History Main / PsychopathicManchild

* ''VisualNovel/GyakutenKenji2'': Blaise Debeste has a penchant for acting like a petty teenage bully, [[OcularGushers excessive weepiness]], playing with his lighter like an entranced child and other bouts of general immaturity, to contrast with his kid who tries (and fails) to act more mature than he really is. The psychopathic part comes from the fact he's unnecessarily creepy about it all, is terribly corrupt, [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem believes the truth is something he decides]], and [[spoiler:has killed several people, including his wife by implication, to cover for his crimes]].

* ''VisualNovel/{{Ace Attorney Investigations|MilesEdgeworth}} 2:'' Blaise Debeste has a penchant for acting like a petty teenage bully, [[OcularGushers excessive weepiness]], playing with his lighter like an entranced child and other bouts of general immaturity, to contrast with his kid who tries (and fails) to act more mature than he really is. The psychopathic part comes from the fact he's unnecessarily creepy about it all, is terribly corrupt, [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem believes the truth is something he decides]], and [[spoiler:has killed several people, including his wife by implication, to cover for his crimes]].

* Regina Berry of the ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'' is the teenage daughter of a circus ringmaster, who raised her without ever letting her know about the outside world. As such, she has absolutely no understanding of things like death or pain -- to her, everything is a game or a lighthearted practical joke. Unfortunately, this makes her completely (though unknowingly) selfish and cruel: she does whatever she wants to do whenever she wants to do it, never bothering to consider how her actions might affect the people around her. [[spoiler: The biggest example of this is the fact that she inadvertently put one of the circus's trapeze artists into a coma by playing a prank on him, and repeatedly talks about how he's "sleeping" instead of being nearly brain-dead.]] Albeit, it's somewhat downplayed as she's not ''intentionally'' malicious, and she ''[[InnocentlyInsensitive literally has no idea]]'' that she comes across as cruel. On the flip-side, though, [[spoiler:Acro]] definitely seems to think that she's a fully deliberate case of this.

* Poor, poor Wrestling/AJLee. She was never the same after [[Wrestling/BryanDanielson Daniel Bryan]] publicly dumped her (although that blow to the skull she took from Wrestling/TheBigShow when he nearly broke her neck during a title match with Bryan [[FridgeBrilliance might also have been a factor]]), and she quickly descended into a morass of self-pity and highly erratic behavior that eventually turned dangerous. Among her frightening deeds are [[AnythingThatMoves making sexual advances]] toward ''every'' man she comes across, wearing a red leather mask similar to Wrestling/{{Kane}}'s, putting both Bryan and Wrestling/CMPunk through a table for no apparent reason, and...[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking skipping around girlishly in short shorts and a bikini top]], although her skipping around during a tag match seemed so out there that even ''Kane'' [[LampshadeHanging told her]] that she was too crazy [[EvenEvilHasStandards even by his standards]].

* [[PsychopathicManchild/AnimatedFilms]]
* [[PsychopathicManchild/LiveActionFilms]]

* [[PsychopathicManchild/{{Film}} Films]]

** Remember how [[SpoonyBard Elan]] [[CharacterDevelopment used to be]] a benign ManChild? Well, his father [[spoiler:General Tarquin]] devolves into an evil version of this once his VillainousBreakdown really starts kicking in [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0934.html and he vows to kill all of Elan's friends (and cut off his hand)]] just to get him to [[{{Railroading}} finally follow his narrative plan]].

* Seem superficially powerful and cruel, but [[EvilIsPetty have very childish or simplistic goals]], motivations or world views. Has a tendency to overlap with TheHedonist (and indeed that trope is commonplace with this one). Usually extremely unscrupulous, vindictive, irresponsible, and vengeful, and particularly likely to view consequences as a score to settle. ItsAllAboutMe is a core character trait: they want what they want when they want it, and if you're in their way, you either get out or suffer the consequences.

What makes this character stand out is that he is TheSociopath in that he is [[LackOfEmpathy mostly incapable of feeling empathy, shame or remorse]] but unlike other sociopaths, his mental immaturity prevents him from even imitating emotions or indeed even realizing why [[EntitledBastard he takes his desires for granted]] and [[EvilCannotComprehendGood fails to even superficially consider why others would disagree or why he isn't entitled to everything.]] The more charismatic type is excepted from this, of course, though it usually still shows up in some fashion; these types are often [[LeeroyJenkins impulsive]] or [[ATragedyOfImpulsiveness prone to abandoning plans for stupid reasons]], and may have trouble grasping cause and effect. Whichever version these types of characters qualify as, often they are not fully aware of how nasty their actions actually are. In some cases (though not all), a HeelRealization may cause the character to [[CharacterDevelopment develop into a better person]]. A more innocent or well-intentioned example may be a NobleDemon. Unlike the more benign {{Manchild}} who is presented as virtually AlwaysMale, this can appear in either gender.

The grown-up equivalent of CreepyChild and the near-inversion of EnfanteTerrible. Often an enemy of a SociopathicHero though the two aren't mutually exclusive (and tend to overlap quite a bit) and contrast with the typically more benign ManChild. See also CuteAndPsycho and PingPongNaivete. Related to, but distinct from, KidsAreCruel and TeensAreMonsters. Can and often does overlap with ImmortalImmaturity and even ImmortalityImmorality.

* Be a [[TheBrute big]] DumbMuscle, often mentally challenged, that operates under someone else's direction. This type may be the most common, and also the most likely to [[JerkassWoobie play to the audience's sympathy]]. Expect them to try to PetTheDog, often with [[AndCallHimGeorge disastrous results]]. Could be a subversion of DumbIsGood.
* Seem superficially powerful and cruel, but [[EvilIsPetty have very childish or simplistic goals]], motivations or world views. Has a tendency to overlap with TheHedonist. Usually extremely unscrupulous, vindictive, irresponsible, and vengeful, and particularly likely to view consequences as a score to settle. ItsAllAboutMe is a core character trait: they want what they want when they want it, and if you're in their way, you either get out or suffer the consequences.
* Actually possess a lot of power, intelligence, and/or prestige, but also have some childish qualities or behaviors, to fit in with a certain aspect of the story being told, or else advertise that there is something seriously wrong with them, to make them [[NightmareFuel creepier]]. These are most likely to be a story's BigBad. These flaws are also often {{Fatal Flaw}}s, and will be a meaningful factor in why what should have been successful plans fail, or why they walk into something that [[SanityHasAdvantages more sane and/or mature villains would have avoided]].

What makes this character stand out is that he is TheSociopath in that he is mostly incapable of feeling empathy, shame or remorse but unlike other sociopaths, his mental immaturity prevents him from even imitating emotions or indeed even realizing why [[EntitledBastard he takes his desires for granted]] and [[EvilCannotComprehendGood fails to even superficially consider why others would disagree or why he isn't entitled to everything.]] The more charismatic type is excepted from this, of course, though it usually still shows up in some fashion; these types are often impulsive or prone to abandoning plans for stupid reasons, and may have trouble grasping cause and effect. Whichever version these types of characters qualify as, often they are not fully aware of how nasty their actions actually are. In some cases (though not all), a HeelRealization may cause the character to [[CharacterDevelopment develop into a better person]]. A more innocent or well-intentioned example may be a NobleDemon. Unlike the more benign {{Manchild}} who is presented as virtually AlwaysMale, this can appear in either gender.

The grown-up equivalent of CreepyChild and the near-inversion of EnfanteTerrible. Often an enemy of a SociopathicHero though the two aren't mutually exclusive (and tend to overlap quite a bit) and contrast with the typically more benign ManChild. See also CuteAndPsycho and PingPongNaivete. Related to, but distinct from, KidsAreCruel and TeensAreMonsters. Can and often does overlap with ImmortalImmaturity.

* [[Wiki/SCPFoundation Dr. Wondertainment]], considering the [[MyLittlePanzer toys]] he/it makes.

"Your great-grandfather decided all the children should be ''magnetized'' so we'd never get ''lost!'' ... I used to get stick to the Iron Bridge every time mother sent me out for cheese."\\

* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': Generally speaking, [[ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder Sparks]] tend to be all giddy at the thought of something "cool", even if - ''especially'' if - it's [[NightmareFetishist horrifying]] or [[CoolButStupid stupid]]. Even the heroes have a bit of [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20141210 this tendency]], though a big difference between them and the villains is that heroic Sparks at least understand the concepts of self-control and empathy. Villainous Sparks tend to not be hindered by such things.
** Case in point: Agatha's ancestors, the Old Heterodynes. They programmed the Castle Heterodyne - their SupervillainLair - with an AI system that mirrors their own personality, and the Castle is more or less a sociopathic {{Troll}}. Plus, they dubbed their tiger-like killer robots as "[[SuperFunHappyThingOfDoom Fun-Sized Mobile Agony and Death Dispensers]]", and those old enough to remember their reigns [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111130 note]] their dumber ideas:

** Lucrezia Mongfish, yet another Spark and also Agatha's mother, seems like she never grew out of her BrattyTeenageDaughter phase and acts like everyone else exists to serve her (and [[spoiler: with slaver wasps, seeking to make that a reality]]). Plus, when not angry, she often acts like a giddy little kid and (apparently) has an obsession with chocolate.

* [[spoiler: Junko Enoshima]], the BigBad of the ''Franchise/DanganRonpa'' series, is [[AwesomenessByAnalysis super intelligent to the degree of being able to predict and plan for nearly anything several steps in advance]], but also a StrawNihilist with simplistic views on human nature and speeches littered with [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocrisies]], having mannerisms that are wild and attention-grabbing, and absolutely despises being argued with. There's a chance those remarks about being born in despair weren't that far off: a person standing opposed to the world's hope from childhood would have no need for the maturity that comes with hoping.

* Lawler of ''Webcomic/WhiteNoise'' could be considered this. He's a skilled, ruthless, cheerfully sadistic operative who's obviously quite a few bananas short of a bunch. Yet he has a child-like unquestioning devotion to his boss, and spends his spare time having fun by drawing all over his hands. Aww.

* Mr. Kornada from ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}} shows a gross disregard for the well-being of others and always chooses short-term gratification over long-term gain.

* Benrey from ''Machinima/HalfLifeButTheAIIsSelfAware'' acts like a bratty toddler given a position of authority and a gun, and spends his time taunting Gordon with childish insults that wouldn't be out of place coming from a playground bully. He's also prone to murdering random people, [[spoiler:and turns out to be the BigBad of the entire series.]]

* Every one from ''Machinima/ProfoundMomentsInLeft4Dead2'' could count as this.
* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'':

** Xykon, the BigBad, an epic-level sorcerer who is trying to take over the world more or less ForTheEvulz.

-->"Look Vegeta...a Pokémon!"

--->'''''[[AC:Holy shit, a giant skeleton space robot planet that shoots molecule-breaking beams and destroys everything it spots... I want one!]]'''''

-->He is so... changeable. He is so prone to extremes. Eager to please, so quick to take offence. He's so keen to be your best friend, and then, at the slightest hint of an insult, he's angry with you. Furious. Offended. Like a child.

-->'''''[[AC:Holy shit, a giant skeleton space robot planet that shoots molecule-breaking beams and destroys everything it spots... I want one!]]'''''

* Leslie, the PsychoLesbian who showed up occasionally in the short-lived web series ''3 Way''. She stalked her ex-girlfriend, Geri, obsessively [[HollywoodRestrainingOrder despite having been warned by a court order to stay away]], making creepy phone calls and jumping out of random hiding places to frighten Geri. Yet, despite some of her acts of terrorism [[CelebrityParadox being inspired by those of fictional movie villains]] (Glenn Close's in ''FatalAttraction'', most notably), they are all of the PokeThePoodle variety. She also sleeps with a [[Series/SesameStreet Big Bird]] doll.

->''"Like I said, kids are cruel, Jack...and I'm '''very''' in touch with my inner child!"''

* Poor, poor Wrestling/AJLee. The AmbiguouslyBrown cutie was never the same after [[Wrestling/BryanDanielson Daniel Bryan]] publicly dumped her (although that blow to the skull she took from Wrestling/TheBigShow when he nearly broke her neck during a title match with Bryan [[FridgeBrilliance might also have been a factor]]), and she quickly descended into a morass of self-pity and highly erratic behavior that eventually turned dangerous. Among her frightening deeds are [[AnythingThatMoves making sexual advances]] toward ''every'' man she comes across, wearing a red leather mask similar to Wrestling/{{Kane}}'s, putting both Bryan and Wrestling/CMPunk through a table for no apparent reason, and...[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking skipping around girlishly in short shorts and a bikini top]], although her skipping around during a tag match seemed so out there that even ''Kane'' [[LampshadeHanging told her]] that she was too crazy [[EvenEvilHasStandards even by his standards]].

* Have a genuine medical disorder, such as Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

What makes this character stand out is that he is TheSociopath in that he is mostly incapable of feeling empathy, shame or remorse but unlike other sociopaths, his mental immaturity prevents him from imitating emotions or indeed even realizing why [[EntitledBastard he takes his desires for granted and fails to even superficially consider why others would disagree or why he isn't entitled to everything.]] The more charismatic type is excepted from this, of course, though it usually still shows up in some fashion; these types are often impulsive or prone to abandoning plans for stupid reasons, and may have trouble grasping cause and effect. Whichever version these types of characters qualify as, often they are not fully aware of how nasty their actions actually are. In some cases (though not all), a HeelRealization may cause the character to [[CharacterDevelopment develop into a better person]]. A more innocent or well-intentioned Psychopathic Manchild may be a NobleDemon. Unlike the more benign {{Manchild}} who is presented as AlwaysMale, a PsychopathicManchild can appear in either gender.

One way to use this character is to face him off against a [[JadeColoredGlasses jaded]], [[KnightInSourArmor cynical]], or [[DarkIsNotEvil shady]] AntiHero, to play with traditional hero-villain relationships by making the villain more innocent than the hero (at least in theory). (Easier if he's a major villain in his own right.) Another interesting twist is to make this character the DesignatedHero and match him with an AffablyEvil villain.

The grown-up equivalent of CreepyChild and the near-inversion of EnfanteTerrible. Often an enemy of a SociopathicHero though the two aren't mutually exclusive (and tend to overlap quite a bit) and contrast with the typically more benign ManChild. See also CuteAndPsycho and PingPongNaivete. Related to, but distinct from, KidsAreCruel. Can and often does overlap with ImmortalImmaturity.

* [[spoiler: Junko Enoshima]], the BigBad of the ''Franchise/DanganRonpa'' series, is [[AwesomenessByAnalysis super intelligent to the degree that she can predict and plan for nearly anything several steps in advance]], but also a StrawNihilist with simplistic views on human nature and speeches littered with [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocrisies]], her mannerisms are wild and attention-grabbing, and she absolutely despises being argued with. There's a chance her remarks about being born in despair weren't that far off: a person standing opposed to the world's hope from childhood would have no need for the maturity that comes with hoping.

* ''WebAnimation/TheAnnoyingOrange'': Orange is a MadBomber who dishes out cruel, childish insults towards the foods he comes across and even ''[[LackOfEmpathy laughs]]'' when they get killed in front of him.

* ''WebAnimation/TheAnnoyingOrange'': Orange is a MadBomber who often dishes out cruel and childish insults towards the foods he comes across, and even ''[[LackOfEmpathy laughs]]'' when they get killed in front of him.

* One of the most frightening and powerful incarnations of this trope is seen in the TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons Demon Lord Kostchtchie, who rules a whole layer of the abyss based solely on sheer power and child like rage. It helps that he's secretly a pawn to [[TheChessmaster Iggwilv]], but still, most Demon Lords can't rise to the position, let alone hold onto it, without having shades of the MagnificentBastard.