History Main / NoHonorAmongThieves

In short, this is ChronicBackstabbingDisorder, or even just chronic lack of trust, applied as a persistent Achilles heel of the bad guys. Often results in an EnemyCivilWar or EvilVersusEvil. Compare with TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong and EvilCannotComprehendGood. The opposite is EvilIsOneBigHappyFamily and of course, HonorAmongThieves.

* The opening scene of The Dark Knight illustrates the way Joker's henchmen kill each other for a bigger share of the loot.

* ''MassEffect2'' has a classic case of this when Shepard encounters the "MSV Strontium Mule" which has been recently invaded by a group of Blue Suns mercs. When the commander takes down the groups leader Captain Vorhess, we soon find out [[TheStarscream Sergent Bootis]] deliberately held back his men so he'd be killed leaving him in charge and more loot for the survivors. "The fewer men left, the bigger the prize for each of us". Needless to say not combining all your available forces against [[{{Badass}} Commander Shepard]] is essentially suicide.

* In ''DarkEmpire'', Han Solo tries to recruit the help of Mako Spince, the man who helped him out when Han was first getting into the smuggling business, someone he considers a friend. Mako sells him out.

** For that matter, most of Han's old friends sell him out by ''The New Rebellion''. Even [[TheEmpireStrikesBack Lando]] had, though Lando had [[TheSadisticChoice a very good reason]] and had later doubled back to help him at great personal risk. The smuggler community actually regarded Han, and Lando to a lesser extent, as unrealistically honorable and idealistic even before they went straight.

* Varies among the Death Eaters in the ''HarryPotter'' series. Their degree of loyalty ranges from Bellatrix Lestrange, who is [[PsychoSupporter literally]] insanely loyal to Voldemort, to Igor Karkaroff, who ratted out other Death Eaters to avoid Azkaban. Most of the Death Eaters would seem to fall in the middle and will turn their back on Voldemort if it's to their advantage.

* Varies among the Death Eaters in the ''HarryPotter'' series. Their degree of loyalty ranges from Bellatrix Lestrange, who is [[PsychoSupporter literally]] insanely loyal, to Igor Karkaroff, who ratted out other Death Eaters to avoid Azkaban. Most of the Death Eaters seem to fall in the middle and will turn their back on Voldemort if it's to their advantage.

In short, this is ChronicBackstabbingDisorder, or even just chronic lack of trust, applied as a persistent Achilles heel of the bad guys. Often results in an EnemyCivilWar or EvilVersusEvil. Compare with TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong and EvilCannotComprehendGood. The opposite is EvilIsOneBigHappyFamily.

In short, this is ChronicBackstabbingDisorder, or even just chronic lack of trust, applied as a persistent Achilles heel of the bad guys. Often results in an EnemyCivilWar or EvilVersusEvil. Compare with TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong and EvilCannotComprehendGood.

* Happens with a LOT of criminal groups in the real world. If they think they can make more money by killing a "friend", or simply need to throw someone to the wolves to save themselves, they'll do so without a second thought.

* Happens with a LOT of criminal groups in the real world. If they think they can make more money by killing a "friend", or simply need to rhrow someone to the wolves to save themselves, they'll do so without a second thought.

* [[ThoseWackyNazis The Nazis]] often ran into a lot of trouble because everyone in the government was trying to carve out their only little fiefdom at the expense of everyone else, even when the war was clearly being lost.