'''Basic Trope''': A scientist performs experiments on themselves.
* '''Straight''': Dr. Bob injects himself with an experimental drug to find out if it cures his disease.
* '''Exaggerated''': Dr. Bob performs surgery on himself and restructures his genetic structure to give himself superhuman abilities.
* '''Downplayed''': Dr. Bob takes a new diet pill along with ten other participants. But only after intense animal testing.
* '''Justified''':
** Dr. Bob is anxious to test his experiment but couldn't find any subjects.
** Dr. Bob's disease is terminal and there are no other available treatments. He figures that even if his experiment kills him, [[BetterToDieThanBeKilled it's better than doing nothing]] and letting the disease kill him instead. At the very least, [[FlingALightIntoTheFuture the data will help someone else finish what he started.]]
** Dr. Bob's medicine could be dangerous and he doesn't want to risk anyone else's life but his own.
** Bob considers all forms of testing (whether animal or human) as inhumane.
* '''Inverted''': Dr. Bob was led to believe he was performing "experiments" on himself. It turns out that [[TheChessmaster someone]] staged the whole thing and Dr. Bob was being watched all along.
* '''Subverted''': Dr. Bob drinks a mysterious potion in his lab, but it turns out to be fruit juice.
* '''Double Subverted''': He then drinks the real stuff.
* '''Parodied''': Dr. Bob performs all sorts of experiments on himself, including but not limited to replacing various body parts with inanimate objects just to see what would happen.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Dr. Bob tests the formula on himself, goes mad, and begins testing variants on other people, only to find that they produce different results, so he goes back and tries a new formula on himself.
* '''Averted''': Dr. Bob follows proper procedure, testing on animals, gathering volunteer test subjects, and never even thinks about testing on himself.
* '''Enforced''':
** The writers needed a scientist to develop super powers.
** The writers needed to [[ShowDontTell show how desperate Dr. Bob's condition is]].
* '''Lampshaded''': "I should probably find some other people to experiment on…Or maybe not."
* '''Invoked''': Dr. Bob knows that the experiment will provide excellent results, so insists on trying it on himself first.
* '''Exploited''': The CorruptCorporateExecutive who funds Dr. Bob's research refuses to pay for test subjects knowing that Dr. Bob would use himself if he can't find any.
* '''Defied''': Dr. Bob refuses to experiment on himself, knowing how dangerous it can be.
* '''Discussed''': "You've got a tentacle growing out of your back. Have you been experimenting on yourself again?"
* '''Conversed''': "Dr. Bob is going to get himself killed one of these days."
* '''Deconstructed''':
** Dr. Bob's many experiments have left him in terrible health, as well as discrediting his reputation as a scientist.
** Dr. Bob drinks his newest chemical to see if he can cure his disease. Turns out he made sulfuric acid, and dies instantly.
* '''Reconstructed''': Dr. Bob realizes that his life is in shambles, and performs one final test to see if he can [[ResetButton undo his earlier experiments.]]
* '''Played For Laughs''': Dr. Bob injects himself with a serum, which turns him into a monster, just in time for his important date with Alice. HilarityEnsues.
* '''Played For Drama''': Dr. Bob injects himself with a serum, which turns him into a monster. Now he must battle with his inner demons or risk destroying everything he's ever loved.
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%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
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%%* '''Implied''': ???
%%* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': ???