History PlayingWith / TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody

** The magic in a BalefulPolymorph curse slowly erodes the victim's memories and personality to make it ever harder for them to seek out or accept a cure.

* '''Invoked''': Helga the Hot includes a personality-eroding effect in her BalefulPolymorph spells to really screw her victims over.

%%* '''Reconstructed''': ???

** The Body Is A Plaything Of The Mind. Whatever body Emperor Evulz [[GrandTheftMe possesses]] slowly changes over time to look like his original form; his personality is just that strong.

* '''Discussed''': "Bob's been acting kind of...funny ever since he turned into a dog, don't you think?""

** So many people are scared of the change affecting their mind that the only people who use the device are people that want this sort of thing; otherkin for instance.

* '''Deconstructed''': So many people are scared of the change affecting their mind that the only people who use the device are people that want this sort of thing; otherkin for instance.

* '''Straight''': Bob and Alice [[FreakyFridayFlip have their minds exchanged]] by a MadScientist. Despite some initial confusion and discomfort, they rapidly adjust to their new bodies. After a month or two, even though they remember their old lives, you would not be able to tell from their mannerisms or emotional reactions that they'd ever been the opposite gender.
* '''Exaggerated''': Bob has the ability to turn into a wolf, gaining the instincts of that form. After a week in that form, he [[LossOfIdentity forgets he was ever human.]]

** The shapeshiftee is presented with a [[DoubleConsciousness second consciousness]] that begins to blend with his own.

** When Alice is turned into a cat, she doesn't gain the instincts of a cat i.e. she lacks the grace to always land on her feet.

** After spending sufficient time as a cat, Alice picks it up.

** Macho action hero Bob [[GenderBender is turned into a woman]]. He immediately begins acting out the most demeaning feminine stereotypes and insists that his name is now Missy. Several other characters point out that the AppliedPhlebotinum involved doesn't affect the victim's personality...Missy doesn't believe them.

** Macho action hero Bob [[GenderBender is turned into a woman]]. He immediately begins acting out the most [[UnfortunateImplications demeaning feminine stereotypes]] and insists that his name is now Missy. Several other characters point out that the AppliedPhlebotinum involved doesn't affect the victim's personality...Missy doesn't believe them.

** Alice dyes her hair to a shade similar to Bob's, and immediately immediately begins acting out the most [[UnfortunateImplications demeaning masculine stereotypes]] and calls herself Adam.

'''Basic Trope''': For some reason shapeshifting the way the shapeshifter thinks and behaves.

** A human that is turned into a wolf develops a carving for raw meat, but nothing else.

* '''Enforced''':

* '''Deconstructed''': So many people are scared of the change affecting their mind that the only people who use the device are people that want this sort of thing; veterinaries for instance.

Return to the TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody before you premanently think like a troper!

* '''Reconstructed''':

'''Basic Trope''': For some reason after shapeshifting the way you think is different.

* '''Exaggerated''': Bob has the ability to turn into a wolf, gaining the instincts of that form. But after a week in that form, he [[LossOfIdentity forgets he was ever human.]]
* '''Downplayed''': A character's sexual orientation changes after a gender bender, but not their behavior or personality.

** When Alice is turned into a cat, she doesn't gain the instincts of a cat. Turns out Bob was also hit with a mind-altering spell on top of the body-altering one, but Alice wasn't.
* '''Double Subverted''': Once the villain has been sent to jail, Bob is told that he can turn back now, but he refuses, because being a dog is more comfortable for him now.

** Alice dyes her hair to a shade similar to Bob's, and immediately starts acting like Bob.

* '''Enforced''':
** FirstLawOfGenderBending.
** The shapeshifting ability gives the shifter the instincts of the new form as a safety feature to keep them from dying.

* '''Deconstructed''': The horrific nature of the personality changes in the new body are played up. The victim's slow, inevitable LossOfIdentity, and the reactions of those around the victim as the person they knew slips away to be replaced by a stranger.
* '''Reconstructed''': The victim had very little that cared about him prior to the transformation in the first place, and he misses the old life as little as it misses him. LossOfIdentity might still happen and is still scary, but the victim still sees it as a step up and the NightmareFuel is deadened.

I could go Back to TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody, but I like my new life as the footer on this page better.

* '''Exploited''': ???

* '''Subverted''': Bob has been acting more and more like a normal dog since he shifted into that form--but it's actually an put-on so that the villain will feel free to speak in front of him and spill his plans.

* '''Justified''': The new body's hormones and outside social pressure to conform to the new shape's role combine to affect the shifter's attitudes.
** Or the magic in a BalefulPolymorph curse slowly erodes the victim's memories and personality to make it ever harder for them to seek out or accept a cure.
** Or the shapeshiftee is presented with a [[DoubleConsciousness second consciousness]] that begins to blend with his own.
* '''Inverted''': The Body Is A Plaything Of The Mind. Whatever body Emperor Evulz [[GrandTheftMe possesses]] slowly changes over time to look like his original form; his personality is just that strong.
** Alternatively: Whenever Bob experiences CharacterDevelopment, his appearance alters as a result.
*** Bob's personality is like the AnimalStereotype of a wolf, so a certain magic spell turns him into a wolf.

* '''Parodied''': Macho action hero Bob [[GenderBender is turned into a woman]]. He immediately begins acting out the most [[UnfortunateImplications demeaning feminine stereotypes]] and insists that his name is now Missy. Several other characters point out that the AppliedPhlebotinum involved doesn't affect the victim's personality...Missy doesn't believe them. "My new lady parts ''compel'' me to enjoy shopping for frilly lingerie!"

* '''Deconstructed''': The horrific nature of the personality changes in the new body are played up. The victim's slow, inevitable LossOfIdentity, and the reactions of those around the victim as the person they knew slips away to be replaced by a stranger.
* '''Reconstructed''': The victim had very little that cared about him prior to the transformation in the first place, and he misses the old life as little as it misses him. LossOfIdentity might still happen and is still scary, but the victim still sees it as a step up and the NightmareFuel is deadened.

* '''Enforced''': FirstLawOfGenderBending.

* '''Played For Laughs:''' Bob retains personality traits of shapes he's shifted into for a few minutes after returning to human, but it's just a set-up for episode-ending jokes.
* '''Played For Drama:''' Bob's tendency to become more deeply immersed in the personality of his alternate forms is a serious problem, and suspense is built in long storylines as to whether or not he'll be able to change back in time.

* '''Lampshaded''': "Don't be silly! Turning into a dog doesn't affec--[[{{Up}} Squirrel!]]"

* '''Lampshaded''': "Don't be silly! Turning into a dog doesn't affec--Squirrel!"

* '''Straight''': Bob and Alice [[FreakyFridayFlip have their minds exchanged]] by a MadScientist. Despite some intial confusion and discomfort, they rapidly adjust to their new bodies. After a month or two, you would not be able to tell from their mannerisms or emotional reactions that they'd ever been the opposite gender.