TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

The appeal of tsundere characters, explained by tscience.

Go To

Zennistrad from The Multiverse Since: Jul, 2011 Relationship Status: I don't mind being locked in this eternal maze!
#1: Mar 5th 2012 at 9:24:51 PM

So apparently some dude in Japan has come up with a theory on why tsundere characters are so popular in anime series: seeing people warm up to you over time is psychologically pleasing.

He based this theory on a study done at the University of Illinois that presented people with 4 videos of two people talking, one where Person A is pleasant to Person B the entire time, one where Person A is pleasant at first but becomes more hostile, one where Person A starts out hostile but becomes more friendly, and one where Person A acts like a jerk to person B the entire time. The majority of people surveyed said the scenario where person A starts out hostile but becomes friendly was most appealing.

So, yeah, quite an interesting observation in my eyes.

Bookyangel2438 from New York City Since: Jul, 2011
ekuseruekuseru 名無しさん from Australia Since: Oct, 2009
名無しさん
#3: Mar 6th 2012 at 12:29:14 AM

This doesn't actually explain anything.

Ramus Lead. from some computer somwhere. Since: Aug, 2009
Lead.
#4: Mar 6th 2012 at 12:30:45 AM

Something earned is more enjoyable than something given for free, as it has an associated value with it.

The emotions of others can seem like such well guarded mysteries, people 8egin to 8elieve that's how their own emotions should 8e treated.
Zersk o-o from Columbia District, BNA Since: May, 2010
o-o
#5: Mar 6th 2012 at 12:33:10 AM

Fatsunating. p-o

ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᓈᒻᒪᔪᐃᑦᑐᖅ
TheDeadMansLife Lover of masks. Since: Nov, 2009
Lover of masks.
#6: Mar 6th 2012 at 12:34:36 AM

It makes perfect nonsense.

Please.
TenTailsBeast The Ultimate Lifeform from The Culture Since: Feb, 2012
#7: Mar 6th 2012 at 12:40:53 AM

Nuh-uh. Something free is more enjoyable, because you don't have to go through crap to get it. Moreover, assuming it is valuable in its own right, you feel much better that someone gifted you by surprise. Giving-gratitude versus do-crap-for-me-then-getting, really no comparison.

I vowed, and so did you: Beyond this wall- we would make it through.
Fawriel Since: Jan, 2001
#8: Mar 6th 2012 at 1:48:53 AM

I dunno, it might have to do with contrast. When everything's just kinda nice all the time, it's like, okay. When things aren't so great at first, the niceness that follows is all the more pleasant because there's some actual relief involved. It's like an Earn Your Happy Ending. It just gives you more emotion. Not all of those emotions are good, but even the bad emotions are some sort of emotions. It also has to be said that the people in the survey, as well as the people who are fans of tsunderes, just observed a situation, rather than actually being a part of it, so any negative experiences displayed are not ones they actually had to go through themselves.

Trollkastel Not a Princess from the Tea Party Since: Dec, 2011
Not a Princess
#9: Mar 6th 2012 at 3:00:10 AM

It's a bit inconclusive for research; I see that there are more factors that deal with tsundere relationships. The gain-loss effect, without a doubt, is part of the factor, but in that case: when Donald Trump becomes a nice person, we should have some insane delirious infatuation with him. Tsundere infatuation isn't universal too, so I regard this as too inconclusive.

I feel terrible for being a skeptic on an article with Senjougahara. Her tsundereness in that picture is...

edited 6th Mar '12 3:01:57 AM by Trollkastel

Tea is best served with fellow monsters. | MAL
MrAHR Ahr river from ಠ_ಠ Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: A cockroach, nothing can kill it.
Ahr river
#10: Mar 6th 2012 at 10:22:16 AM

Interesting, I suppose. I guess it means people love Character Development...

Read my stories!
Culex3 They think me mad Since: Jan, 2012
They think me mad
#11: Mar 6th 2012 at 10:57:29 AM

There's a huge difference between someone that starts hostile and gradually warms up, and someone who constantly flip flops between extremes like a lot of anime tsunderes, so it's probably at least a combination of this plus the typical lack of subtlety in anime personalities.

to the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee
HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#12: Mar 6th 2012 at 4:43:04 PM

[up]

Damn Straight. Even if the male is a jerk or a idiot, I think it would be frustrating to have to deal with a girl who can't seem to make up her mind over whether she likes you or hates you, or can't even be honest with herself about it.

That being said, the idea of earning respect, and softening them would understandably give you a feeling of accomplishment, so I think that, when they are done right (actually stop being so ridiculously Tsun-tsun), I can finally grasp the appeal of the Tsundere.

Now, if only they weren't allowed to get away with smacking a male character when they didn't deserve it.

One Strip! One Strip!
darkclaw Legs of Justice from Right behind you. Since: Dec, 2010
Legs of Justice
#13: Mar 6th 2012 at 5:24:24 PM

To be honest; I don't like when Tsunderes hit people for no reason. I don't think people should hurt others unless they have a VERY good reason like self-defence.

On a related note; I knew a Tsundere...and I made sure not to date her; because I didn't want any unnecessary violence. Though when she tried to slap me; I took it the first few times and then told her not to slap me...or I would report her to my school. Since I know a lot of people in my school, she backed down.

I totally hate my avatar. Just saying.
MyGodItsFullofStars Since: Feb, 2011
#14: Mar 6th 2012 at 9:49:44 PM

I think that the appeal is more basic than that. Tsundere characters are naturally going to create tension and thus add a bit of drama, into series that would otherwise come across as incredibly dull. So people like the tsundere types because it keeps the Unwanted Harem genre just interesting enough to enjoy, while still offering the promise of a satisfactory ending to a love story. I mean, just try and read Love Hina as if Naru did not exist. The story would end up something like a boring guy babysitting a bunch of meddling kids - its the violence and conflict that Naru brings to the story that makes it interesting.

I'm not saying that this tscientific tstudy isn't a part of the whole equation, though, just that there's a very basic element of storytelling that tsundere types can bring into a work.

Add Post

Total posts: 14
Top