over-the-top villain:]] it may not be intellectually stimulating, but it's a lot of fun.

* Deconstructed in ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'', where Voldemort admits he [[spoiler: was just role-playing an EvilOverlord and expected his fear-driven organization to break down]]. His plan called for [[spoiler: his alter-ego "David Monroe" to win the Wizarding War and become a hero]], but the bureaucratic Ministry of Magic turned out to be an equal match (i.e., [[spoiler: pathetically incompetent]]) resulting in a decade-long stalemate. [[spoiler: Tom Riddle then decided to embrace the "Voldemort" persona and rule Britain as an over-the-top villain: it may not be intellectually stimulating, but it's a lot of fun.]]

* Deconstructed in ''FanWorks/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'', where Voldemort admits he [[spoiler: was just role-playing an EvilOverlord and expected his fear-driven organization to break down]]. His plan called for [[spoiler: his alter-ego "David Monroe" to win the Wizarding War and become a hero]], but the bureaucratic Ministry of Magic turned out to be an equal match (i.e., [[spoiler: pathetically incompetent]]) resulting in a decade-long stalemate. [[spoiler: Tom Riddle then decided to embrace the "Voldemort" persona and rule Britain as an over-the-top villain: it may not be intellectually stimulating, but it's a lot of fun.]]

* Deconstructed in ''FanWorks/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'', where Voldemort admits he abused the Death Eaters because he [[spoiler: expected his fear-driven organization to break down]]. His plan called for [[spoiler: his alter-ego "David Monroe" to win the Wizarding War and become a hero]], but the bureaucratic Ministry of Magic turned out to be an equal match (i.e., [[spoiler: pathetically incompetent]]) resulting in a decade-long stalemate. [[spoiler: Tom Riddle then decided to embrace the "Voldemort" persona and rule Britain as a clichéd Evil Overlord: it may not be intellectually stimulating, but it's a lot of fun.]]

* Over the course of ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'', SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker will send orders over the loudspeakers to his minions, telling them not to screw up or he'll have them (and sometimes, their loved ones) killed. Of course, The Joker says most of these while the mooks are trapped in a room with [[BadassNormal Batman]], [[MortonsFork so there's not much hope for them in the first place]].

* In Chapter 22 of ''Fanfic/CodePrimeR1Rebellion'', [[spoiler:Megatron beats the crap out of the Seekers and Airachnid before ordering them to work together, with the added threat that if any of them screw over the Decepticons in any way, ''all'' of them will be terminated]]. Notably, Megatron is actually aware of positive reinforcement, it's just that the lackeys in question are [[DirtyCoward spineless]] [[TheStarscream backstabbers]] [[WeAreStrugglingTogether who have their own motivations for fighting the Autobots and Black Knights]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' explores and [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructs]] this. The Monarch inflicts harsh "discipline" upon his henchmen, threatening them with execution in order to remind them that he is a villain to be feared. He wants no doubt that he is ''evil'' - which, in his mind seems to mean StupidEvil. Accordingly, his tyrannical attitude doesn't work in at all: his henchmen are not merely stressed and depressed, they are utterly, hilariously incompetent. The Monarch's insistence on being taken seriously make it [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain impossible to do just that]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' explores and [[Deconstruction deconstructs]] this. The Monarch inflicts harsh "discipline" upon his henchmen, threatening them with execution in order to remind them that he is a villain to be feared. He wants no doubt that he is ''evil'' - which, in his mind seems to mean StupidEvil. Accordingly, his tyrannical attitude is shown to not work at all: his henchmen are not merely stressed and depressed, they are utterly, hilariously incompetent. The Monarch's insistence on being taken seriously only reinforce him as an IneffectualSympatheticVillain.
** Further explored and [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] when The Monarch employs Dr. Henry Killinger as an EnigmaticMinion. He rejects The Monarch's ranting that YouHaveFailedMe as "far too draconian." In contrast, Killinger adopts the role of therapist/coach/mentor to the henchmen. Soon, his well-groomed henchmen are not merely happier and healthier, but terrifyingly competent and effective. The Monarch, moron that he is, quickly undoes Killinger's reforms and is once again SurroundedByIdiots.

* ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'' explores this trope in "The Gift" in which Lord Hater becomes absolutely frustrated with the stupidity of the Watchdogs. Meanwhile, Wander gives each Watchdog a gift (It's [[YouMeanXmas the equivalent of Christmas or the holiday season]]) and for the first time ever, they experience what it's like to be happy. Their competence skyyrockets and they create an organized team to "Rescue " Hater (Who had been trying to avoid getting a gift from Wander and Sylvia.). After they secure Hater, he congratulates them on a job well done. The Watchdogs respond by thanking him for all the gifts he bought them, causing him to realize that Wander signed Hater's name to the gift tags instead of his own. This trope is really driven home in "The Gift 2: The Giftening" as well because in it we learn that the watchdogs have never been happy and that their boss quite literally treats happiness like a disease as well as frequently zaps anything that angers him with loads of green lightning.

Another demotivator is the BigBad's reaction when their minion(s) lose to the hero. Assuming they don't shoot the fellow then and there (which is, again, not exactly good for morale no matter ''what'' [[MachiavelliWasWrong Machiavelli said]]) they will likely yell ''"YouHaveFailedMe!"'' and use their AgonyBeam on the poor sap. After the poor minion is done screaming his guts out (hopefully not literally) their boss will say ''"Do not fail me again! For I shall not show you such mercy a second time."'' Whether they actually follow through depends on how dark the show is. In kid's media, even TeamRocket or the QuirkyMinibossSquad will get off with minimal verbal abuse, but others... not so much.

* Ishida Mitsunari in ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' [[SycophanticServant is so used to blind loyalty]] that he assumes the same from everyone else, and is rather poor at employee relations as a result. One of his attempts at reaffirming his stance with an ally (Saika Magoichi) involves baring a blade in her face and threatening her with a hundred curses should she betray him. And he ''likes'' her.

## Eaten by piranha beetles, and then the clone was shown the remains.
## Blown out an airlock
## Lowered inch by inch into a vat of molten copper ("It was what the smelter used that day.")
## Chained in a drive tube while the engine was slowly powered up
## Among others. When the New Republic finally got a hold of him and sentenced him to death, his request to the firing squad was that they "do it right this time."

* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'': When the [[EvilCounterpart Dark Judges]] took over Deadworld and [[OmnicidalManiac declared all life illegal]], their idea of building morale among the mortal Judges was to incinerate, rip apart, or melt anyone who didn't assist in executing the population, only to kill their more agreeable minions when they had no more use for them.

** In the main universe, the Dominion have a fine line in this. While it at least makes a kind of twisted sense with the Vorta and Jem'hadar, who are pretty much programmed on a genetic level to view the Founders as gods, the Vorta and Founders then go on to apply this to Damar and the Cardassians, who are well aware the Founders are just shape-shifting aliens. Weyoun, in particular, manages to [[MistreatmentInducedBetrayal shoot himself in the foot]] quite impressively by sacrificing half a million Cardassians to tie up the Klingons, then berating and threatening Damar when he isn't particularly happy about this.

* ''Fanfic/ACrownOfStars'': [[BigBad Jinnai]] constantly threatens his subordinates with getting them or their families executed if they underperform or act in a way that is less than perfectly loyal to him. After learning that [[BrokenAce Asuka]] -whom he had used like a toy for two years- [[BattleCouple and]] [[TheHero Shinji]] [[RelationshipUpgrade got together]] he warned her that he had shot a traitor, raised a still smoking gun as citing "[[AltumVidetur 'Ultima ratio regnum']], mm, Sohryu?", and shortly after he exploded and declared he would sell her into slavery for not pleasing him.