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Last I checked, TV Tropes etiquette with regard to Commonwealth/American spelling: it stays in the format the original writer used.
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A character known for noble deeds, selfless sacrifices and a lifetime of service is normally TheAce, TheHero or TheMessiah. They seems to have an extra quality that makes them give of themselves without a second thought. However, occasionally a nasty spanner is thrown in the works, and the hero is forced to question their fundamental motives: are his/her good deeds really performed for the benefit of others...or, deep down, are they doing these things for themselves, without even realizing it?
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A character known for noble deeds, selfless sacrifices and a lifetime of service is normally TheAce, TheHero or TheMessiah. They seems to have an extra quality that makes them give of themselves without a second thought. However, occasionally a nasty spanner is thrown in the works, and the hero is forced to question their fundamental motives: are his/her good deeds really performed for the benefit of others...or, deep down, are they doing these things for themselves, without even realizing realising it?
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Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
A character known for noble deeds, selfless sacrifices and a lifetime of service is normally TheAce, TheHero or TheMessiah. They seems to have an extra quality that makes them give of themselves without a second thought. However, occasionally a nasty spanner is thrown in the works, and the hero is forced to question their fundamental motives: are his/her good deeds are really performed for the benefit of others...or, deep down, are they doing these things for themselves, without even realising it?
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A character known for noble deeds, selfless sacrifices and a lifetime of service is normally TheAce, TheHero or TheMessiah. They seems to have an extra quality that makes them give of themselves without a second thought. However, occasionally a nasty spanner is thrown in the works, and the hero is forced to question their fundamental motives: are his/her good deeds are really performed for the benefit of others...or, deep down, are they doing these things for themselves, without even realising realizing it?
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[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Cynical works]] will agree that yes, there is no such thing as a completely altrustic person and all people are selfish in one way or another -- in fact, this belief is the very definition of cynicism. An idealistic work will admonish such a way of thinking as bad people trying to drag good ones down to their level. Characters who definitely have, and know about, their unscrupulous ulterior motives are ''not'' Secretly Selfish - they're the WolfInSheepsClothing. On the other hand, a more pragmatically good hero is more comfortable with the idea of EnlightenedSelfInterest, and less inclined to have a [[HeroicBSOD moral meltdown]]. The SelflessWish and Secretly Selfish tropes usually serve to deconstruct each other: the existence of one in a fictional universe usually "weakens" the concept of the other.
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[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Cynical works]] will agree that yes, there is no such thing as a completely altrustic person and all people are selfish in one way or another -- in fact, this the belief that everyone is motivated purely by self interest is the very definition of cynicism. An idealistic work will admonish such a way of thinking as bad people trying to drag good ones down to their level. Characters who definitely have, and know about, their unscrupulous ulterior motives are ''not'' Secretly Selfish - they're the WolfInSheepsClothing. On the other hand, a more pragmatically good hero is more comfortable with the idea of EnlightenedSelfInterest, and less inclined to have a [[HeroicBSOD moral meltdown]]. The SelflessWish and Secretly Selfish tropes usually serve to deconstruct each other: the existence of one in a fictional universe usually "weakens" the concept of the other.
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* It turns out [[spoiler: Utena Tenjou]] was invoking this trope all along, in regards to [[spoiler: Anthy Himemiya]], in ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena''. Rather than ''really'' wanting to [[spoiler: [[LadyAndKnight help and protect Anthy]] in the Duels]], what she '''truly''' wanted was [[spoiler: to be her KnightInShiningArmor so she could bolster her own ego, ''without'' taking Anthy's desires and thoughts in consideration.]] She only realizes this truth after [[spoiler: finding out that Anthy was Akio's DecoyDamsel]] and, understandably, she's ''devastated''. [[spoiler: It also gives Utena the determination to ''truly'' free Anthy from both Akio [[ViciousCycle and herself]], rather than just WhiteKnighting for her so she can feel good, and it ultimately works.]]
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* It turns out [[spoiler: Utena Tenjou]] was invoking this trope all along, in regards to [[spoiler: Anthy Himemiya]], in ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena''. Rather than ''really'' wanting to [[spoiler: [[LadyAndKnight help and protect Anthy]] in the Duels]], what she '''truly''' wanted was [[spoiler: to be her KnightInShiningArmor so she could bolster her own ego, ''without'' taking Anthy's desires and thoughts in into consideration.]] She only realizes this truth after [[spoiler: finding out that Anthy was Akio's DecoyDamsel]] and, understandably, she's ''devastated''. [[spoiler: It also gives Utena the determination to ''truly'' free Anthy from both Akio [[ViciousCycle and herself]], rather than just WhiteKnighting White Knighting for her so she can feel good, and it ultimately works.]]
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* Alphys in ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}''. On a Neutral or Pacifist route, she'll offer to guide you through Hotland and [[MonsterProtectionRacket "protect" you from her out of control robot, Metatton]], but the truth is that Alphys actually reactivated the puzzles and told Mettaton to pretend to threaten you so that she could "save" you and feel better about herself.
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Even if the hero reluctantly admits that they get something out of the deal, being Secretly Selfish does not make a character "bad", just plausibly flawed. However, there is definitely a truly selfish variation. In these cases, the character is usually outright lying to themselves about their motives, and in need of a [[WhatTheHellHero calling out]].
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Even if the hero reluctantly admits that they get something out of the deal, being Secretly Selfish does not make a character "bad", just plausibly flawed.flawed, and it's possible for CharacterDevelopment to [[BecomingTheMask make a character become more genuinely selfless]]. However, there is definitely a truly selfish variation. In these cases, the character is usually outright lying to themselves about their motives, and in need of a [[WhatTheHellHero calling out]].
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* A big part of ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', as the characters' shadows will be happy to tell you.
** Yosuke sees himself as investigating Saki's death out of a sense of justice and because of his affection for her. His shadow responds that he was trying to be a hero — and trying to relieve his desperate small-town boredom.
** Chie is Yukiko's protector and confidante. Her shadow sneers that this is only to feed a sense of superiority, because she's jealous of Yukiko (who she sees as superior in every way), and having the other girl depend on her boosts Chie's ego.
** Yukiko is an incredibly dutiful daughter, who's a model student on top of putting in long hours at her family's inn. Her shadow informs her that this is all just an act she puts on, hoping that being so virtuous will attract a "prince" who will reward her by whisking her away to somewhere nicer, where she doesn't have to make as much effort.
** Yosuke sees himself as investigating Saki's death out of a sense of justice and because of his affection for her. His shadow responds that he was trying to be a hero — and trying to relieve his desperate small-town boredom.
** Chie is Yukiko's protector and confidante. Her shadow sneers that this is only to feed a sense of superiority, because she's jealous of Yukiko (who she sees as superior in every way), and having the other girl depend on her boosts Chie's ego.
** Yukiko is an incredibly dutiful daughter, who's a model student on top of putting in long hours at her family's inn. Her shadow informs her that this is all just an act she puts on, hoping that being so virtuous will attract a "prince" who will reward her by whisking her away to somewhere nicer, where she doesn't have to make as much effort.
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* A big part of ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', as the characters' shadows will be happy to tell you.
you. The characters work on addressing these issues over the course of their Social Links.
** Yosuke sees himself as investigating Saki's death out of a sense of justice and because of his affection for her. His shadow responds that he was trying to be a hero — and trying to relieve his desperate small-townboredom.
boredom. His Social Link involves coming to terms with Saki's death and [[IJustWantToBeSpecial his own insecurities about not being "special."]]
** Chie is Yukiko's protector and confidante. Her shadow sneers that this is only to feed a sense of superiority, because she's jealous of Yukiko (who she sees as superior in every way), and having the other girl depend on her boosts Chie'sego.
ego. That said, Chie points out that while her jealousy was true, she does genuinely want to help Yukiko.
** Yukiko is an incredibly dutiful daughter, who's a model student on top of putting in long hours at her family's inn. Her shadow informs her that this is all just an act she puts on, hoping that being so virtuous will attract a "prince" who will reward her by whisking her away to somewhere nicer, where she doesn't have to make as much effort. Her Social Link begins with her deciding to take the initiative to decide her own future, and ends with her deciding to inherit the inn for the sake of her hometown and the inn's employees, who've been like family to her.
* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'' also has these sorts of issues.
** When the Thieves target Kunikazu Okumura, a fast food CEO accused of unethical business practices, they find out that the man's daughter is cooperating with Morgana (who'd left the group due to an argument with Ryuuji), but Haru refuses to join them, saying that it's her responsibility to deal with her father. Some time later, though, the group finds Haru being confronted by a man who happpens to be her fiance, and shortly afterward, Haru admits the real reason she's opposing her father- by stealing his heart, she won't have to go through with her ArrangedMarriage to the man, whom her father had arranged for her to marry in order to gain political power.
** Yuuki Mishima, in an attempt to make amends for spreading rumors about the protagonist, starts a website for people to make requests to the Phantom Thieves, but it turns out that he's partly motivated by a desire to become popular and get back at those who bullied him. A good part of his Confidant involves dealing with Mishima's Shadow and helping him change as a person.
** Yosuke sees himself as investigating Saki's death out of a sense of justice and because of his affection for her. His shadow responds that he was trying to be a hero — and trying to relieve his desperate small-town
** Chie is Yukiko's protector and confidante. Her shadow sneers that this is only to feed a sense of superiority, because she's jealous of Yukiko (who she sees as superior in every way), and having the other girl depend on her boosts Chie's
** Yukiko is an incredibly dutiful daughter, who's a model student on top of putting in long hours at her family's inn. Her shadow informs her that this is all just an act she puts on, hoping that being so virtuous will attract a "prince" who will reward her by whisking her away to somewhere nicer, where she doesn't have to make as much effort. Her Social Link begins with her deciding to take the initiative to decide her own future, and ends with her deciding to inherit the inn for the sake of her hometown and the inn's employees, who've been like family to her.
* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'' also has these sorts of issues.
** When the Thieves target Kunikazu Okumura, a fast food CEO accused of unethical business practices, they find out that the man's daughter is cooperating with Morgana (who'd left the group due to an argument with Ryuuji), but Haru refuses to join them, saying that it's her responsibility to deal with her father. Some time later, though, the group finds Haru being confronted by a man who happpens to be her fiance, and shortly afterward, Haru admits the real reason she's opposing her father- by stealing his heart, she won't have to go through with her ArrangedMarriage to the man, whom her father had arranged for her to marry in order to gain political power.
** Yuuki Mishima, in an attempt to make amends for spreading rumors about the protagonist, starts a website for people to make requests to the Phantom Thieves, but it turns out that he's partly motivated by a desire to become popular and get back at those who bullied him. A good part of his Confidant involves dealing with Mishima's Shadow and helping him change as a person.
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* Played very darkly in ''Anime/NeongenesisEvangelion''.
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* Played very darkly in ''Anime/NeongenesisEvangelion''.''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''.
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* Played very darkly in ''Anime/NeongenesisEvangelion''.
** The heroes of the story are trying to protect humanity from the Third Impact, which would cause mass extinction. In spite of this, and in spite of their presenting themselves as grand, heroic figures, every single member of the principle cast is doing this for entirely selfish reasons. Asuka is in it for the glory, Misato is in it for revenge, Rei has been raised specifically for this purpose, Akagi is being manipulated into it by her lover Gendo, and Gendo himself [[spoiler: is only interested in using the crisis to resurrect his wife.]]
** The show's protagonist, Ikari Shinji, is only of the few characters to ''not'' be secretly selfish, but only because he's up-front that he's more interested in pleasing his father than he is about saving the world. The rest of the cast tend to look down on him and scold him for having such self-centered motivations, but at the end of the series, when all of their consciousnesses merge, Shinji is able to see that they're no better than he is.
** Ironically, one of the only members of the cast to genuinely care about the future of humanity is Kaworu, one of the Angels that the humans are trying to save humanity ''from.''
** The heroes of the story are trying to protect humanity from the Third Impact, which would cause mass extinction. In spite of this, and in spite of their presenting themselves as grand, heroic figures, every single member of the principle cast is doing this for entirely selfish reasons. Asuka is in it for the glory, Misato is in it for revenge, Rei has been raised specifically for this purpose, Akagi is being manipulated into it by her lover Gendo, and Gendo himself [[spoiler: is only interested in using the crisis to resurrect his wife.]]
** The show's protagonist, Ikari Shinji, is only of the few characters to ''not'' be secretly selfish, but only because he's up-front that he's more interested in pleasing his father than he is about saving the world. The rest of the cast tend to look down on him and scold him for having such self-centered motivations, but at the end of the series, when all of their consciousnesses merge, Shinji is able to see that they're no better than he is.
** Ironically, one of the only members of the cast to genuinely care about the future of humanity is Kaworu, one of the Angels that the humans are trying to save humanity ''from.''
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* Brian of ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' often conveys himself as a firm liberal against corrupt or fascist dictations. A lot of the time however, he is revealed to be a pretentious AttentionWhore who only has a barebones idea what he's preaching about so he can look smart. One episode had him switch completely to capitalism on the grounds he could get in more people's faces.
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* Brian of ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' often conveys himself as a firm liberal against corrupt or fascist dictations. A lot of the time however, he is revealed to be a pretentious AttentionWhore who only has a barebones idea what he's preaching about so he can look smart. One episode had him switch completely to capitalism conservatism on the grounds he could get in more people's faces.
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[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Cynical works]] will agree that yes, there is no such thing as a completely altrustic person and all people are selfish in one way or another -- in fact, the belief that all people are motivated purely by self-interest is the very definition of cynicism. An idealistic work will admonish such a way of thinking as bad people trying to drag good ones down to their level. Characters who definitely have, and know about, their unscrupulous ulterior motives are ''not'' Secretly Selfish - they're the WolfInSheepsClothing. On the other hand, a more pragmatically good hero is more comfortable with the idea of EnlightenedSelfInterest, and less inclined to have a [[HeroicBSOD moral meltdown]]. The SelflessWish and Secretly Selfish tropes usually serve to deconstruct each other: the existence of one in a fictional universe usually "weakens" the concept of the other.
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[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Cynical works]] will agree that yes, there is no such thing as a completely altrustic person and all people are selfish in one way or another -- in fact, the this belief that all people are motivated purely by self-interest is the very definition of cynicism. An idealistic work will admonish such a way of thinking as bad people trying to drag good ones down to their level. Characters who definitely have, and know about, their unscrupulous ulterior motives are ''not'' Secretly Selfish - they're the WolfInSheepsClothing. On the other hand, a more pragmatically good hero is more comfortable with the idea of EnlightenedSelfInterest, and less inclined to have a [[HeroicBSOD moral meltdown]]. The SelflessWish and Secretly Selfish tropes usually serve to deconstruct each other: the existence of one in a fictional universe usually "weakens" the concept of the other.
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[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Cynical works]] will agree that yes, there is no such thing as a completely altrustic person and all people are selfish in one way or another -- in fact, the belief that all people are motivated by self-interest is the very definition of cynicism. An idealistic work will admonish such a way of thinking as bad people trying to drag good ones down to their level. Characters who definitely have, and know about, their unscrupulous ulterior motives are ''not'' Secretly Selfish - they're the WolfInSheepsClothing. On the other hand, a more pragmatically good hero is more comfortable with the idea of EnlightenedSelfInterest, and less inclined to have a [[HeroicBSOD moral meltdown]]. The SelflessWish and Secretly Selfish tropes usually serve to deconstruct each other: the existence of one in a fictional universe usually "weakens" the concept of the other.
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[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Cynical works]] will agree that yes, there is no such thing as a completely altrustic person and all people are selfish in one way or another -- in fact, the belief that all people are motivated purely by self-interest is the very definition of cynicism. An idealistic work will admonish such a way of thinking as bad people trying to drag good ones down to their level. Characters who definitely have, and know about, their unscrupulous ulterior motives are ''not'' Secretly Selfish - they're the WolfInSheepsClothing. On the other hand, a more pragmatically good hero is more comfortable with the idea of EnlightenedSelfInterest, and less inclined to have a [[HeroicBSOD moral meltdown]]. The SelflessWish and Secretly Selfish tropes usually serve to deconstruct each other: the existence of one in a fictional universe usually "weakens" the concept of the other.
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[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Cynical works]] will agree that yes, there is no such thing as a completely altrustic person and all people are selfish in one way or another. An idealistic one will admonish such a way of thinking as bad people trying to drag good ones down to their level. Characters who definitely have, and know about, their unscrupulous ulterior motives are ''not'' Secretly Selfish - they're the WolfInSheepsClothing. On the other hand, a more pragmatically good hero is more comfortable with the idea of EnlightenedSelfInterest, and less inclined to have a [[HeroicBSOD moral meltdown]]. The SelflessWish and Secretly Selfish tropes usually serve to deconstruct each other: the existence of one in a fictional universe usually "weakens" the concept of the other.
to:
[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Cynical works]] will agree that yes, there is no such thing as a completely altrustic person and all people are selfish in one way or another. another -- in fact, the belief that all people are motivated by self-interest is the very definition of cynicism. An idealistic one work will admonish such a way of thinking as bad people trying to drag good ones down to their level. Characters who definitely have, and know about, their unscrupulous ulterior motives are ''not'' Secretly Selfish - they're the WolfInSheepsClothing. On the other hand, a more pragmatically good hero is more comfortable with the idea of EnlightenedSelfInterest, and less inclined to have a [[HeroicBSOD moral meltdown]]. The SelflessWish and Secretly Selfish tropes usually serve to deconstruct each other: the existence of one in a fictional universe usually "weakens" the concept of the other.
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* It turns out [[spoiler: Utena Tenjou]] was invoking this trope all along, in regards to [[spoiler: Anthy Himemiya]], in ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena''. Rather than ''really'' wanting to [[spoiler: [[LadyAndKnight help and protect Anthy]] in the Duels]], what she '''truly''' wanted was [[spoiler: to be her KnightInShiningArmor so she could bolster her own ego, ''without'' taking Anthy's desires and thoughts in consideration.]] She only realizes this truth after [[spoiler: finding out that Anthy was Akio's DecoyDamsel]] and, understandably, she's ''devastated''. [[spoiler: It also gives Utena the determination to ''truly'' free Anthy from both Akio [[ViciousCycle and herself]], rather than just whiteknighting for her so she can feel good, and it ultimately works.]]
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* It turns out [[spoiler: Utena Tenjou]] was invoking this trope all along, in regards to [[spoiler: Anthy Himemiya]], in ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena''. Rather than ''really'' wanting to [[spoiler: [[LadyAndKnight help and protect Anthy]] in the Duels]], what she '''truly''' wanted was [[spoiler: to be her KnightInShiningArmor so she could bolster her own ego, ''without'' taking Anthy's desires and thoughts in consideration.]] She only realizes this truth after [[spoiler: finding out that Anthy was Akio's DecoyDamsel]] and, understandably, she's ''devastated''. [[spoiler: It also gives Utena the determination to ''truly'' free Anthy from both Akio [[ViciousCycle and herself]], rather than just whiteknighting WhiteKnighting for her so she can feel good, and it ultimately works.]]
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* ''Series/HouseMD'' is constantly accusing Wilson of this; only being so caring of his patients because it's the only thing that makes him feel good about himself. House, [[KnightInSourArmor being House,]] seems to believe this to be true of ''all'' altruistic actions.
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* Ultimately this plays a big part on ''VideoGame/BlazBlueCentralFiction'' where the world is trapped in a depressing time loop, and everyone feels like they want to change it to make progress... [[spoiler:Except for every one chosen man who wanted change for everyone, there is a selfish reason, and they all contrast to each other so much, that it's impossible for the world to change. On learning this, Ragna ends up deciding to embrace the 'villain of the world' status to devour the selfish desires of the cast and force them to just accept things and move on with their life.]]
** Previously this is also invoked on one of the cast, the resident AnimeChineseGirl HospitalHottie Litchi Faye-Ling. On the first impression, she seemed to be this nice and compassionate lady who's dedicated to protect the Orient Town from the monster Arakune, even as she's trying to save him, but has stated that once the 'saving' is done, she would go back to being the town protector as everyone has idolized her. As the game went further, her own deteriorating condition forced her to take selfish actions, including one FaceHeelTurn and eventually being on board with the plan of an ObviouslyEvil villain to blow the world up for her one wish to have a world where Arakune is not a mutated being, turning her back against her other friends, who called her stupid for pursuing it. What makes her this trope is that as much as [[ForcedIntoEvil she disliked the notion]], she decided that she shouldn't be so picky for her one goal, so she pushed on, [[spoiler:even after in ''Central Fiction'', she learned that the world refused to even entertain her one wish because she's simply not TheChosenOne compared to the rest, much to her own grief.]]
** Previously this is also invoked on one of the cast, the resident AnimeChineseGirl HospitalHottie Litchi Faye-Ling. On the first impression, she seemed to be this nice and compassionate lady who's dedicated to protect the Orient Town from the monster Arakune, even as she's trying to save him, but has stated that once the 'saving' is done, she would go back to being the town protector as everyone has idolized her. As the game went further, her own deteriorating condition forced her to take selfish actions, including one FaceHeelTurn and eventually being on board with the plan of an ObviouslyEvil villain to blow the world up for her one wish to have a world where Arakune is not a mutated being, turning her back against her other friends, who called her stupid for pursuing it. What makes her this trope is that as much as [[ForcedIntoEvil she disliked the notion]], she decided that she shouldn't be so picky for her one goal, so she pushed on, [[spoiler:even after in ''Central Fiction'', she learned that the world refused to even entertain her one wish because she's simply not TheChosenOne compared to the rest, much to her own grief.]]
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* Mikan Tsumiki in ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganronpa2''. She's known as the Ultimate Nurse due to her incredible wealth of knowledge and skill in health care. However, during one of her free time events, she reveals the reason she became a nurse because she realized that sick and injured people are weaker than her. She helps not so much out of kindness, but because she enjoys the power that comes from their complete dependence her. Given her history of being bullied and abused since childhood, this isn't all that surprising. In fact, she got so good at treating wounds because of how often she had to treat her own, since no one else would help her.
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* [[spoiler: Utena Tenjou]] was invoking this trope in regards to [[spoiler: Anthy Himemiya]] in ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena. Rather than ''really'' wanting to [[spoiler: help and protect Anthy in the Duels]], what she '''truly''' wanted was [[spoiler: to be her KnightInShiningArmor and bolster her own ego, without taking Anthy's desires and thoughts in consideration.]] She only realizes this truth after [[spoiler: finding out that Anthy was Akio's DecoyDamsel]] and, understandably, she's ''devastated''. [[spoiler: It also gives her the determination to ''truly'' free Anthy rather than just whiteknighting for her so she can feel good, and it ultimately works.]]
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* It turns out [[spoiler: Utena Tenjou]] was invoking this trope all along, in regards to [[spoiler: Anthy Himemiya]] Himemiya]], in ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena. ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena''. Rather than ''really'' wanting to [[spoiler: [[LadyAndKnight help and protect Anthy Anthy]] in the Duels]], what she '''truly''' wanted was [[spoiler: to be her KnightInShiningArmor and so she could bolster her own ego, without ''without'' taking Anthy's desires and thoughts in consideration.]] She only realizes this truth after [[spoiler: finding out that Anthy was Akio's DecoyDamsel]] and, understandably, she's ''devastated''. [[spoiler: It also gives her Utena the determination to ''truly'' free Anthy from both Akio [[ViciousCycle and herself]], rather than just whiteknighting for her so she can feel good, and it ultimately works.]]
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* [[spoiler: Utena Tenjou]] was invoking this trope in regards to [[spoiler: Anthy Himemiya]] in ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena. Rather than ''really'' wanting to [[spoiler: help and protect Anthy in the Duels]], what she '''truly''' wanted was [[spoiler: to be her KnightInShiningArmor and bolster her own ego, without taking Anthy's desires and thoughts in consideration.]] She only realizes this truth after [[spoiler: finding out that Anthy was Akio's DecoyDamsel]] and, understandably, she's ''devastated''. [[spoiler: It also gives her the determination to ''truly'' free Anthy rather than just whiteknighting for her so she can feel good, and it ultimately works.]]
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* Pick any mother written by Creator/JodiPicoult. They will go to their graves maintaining that they are the OnlySaneMan, and the only one in family willing to ''do something'' and ''make sacrifices'' and why does the rest of her (badly neglected) family have to make things so ''difficult?!!'' Anyone else, though, will point out that said mother has a boatload of issues and either a serious case of narcissism, or a messiah/martyr complex.
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* Pick any Any mother written by Creator/JodiPicoult.Creator/JodiPicoult, to the point of straight-up {{demonization}} of motherhood as a whole. They will go to their graves maintaining that they are the OnlySaneMan, and the only one in family willing to ''do something'' and ''make sacrifices'' and why does the rest of her (badly neglected) family have to make things so ''difficult?!!'' Anyone else, though, will point out that said mother has a boatload of issues and either a serious case of narcissism, or a messiah/martyr complex.
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* Schools of thought that see humans (and life forms in general) as fundamentally selfish will maintain that altruistic or "pro-social" behaviour is strictly for the benefit of the performer, not the receiver.
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* Schools of thought that see humans (and life forms in general) as fundamentally selfish will maintain that altruistic or "pro-social" behaviour is strictly for the benefit of the performer, not the receiver. In fact, the very definition of cynicism is the belief that people are motivated purely by self-interest.
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[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Cynical works]] will agree that yes, there is no such thing as goodness and all people are selfish. An idealistic one will admonish such a way of thinking as bad people trying to drag good ones down to their level. Characters who definitely have, and know about, their unscrupulous ulterior motives are ''not'' Secretly Selfish - they're the WolfInSheepsClothing. On the other hand, a more pragmatically good hero is more comfortable with the idea of EnlightenedSelfInterest, and less inclined to have a [[HeroicBSOD moral meltdown]]. The SelflessWish and Secretly Selfish tropes usually serve to deconstruct each other: the existence of one in a fictional universe usually "weakens" the concept of the other.
to:
[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Cynical works]] will agree that yes, there is no such thing as goodness a completely altrustic person and all people are selfish.selfish in one way or another. An idealistic one will admonish such a way of thinking as bad people trying to drag good ones down to their level. Characters who definitely have, and know about, their unscrupulous ulterior motives are ''not'' Secretly Selfish - they're the WolfInSheepsClothing. On the other hand, a more pragmatically good hero is more comfortable with the idea of EnlightenedSelfInterest, and less inclined to have a [[HeroicBSOD moral meltdown]]. The SelflessWish and Secretly Selfish tropes usually serve to deconstruct each other: the existence of one in a fictional universe usually "weakens" the concept of the other.
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* Sayaka Miki, of ''Franchise/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. She sacrificed her peaceful life to heal her crush - who was verging on suicidal after damage to his hands looked set to end his career as a violinist. Given that his attitude towards her swung from polite indifference, to ingratitude, to downright violent at his lowest points, Sayaka seems to be (and considers herself) a selfless LoveMartyr. She also takes pride in her desire to help those in need. Then she's hit with the awful truth: she ''did'' want something for herself. She wanted Kyosuke's gratitude — and subsequently his love — and [[IJustWantToBeSpecial she wanted to be the heroine of her own story]]. Indeed, it's hinted that many magical girl wishes are made by girls who don't want to admit to themselves what they really want...[[spoiler:making them just the right kind of wishes Kyubey needs to drive them into despair and witch out, as they decide that wanting something for themselves makes them terrible people]].
to:
* Sayaka Miki, of ''Franchise/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. She sacrificed her peaceful life to heal her crush - who was verging on suicidal after damage to his hands looked set to end his career as a violinist. Given that his attitude towards her swung from polite indifference, to ingratitude, to downright violent at his lowest points, Sayaka seems to be (and considers herself) a selfless LoveMartyr. She also takes pride in her desire to help those in need. Then she's hit with the awful truth: she ''did'' want something for herself. She wanted Kyosuke's gratitude — and subsequently his love — and [[IJustWantToBeSpecial she wanted to be the heroine of her own story]]. Indeed, it's hinted that many magical girl wishes are made by girls who don't want to admit to themselves what they really want...[[spoiler:making them just the right kind of wishes Kyubey needs to drive them into despair and make them witch out, as they decide that wanting something for themselves makes them terrible people]].
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This challenge usually comes from a third party — often someone with a grudge against the hero, if not an outright villain. They argue that if the hero is going about their life without being miserable, or giving up absolutely everything, then they aren't really being good: they're just giving what they can afford to give and reaping the benefits of being "a good person". This antagonist [[JerkassHasAPoint may have a point]]...or could just be trying to [[ManipulativeBastard undermine]] the do-gooder's confidence.
to:
This challenge usually comes from a third party — often someone with a grudge against the hero, if not an outright villain. They argue that if the hero is going about their life without being miserable, or giving up absolutely everything, then they aren't really being good: they're just giving what they can afford to give and reaping the benefits of being "a good person". This antagonist [[JerkassHasAPoint may have a point]]...or could just be trying to [[ManipulativeBastard undermine]] [[BreakThemByTalking the do-gooder's confidence.
confidence]].
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Changed line(s) 17 (click to see context) from:
* Sayaka Miki, of ''Franchise/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. She sacrificed her peaceful life to heal her crush - who was verging on suicidal after damage to his hands looked set to end his career as a violinist. Given that his attitude towards her swung from polite indifference, to ingratitude, to downright violent at his lowest points, Sayaka seems to be (and considers herself) a selfless LoveMartyr. She also takes pride in her desire to help those in need. Then she's hit with the awful truth: she ''did'' want something for herself. She wanted Kyosuke's gratitude — and subsequently his love — and [[IJustWantToBeSpecial she wanted to be the heroine of her own story]]. Indeed, it's hinted that many magical girl wishes are made by girls who don't want to admit to themselves what they really want...[[spoiler:making them just the right kind of wishes Kyubey needs to drive them into despair, as they decide that wanting something for themselves makes them terrible people]].
to:
* Sayaka Miki, of ''Franchise/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. She sacrificed her peaceful life to heal her crush - who was verging on suicidal after damage to his hands looked set to end his career as a violinist. Given that his attitude towards her swung from polite indifference, to ingratitude, to downright violent at his lowest points, Sayaka seems to be (and considers herself) a selfless LoveMartyr. She also takes pride in her desire to help those in need. Then she's hit with the awful truth: she ''did'' want something for herself. She wanted Kyosuke's gratitude — and subsequently his love — and [[IJustWantToBeSpecial she wanted to be the heroine of her own story]]. Indeed, it's hinted that many magical girl wishes are made by girls who don't want to admit to themselves what they really want...[[spoiler:making them just the right kind of wishes Kyubey needs to drive them into despair, despair and witch out, as they decide that wanting something for themselves makes them terrible people]].
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* Schools of thought that see humans (and life forms in general) as fundamentally selfish will maintain that altruistic or "pro-social" behaviour is strictly for the benefit of the performer, not the receiver.
to:
* Schools of thought that see humans (and life forms in general) as fundamentally selfish will maintain that altruistic or "pro-social" behaviour is strictly for the benefit of the performer, not the receiver.receiver.
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* ''Literature/CiaphasCain'', HERO OF THE IMPERIUM, admits in his "true" memoirs that everything he did during his Imperial Guard service was with the ulterior motive of keeping himself alive.
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* At some point, the protagonist of ''Literature/TalesOfMU'' laments that she must be evil, because she only helped another to avoid feeling bad for not helping her. Her interlocutor answers that it's how ''everyone'' works, and what proves her a good person is the fact not helping would have caused her to feel bad in the first place: An evil person [[LackOfEmpathy would not]].
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* A big part of VideoGame/{{Persona4}}, as the characters' shadows will be happy to tell you.
to:
* A big part of VideoGame/{{Persona4}}, ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', as the characters' shadows will be happy to tell you.
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* In ''WebAnimation/RWBY,'' Pyrrha is a Nice Girl who treats everyone with no ill will (except for the baddies) and in particular is very caring towards her partner Jaune. She's actually subtly dropping hints on him, though, but she's so nice that she can't blurt it out to his face that she really wants him for the prom night because Jaune is apparently pining for another girl (and he thinks a popular girl like Pyrrha will easily get someone). Her friend Nora even calls her out on it, telling her to "practice what you preach" after Pyrrha tells Jaune to be more open to his "target". Eventually she does, by the time the prom itself starts.
to:
* In ''WebAnimation/RWBY,'' ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}},'' Pyrrha is a Nice Girl who treats everyone with no ill will (except for the baddies) and in particular is very caring towards her partner Jaune. She's actually subtly dropping hints on him, though, but she's so nice that she can't blurt it out to his face that she really wants him for the prom night because Jaune is apparently pining for another girl (and he thinks a popular girl like Pyrrha will easily get someone). Her friend Nora even calls her out on it, telling her to "practice what you preach" after Pyrrha tells Jaune to be more open to his "target". Eventually she does, by the time the prom itself starts.
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[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Cynical works]] will agree that yes, there is no such thing as goodness and all people are selfish. An idealistic one will admonish such a way of thinking as bad people trying to drag good ones down to their level. Characters who definitely have, and know about, their unscrupulous ulterior motives are ''not'' Secretly Selfish - they're the WolfinSheepsClothing. On the other hand, a more pragmatically good hero is more comfortable with the idea of EnlightenedSelfInterest, and less inclined to have a [[HeroicBSOD moral meltdown]]. The SelflessWish and Secretly Selfish tropes usually serve to deconstruct each other: the existence of one in a fictional universe usually "weakens" the concept of the other.
---
---
to:
[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Cynical works]] will agree that yes, there is no such thing as goodness and all people are selfish. An idealistic one will admonish such a way of thinking as bad people trying to drag good ones down to their level. Characters who definitely have, and know about, their unscrupulous ulterior motives are ''not'' Secretly Selfish - they're the WolfinSheepsClothing.WolfInSheepsClothing. On the other hand, a more pragmatically good hero is more comfortable with the idea of EnlightenedSelfInterest, and less inclined to have a [[HeroicBSOD moral meltdown]]. The SelflessWish and Secretly Selfish tropes usually serve to deconstruct each other: the existence of one in a fictional universe usually "weakens" the concept of the other.
-------
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* Yuuri (and, to a lesser extent, Kurumi) of ''Manga/SchoolLive''. She believes that letting Yuki live out her delusions is the only way to keep her calm and happy. Incomer Miki, however, is quick to realise the real reason why the club haven't called out Yuki's behaviour: Yuki's cheerfulness keeps everyone else going. In fact, when Yuki regains clarity, Yuuri falls into delusion almost immediately afterwards. Miki notes that not addressing Yuki's behaviour is actually dangerous for Yuki herself. Admittedly, Yuuri seems to have grudgingly realised her own real motivation as well, but she is incredibly reluctant to change it.
to:
* Yuuri (and, to a lesser extent, Kurumi) of ''Manga/SchoolLive''. She believes that letting Yuki live [[spoiler:live out her delusions delusions]] is the only way to keep her calm and happy. Incomer Miki, however, is quick to realise the real reason why the club haven't called out Yuki's behaviour: Yuki's cheerfulness keeps everyone else going. In [[spoiler:In fact, when Yuki regains clarity, Yuuri falls into delusion almost immediately afterwards. afterwards.]] Miki notes that not addressing Yuki's behaviour is actually dangerous for Yuki herself. Admittedly, Yuuri seems to have grudgingly realised her own real motivation as well, but she is incredibly reluctant to change it.
Changed line(s) 23 (click to see context) from:
** Charlotte O'Keefe in ''Literature/HandleWithCare'' is much the same. She eventually admits that the court case she sets in motion (ruining the lives of everyone involved with it in the process) was really a case of It's All About Me, not, as she initially claimed, all about Willow, her daughter with osteogenesis imperfecta.
to:
** Charlotte O'Keefe in ''Literature/HandleWithCare'' is much the same. She eventually admits that the court case she sets in motion (ruining the lives of everyone involved with it in the process) was really a case of It's All About Me, ItsAllAboutMe, not, as she initially claimed, all about Willow, her daughter with osteogenesis imperfecta.
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In one episode of Friends, Joey and Phoebe's subplot revolves around an argument they have - Joey posits that there is no such thing as a truly selfless good deed, because the good deed doer always wants or expects something in return - even if it's nothing more than feeling good about doing good.
to:
* In one episode of Friends, ''Series/{{Friends}}'', Joey and Phoebe's subplot revolves around an argument they have - Joey posits that there is no such thing as a truly selfless good deed, because the good deed doer always wants or expects something in return - even if it's nothing more than feeling good about doing good.
good.
[[AC:Video Games]]
* A big part of VideoGame/{{Persona4}}, as the characters' shadows will be happy to tell you.
** Yosuke sees himself as investigating Saki's death out of a sense of justice and because of his affection for her. His shadow responds that he was trying to be a hero — and trying to relieve his desperate small-town boredom.
** Chie is Yukiko's protector and confidante. Her shadow sneers that this is only to feed a sense of superiority, because she's jealous of Yukiko (who she sees as superior in every way), and having the other girl depend on her boosts Chie's ego.
** Yukiko is an incredibly dutiful daughter, who's a model student on top of putting in long hours at her family's inn. Her shadow informs her that this is all just an act she puts on, hoping that being so virtuous will attract a "prince" who will reward her by whisking her away to somewhere nicer, where she doesn't have to make as much effort.
[[AC:Video Games]]
* A big part of VideoGame/{{Persona4}}, as the characters' shadows will be happy to tell you.
** Yosuke sees himself as investigating Saki's death out of a sense of justice and because of his affection for her. His shadow responds that he was trying to be a hero — and trying to relieve his desperate small-town boredom.
** Chie is Yukiko's protector and confidante. Her shadow sneers that this is only to feed a sense of superiority, because she's jealous of Yukiko (who she sees as superior in every way), and having the other girl depend on her boosts Chie's ego.
** Yukiko is an incredibly dutiful daughter, who's a model student on top of putting in long hours at her family's inn. Her shadow informs her that this is all just an act she puts on, hoping that being so virtuous will attract a "prince" who will reward her by whisking her away to somewhere nicer, where she doesn't have to make as much effort.
Changed line(s) 36 (click to see context) from:
On a general level, all of the gems dote on and care for Steven, and are perfectly willing to risk their lives for him...but that's partly because Steven is their LivingEmotionalCrutch, and their behaviour often forces Steven to handle issues that, as a child, he shouldn't really have to cope with. However, [[ParentsAsPeople that does not mean that they're bad parents]], even if they think this is the case.
to:
** On a general level, all of the gems dote on and care for Steven, and are perfectly willing to risk their lives for him...but that's partly because Steven is their LivingEmotionalCrutch, and their behaviour often forces Steven to handle issues that, as a child, he shouldn't really have to cope with. However, [[ParentsAsPeople that does not mean that they're bad parents]], even if they think this is the case.
Changed line(s) 39,48 (click to see context) from:
* Many episodes of South Park have one of the adults or the kids performing something they see as good for the community only for everybody else to try (to comically very little avail) to tell the character in question that what they are doing is simply shoving their beliefs on everybody's faces and ruining people's lives. Which makes one episode where Eric Cartman (who is one of the biggest examples of The Sociopath) takes in all the cats of South Park out of an actual, unselfish love of them a very surprising inversion, In-Universe and out.
* Brian of Family Guy often conveys himself as a firm liberal against corrupt or facist dictations. A lot of the time however, he is revealed to be a pretentious Attention Whore who only has a barebones idea what he's preaching about so he can look smart. One episode had him switch completely to capitalism on the grounds he could get in more people's faces.
* Hayley of American Dad!! was portrayed very similarly in early episodes, albeit with more handwaving since, despite her hypocrisies, she still stood for far saner views than her right wing extremist father Stan.
[[AC:Video Games]]
* A big part of VideoGame/{{Persona4}}, as the characters' shadows will be happy to tell you.
** Yosuke sees himself as investigating Saki's death out of a sense of justice and because of his affection for her. His shadow responds that he was trying to be a hero — and trying to relieve his desperate small-town boredom.
** Chie is Yukiko's protector and confidante. Her shadow sneers that this is only to feed a sense of superiority, because she's jealous of Yukiko (who she sees as superior in every way), and having the other girl depend on her boosts Chie's ego.
** Yukiko is an incredibly dutiful daughter, who's a model student on top of putting in long hours at her family's inn. Her shadow informs her that this is all just an act she puts on, hoping that being so virtuous will attract a "prince" who will reward her by whisking her away to somewhere nicer, where she doesn't have to make as much effort.
* Brian of Family Guy often conveys himself as a firm liberal against corrupt or facist dictations. A lot of the time however, he is revealed to be a pretentious Attention Whore who only has a barebones idea what he's preaching about so he can look smart. One episode had him switch completely to capitalism on the grounds he could get in more people's faces.
* Hayley of American Dad!! was portrayed very similarly in early episodes, albeit with more handwaving since, despite her hypocrisies, she still stood for far saner views than her right wing extremist father Stan.
[[AC:Video Games]]
* A big part of VideoGame/{{Persona4}}, as the characters' shadows will be happy to tell you.
** Yosuke sees himself as investigating Saki's death out of a sense of justice and because of his affection for her. His shadow responds that he was trying to be a hero — and trying to relieve his desperate small-town boredom.
** Chie is Yukiko's protector and confidante. Her shadow sneers that this is only to feed a sense of superiority, because she's jealous of Yukiko (who she sees as superior in every way), and having the other girl depend on her boosts Chie's ego.
** Yukiko is an incredibly dutiful daughter, who's a model student on top of putting in long hours at her family's inn. Her shadow informs her that this is all just an act she puts on, hoping that being so virtuous will attract a "prince" who will reward her by whisking her away to somewhere nicer, where she doesn't have to make as much effort.
to:
* Many episodes of South Park ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' have one of the adults or the kids performing something they see as good for the community only for everybody else to try (to [[ComicallyMissingThePoint comically very little avail) avail]]) to tell the character in question that what they are doing is simply shoving their beliefs on everybody's faces and ruining people's lives. Which makes one episode where Eric Cartman (who is one of the biggest examples of The Sociopath) TheSociopath) takes in all the cats of South Park out of an actual, unselfish love of them a very surprising inversion, In-Universe InUniverse and out.
* Brian ofFamily Guy ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' often conveys himself as a firm liberal against corrupt or facist fascist dictations. A lot of the time however, he is revealed to be a pretentious Attention Whore AttentionWhore who only has a barebones idea what he's preaching about so he can look smart. One episode had him switch completely to capitalism on the grounds he could get in more people's faces.
* Hayley ofAmerican Dad!! ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' was portrayed very similarly in early episodes, albeit with more handwaving since, despite her hypocrisies, she still stood for far saner views than her right wing extremist father Stan.
[[AC:Video Games]]
* A big part of VideoGame/{{Persona4}}, as the characters' shadows will be happy to tell you.
** Yosuke sees himself as investigating Saki's death out of a sense of justice and because of his affection for her. His shadow responds that he was trying to be a hero — and trying to relieve his desperate small-town boredom.
** Chie is Yukiko's protector and confidante. Her shadow sneers that this is only to feed a sense of superiority, because she's jealous of Yukiko (who she sees as superior in every way), and having the other girl depend on her boosts Chie's ego.
** Yukiko is an incredibly dutiful daughter, who's a model student on top of putting in long hours at her family's inn. Her shadow informs her that this is all just an act she puts on, hoping that being so virtuous will attract a "prince" who will reward her by whisking her away to somewhere nicer, where she doesn't have to make as much effort.
Stan.
* Brian of
* Hayley of
[[AC:Video Games]]
* A big part of VideoGame/{{Persona4}}, as the characters' shadows will be happy to tell you.
** Yosuke sees himself as investigating Saki's death out of a sense of justice and because of his affection for her. His shadow responds that he was trying to be a hero — and trying to relieve his desperate small-town boredom.
** Chie is Yukiko's protector and confidante. Her shadow sneers that this is only to feed a sense of superiority, because she's jealous of Yukiko (who she sees as superior in every way), and having the other girl depend on her boosts Chie's ego.
** Yukiko is an incredibly dutiful daughter, who's a model student on top of putting in long hours at her family's inn. Her shadow informs her that this is all just an act she puts on, hoping that being so virtuous will attract a "prince" who will reward her by whisking her away to somewhere nicer, where she doesn't have to make as much effort.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
A character known for noble deeds, selfless sacrifices and a lifetime of service is normally TheAce, TheHero or TheMessiah. They seems to have an extra quality that makes them give of themselves without a second thought. However, occasionally a nasty spanner is thrown in the works, and the hero is forced to question their fundamental motives: are his/her good deeds are really performed for the benefit of others...or, deep down, are they doing these things for themselves, without even realising it?
This challenge usually comes from a third party — often someone with a grudge against the hero, if not an outright villain. They argue that if the hero is going about their life without being miserable, or giving up absolutely everything, then they aren't really being good: they're just giving what they can afford to give and reaping the benefits of being "a good person". This antagonist [[JerkassHasAPoint may have a point]]...or could just be trying to [[ManipulativeBastard undermine]] the do-gooder's confidence.
The usual "selfish" motive offered is usually one of reputation or identity: doing these altruistic or self-sacrificing things fills a void for the person doing them. If someone or something comes along that would remove that burden from their shoulders, they panic - because who are they if not the LoveMartyr or TheCaretaker? Alternatively, being good may reap social rewards, making their good deeds a transaction rather than a gift.
The other common argument is that GoodFeelsGood: the person accusing them of being Secretly Selfish will point out that ''since'' good feels good, it has a built-in reward system. Therefore, you're [[NotSoDifferent no different]] from the villain, who gets the same high from committing crimes.
Even if the hero reluctantly admits that they get something out of the deal, being Secretly Selfish does not make a character "bad", just plausibly flawed. However, there is definitely a truly selfish variation. In these cases, the character is usually outright lying to themselves about their motives, and in need of a [[WhatTheHellHero calling out]].
[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Cynical works]] will agree that yes, there is no such thing as goodness and all people are selfish. An idealistic one will admonish such a way of thinking as bad people trying to drag good ones down to their level. Characters who definitely have, and know about, their unscrupulous ulterior motives are ''not'' Secretly Selfish - they're the WolfinSheepsClothing. On the other hand, a more pragmatically good hero is more comfortable with the idea of EnlightenedSelfInterest, and less inclined to have a [[HeroicBSOD moral meltdown]]. The SelflessWish and Secretly Selfish tropes usually serve to deconstruct each other: the existence of one in a fictional universe usually "weakens" the concept of the other.
---
!!Examples
[[AC:Anime and Manga]]
* Sayaka Miki, of ''Franchise/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. She sacrificed her peaceful life to heal her crush - who was verging on suicidal after damage to his hands looked set to end his career as a violinist. Given that his attitude towards her swung from polite indifference, to ingratitude, to downright violent at his lowest points, Sayaka seems to be (and considers herself) a selfless LoveMartyr. She also takes pride in her desire to help those in need. Then she's hit with the awful truth: she ''did'' want something for herself. She wanted Kyosuke's gratitude — and subsequently his love — and [[IJustWantToBeSpecial she wanted to be the heroine of her own story]]. Indeed, it's hinted that many magical girl wishes are made by girls who don't want to admit to themselves what they really want...[[spoiler:making them just the right kind of wishes Kyubey needs to drive them into despair, as they decide that wanting something for themselves makes them terrible people]].
* Yuuri (and, to a lesser extent, Kurumi) of ''Manga/SchoolLive''. She believes that letting Yuki live out her delusions is the only way to keep her calm and happy. Incomer Miki, however, is quick to realise the real reason why the club haven't called out Yuki's behaviour: Yuki's cheerfulness keeps everyone else going. In fact, when Yuki regains clarity, Yuuri falls into delusion almost immediately afterwards. Miki notes that not addressing Yuki's behaviour is actually dangerous for Yuki herself. Admittedly, Yuuri seems to have grudgingly realised her own real motivation as well, but she is incredibly reluctant to change it.
[[AC:Literature]]
* Pick any mother written by Creator/JodiPicoult. They will go to their graves maintaining that they are the OnlySaneMan, and the only one in family willing to ''do something'' and ''make sacrifices'' and why does the rest of her (badly neglected) family have to make things so ''difficult?!!'' Anyone else, though, will point out that said mother has a boatload of issues and either a serious case of narcissism, or a messiah/martyr complex.
** Sarah in ''Literature/MySistersKeeper'' sees herself as a martyr who only wants what's best for Kate — even if that means making everyone else's lives miserable. She keeps the spotlight on her own suffering and sacrifices, and conveniently glosses over the fact that the actual person being dragged through unnecessary medical procedures, and who is being pressured to give up an organ, is Anna, her younger daughter. Her husband and sister both realise that her whole identity centres around being Kate's Crusading Mother — and while part of her motivation is indeed a deep love for her child, part of it is that she'll lose that identity if Kate dies.
** Charlotte O'Keefe in ''Literature/HandleWithCare'' is much the same. She eventually admits that the court case she sets in motion (ruining the lives of everyone involved with it in the process) was really a case of It's All About Me, not, as she initially claimed, all about Willow, her daughter with osteogenesis imperfecta.
** Emma in ''Literature/HouseRules'' centres her whole life, and that of her younger son, Theo, around the needs and demands of her autistic son, Jacob. She prides herself on "managing" Jacob, to the point that she's sabotaged any coping skills he might have been able to develop...because teaching him to be independent would mean that she would lose TheCaretaker role she's built her life around.
[[AC:Live Action]]
* Inverted with Earl from ''Series/MyNameIsEarl''. He starts his to-do list of good deeds to catalogue every bad thing he's done. He plans to make up for each one to earn positive karma so good things will happen to him — a basically selfish motive. However, his actions cause him to become a genuinely better person anyway.
In one episode of Friends, Joey and Phoebe's subplot revolves around an argument they have - Joey posits that there is no such thing as a truly selfless good deed, because the good deed doer always wants or expects something in return - even if it's nothing more than feeling good about doing good.
[[AC:Web Animation]]
* In ''WebAnimation/RWBY,'' Pyrrha is a Nice Girl who treats everyone with no ill will (except for the baddies) and in particular is very caring towards her partner Jaune. She's actually subtly dropping hints on him, though, but she's so nice that she can't blurt it out to his face that she really wants him for the prom night because Jaune is apparently pining for another girl (and he thinks a popular girl like Pyrrha will easily get someone). Her friend Nora even calls her out on it, telling her to "practice what you preach" after Pyrrha tells Jaune to be more open to his "target". Eventually she does, by the time the prom itself starts.
[[AC:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'':
** Pearl and Garnet at various points. (Interestingly, Amethyst very rarely falls into being Secretly Selfish because she's so up front about what she wants). In this case, they're mostly aware of their own motives and try to address their issues, but occasionally they don't pick up on it until after the damage is done.
On a general level, all of the gems dote on and care for Steven, and are perfectly willing to risk their lives for him...but that's partly because Steven is their LivingEmotionalCrutch, and their behaviour often forces Steven to handle issues that, as a child, he shouldn't really have to cope with. However, [[ParentsAsPeople that does not mean that they're bad parents]], even if they think this is the case.
** Pearl, the most maternal Gem, wouldn't let so much as a cold wind blow on Steven if she could help it...but a big part of that is the psychological hangover from being his mother, Rose's, self-proclaimed protector. She's been utterly bereft after losing that part of her identity, and really wants it back.
** Garnet falls foul of this in ''Future Vision''. Letting Steven know how her power works initially seems to be her usual humoring of Steven's curiosity, but at the end of the episode she admits that really, she wanted Steven to understand her better so that she could be closer to him.
* Many episodes of South Park have one of the adults or the kids performing something they see as good for the community only for everybody else to try (to comically very little avail) to tell the character in question that what they are doing is simply shoving their beliefs on everybody's faces and ruining people's lives. Which makes one episode where Eric Cartman (who is one of the biggest examples of The Sociopath) takes in all the cats of South Park out of an actual, unselfish love of them a very surprising inversion, In-Universe and out.
* Brian of Family Guy often conveys himself as a firm liberal against corrupt or facist dictations. A lot of the time however, he is revealed to be a pretentious Attention Whore who only has a barebones idea what he's preaching about so he can look smart. One episode had him switch completely to capitalism on the grounds he could get in more people's faces.
* Hayley of American Dad!! was portrayed very similarly in early episodes, albeit with more handwaving since, despite her hypocrisies, she still stood for far saner views than her right wing extremist father Stan.
[[AC:Video Games]]
* A big part of VideoGame/{{Persona4}}, as the characters' shadows will be happy to tell you.
** Yosuke sees himself as investigating Saki's death out of a sense of justice and because of his affection for her. His shadow responds that he was trying to be a hero — and trying to relieve his desperate small-town boredom.
** Chie is Yukiko's protector and confidante. Her shadow sneers that this is only to feed a sense of superiority, because she's jealous of Yukiko (who she sees as superior in every way), and having the other girl depend on her boosts Chie's ego.
** Yukiko is an incredibly dutiful daughter, who's a model student on top of putting in long hours at her family's inn. Her shadow informs her that this is all just an act she puts on, hoping that being so virtuous will attract a "prince" who will reward her by whisking her away to somewhere nicer, where she doesn't have to make as much effort.
[[AC:Real Life]]
* Schools of thought that see humans (and life forms in general) as fundamentally selfish will maintain that altruistic or "pro-social" behaviour is strictly for the benefit of the performer, not the receiver.
This challenge usually comes from a third party — often someone with a grudge against the hero, if not an outright villain. They argue that if the hero is going about their life without being miserable, or giving up absolutely everything, then they aren't really being good: they're just giving what they can afford to give and reaping the benefits of being "a good person". This antagonist [[JerkassHasAPoint may have a point]]...or could just be trying to [[ManipulativeBastard undermine]] the do-gooder's confidence.
The usual "selfish" motive offered is usually one of reputation or identity: doing these altruistic or self-sacrificing things fills a void for the person doing them. If someone or something comes along that would remove that burden from their shoulders, they panic - because who are they if not the LoveMartyr or TheCaretaker? Alternatively, being good may reap social rewards, making their good deeds a transaction rather than a gift.
The other common argument is that GoodFeelsGood: the person accusing them of being Secretly Selfish will point out that ''since'' good feels good, it has a built-in reward system. Therefore, you're [[NotSoDifferent no different]] from the villain, who gets the same high from committing crimes.
Even if the hero reluctantly admits that they get something out of the deal, being Secretly Selfish does not make a character "bad", just plausibly flawed. However, there is definitely a truly selfish variation. In these cases, the character is usually outright lying to themselves about their motives, and in need of a [[WhatTheHellHero calling out]].
[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism Cynical works]] will agree that yes, there is no such thing as goodness and all people are selfish. An idealistic one will admonish such a way of thinking as bad people trying to drag good ones down to their level. Characters who definitely have, and know about, their unscrupulous ulterior motives are ''not'' Secretly Selfish - they're the WolfinSheepsClothing. On the other hand, a more pragmatically good hero is more comfortable with the idea of EnlightenedSelfInterest, and less inclined to have a [[HeroicBSOD moral meltdown]]. The SelflessWish and Secretly Selfish tropes usually serve to deconstruct each other: the existence of one in a fictional universe usually "weakens" the concept of the other.
---
!!Examples
[[AC:Anime and Manga]]
* Sayaka Miki, of ''Franchise/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. She sacrificed her peaceful life to heal her crush - who was verging on suicidal after damage to his hands looked set to end his career as a violinist. Given that his attitude towards her swung from polite indifference, to ingratitude, to downright violent at his lowest points, Sayaka seems to be (and considers herself) a selfless LoveMartyr. She also takes pride in her desire to help those in need. Then she's hit with the awful truth: she ''did'' want something for herself. She wanted Kyosuke's gratitude — and subsequently his love — and [[IJustWantToBeSpecial she wanted to be the heroine of her own story]]. Indeed, it's hinted that many magical girl wishes are made by girls who don't want to admit to themselves what they really want...[[spoiler:making them just the right kind of wishes Kyubey needs to drive them into despair, as they decide that wanting something for themselves makes them terrible people]].
* Yuuri (and, to a lesser extent, Kurumi) of ''Manga/SchoolLive''. She believes that letting Yuki live out her delusions is the only way to keep her calm and happy. Incomer Miki, however, is quick to realise the real reason why the club haven't called out Yuki's behaviour: Yuki's cheerfulness keeps everyone else going. In fact, when Yuki regains clarity, Yuuri falls into delusion almost immediately afterwards. Miki notes that not addressing Yuki's behaviour is actually dangerous for Yuki herself. Admittedly, Yuuri seems to have grudgingly realised her own real motivation as well, but she is incredibly reluctant to change it.
[[AC:Literature]]
* Pick any mother written by Creator/JodiPicoult. They will go to their graves maintaining that they are the OnlySaneMan, and the only one in family willing to ''do something'' and ''make sacrifices'' and why does the rest of her (badly neglected) family have to make things so ''difficult?!!'' Anyone else, though, will point out that said mother has a boatload of issues and either a serious case of narcissism, or a messiah/martyr complex.
** Sarah in ''Literature/MySistersKeeper'' sees herself as a martyr who only wants what's best for Kate — even if that means making everyone else's lives miserable. She keeps the spotlight on her own suffering and sacrifices, and conveniently glosses over the fact that the actual person being dragged through unnecessary medical procedures, and who is being pressured to give up an organ, is Anna, her younger daughter. Her husband and sister both realise that her whole identity centres around being Kate's Crusading Mother — and while part of her motivation is indeed a deep love for her child, part of it is that she'll lose that identity if Kate dies.
** Charlotte O'Keefe in ''Literature/HandleWithCare'' is much the same. She eventually admits that the court case she sets in motion (ruining the lives of everyone involved with it in the process) was really a case of It's All About Me, not, as she initially claimed, all about Willow, her daughter with osteogenesis imperfecta.
** Emma in ''Literature/HouseRules'' centres her whole life, and that of her younger son, Theo, around the needs and demands of her autistic son, Jacob. She prides herself on "managing" Jacob, to the point that she's sabotaged any coping skills he might have been able to develop...because teaching him to be independent would mean that she would lose TheCaretaker role she's built her life around.
[[AC:Live Action]]
* Inverted with Earl from ''Series/MyNameIsEarl''. He starts his to-do list of good deeds to catalogue every bad thing he's done. He plans to make up for each one to earn positive karma so good things will happen to him — a basically selfish motive. However, his actions cause him to become a genuinely better person anyway.
In one episode of Friends, Joey and Phoebe's subplot revolves around an argument they have - Joey posits that there is no such thing as a truly selfless good deed, because the good deed doer always wants or expects something in return - even if it's nothing more than feeling good about doing good.
[[AC:Web Animation]]
* In ''WebAnimation/RWBY,'' Pyrrha is a Nice Girl who treats everyone with no ill will (except for the baddies) and in particular is very caring towards her partner Jaune. She's actually subtly dropping hints on him, though, but she's so nice that she can't blurt it out to his face that she really wants him for the prom night because Jaune is apparently pining for another girl (and he thinks a popular girl like Pyrrha will easily get someone). Her friend Nora even calls her out on it, telling her to "practice what you preach" after Pyrrha tells Jaune to be more open to his "target". Eventually she does, by the time the prom itself starts.
[[AC:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'':
** Pearl and Garnet at various points. (Interestingly, Amethyst very rarely falls into being Secretly Selfish because she's so up front about what she wants). In this case, they're mostly aware of their own motives and try to address their issues, but occasionally they don't pick up on it until after the damage is done.
On a general level, all of the gems dote on and care for Steven, and are perfectly willing to risk their lives for him...but that's partly because Steven is their LivingEmotionalCrutch, and their behaviour often forces Steven to handle issues that, as a child, he shouldn't really have to cope with. However, [[ParentsAsPeople that does not mean that they're bad parents]], even if they think this is the case.
** Pearl, the most maternal Gem, wouldn't let so much as a cold wind blow on Steven if she could help it...but a big part of that is the psychological hangover from being his mother, Rose's, self-proclaimed protector. She's been utterly bereft after losing that part of her identity, and really wants it back.
** Garnet falls foul of this in ''Future Vision''. Letting Steven know how her power works initially seems to be her usual humoring of Steven's curiosity, but at the end of the episode she admits that really, she wanted Steven to understand her better so that she could be closer to him.
* Many episodes of South Park have one of the adults or the kids performing something they see as good for the community only for everybody else to try (to comically very little avail) to tell the character in question that what they are doing is simply shoving their beliefs on everybody's faces and ruining people's lives. Which makes one episode where Eric Cartman (who is one of the biggest examples of The Sociopath) takes in all the cats of South Park out of an actual, unselfish love of them a very surprising inversion, In-Universe and out.
* Brian of Family Guy often conveys himself as a firm liberal against corrupt or facist dictations. A lot of the time however, he is revealed to be a pretentious Attention Whore who only has a barebones idea what he's preaching about so he can look smart. One episode had him switch completely to capitalism on the grounds he could get in more people's faces.
* Hayley of American Dad!! was portrayed very similarly in early episodes, albeit with more handwaving since, despite her hypocrisies, she still stood for far saner views than her right wing extremist father Stan.
[[AC:Video Games]]
* A big part of VideoGame/{{Persona4}}, as the characters' shadows will be happy to tell you.
** Yosuke sees himself as investigating Saki's death out of a sense of justice and because of his affection for her. His shadow responds that he was trying to be a hero — and trying to relieve his desperate small-town boredom.
** Chie is Yukiko's protector and confidante. Her shadow sneers that this is only to feed a sense of superiority, because she's jealous of Yukiko (who she sees as superior in every way), and having the other girl depend on her boosts Chie's ego.
** Yukiko is an incredibly dutiful daughter, who's a model student on top of putting in long hours at her family's inn. Her shadow informs her that this is all just an act she puts on, hoping that being so virtuous will attract a "prince" who will reward her by whisking her away to somewhere nicer, where she doesn't have to make as much effort.
[[AC:Real Life]]
* Schools of thought that see humans (and life forms in general) as fundamentally selfish will maintain that altruistic or "pro-social" behaviour is strictly for the benefit of the performer, not the receiver.
