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[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheLorax2012 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/howbadcanibe.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[VillainSong How bad can he possibly be?]] Well, this answers the question.]]
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->''I used to be such a sweet sweet thing 'til they got a hold of me.\\
I opened doors for little old ladies. I helped the blind to see.\\
I got no friends 'cause they read the papers. They can't be seen\\
With me, and I'm gettin' real shot down and I'm feeling mean.''
-->-- '''Music/AliceCooper''', "No More Mr. Nice Guy"

When a character grows into a {{Jerkass}} over time (sometimes rather quickly). Can be due to {{Flanderization}}, a FaceHeelTurn, a [[FreudianExcuse traumatic incident]], [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking or just another regular albeit unfortunate case of]] CharacterDevelopment, which depends on who's writing said character(s). While a Jerkass growing into a JerkWithAHeartOfGold is a common phenomenon, especially in dramas, a reversal, resulting in this trope, is also common, especially in comedies.

This can also cause tropes like WhatTheHellHero, though whether the character changes back to their kind-hearted ways, again, it usually [[DependingOnTheWriter depends on the writer]]. If the transition is shown as a flashback regarding a known jerk/villain, it may be a StartOfDarkness.

See also TookALevelInBadass, TookALevelInDumbass, CynicismCatalyst, CompressedVice, JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope as well as RuderAndCruder. When this happens to a character temporarily for the sake of the plot, the JerkassBall is present. The [[OppositeTropes Counter Trope]] to TookALevelInKindness. Contrast BitchInSheepsClothing, who was always a jerk. A character taking their level in jerkassitude was genuinely nice. When a character takes this route in an adaptation, that's AdaptationalJerkass.

[[noreallife]]
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!!Example subpages:

[[index]]
* TookALevelInJerkass/AnimeAndManga
* TookALevelInJerkass/ComicBooks
* TookALevelInJerkass/FanWorks
* TookALevelInJerkass/{{Film}}
* TookALevelInJerkass/{{Literature}}
* TookALevelInJerkass/LiveActionTV
* TookALevelInJerkass/ProfessionalWrestling
* TookALevelInJerkass/VideoGames
* TookALevelInJerkass/{{Webcomics}}
* TookALevelInJerkass/WebOriginal
* TookALevelInJerkass/WesternAnimation
[[/index]]

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