Meaning
What does Main Character Syndrome mean?
Main character syndrome, otherwise known as protagonist syndrome is the psychological condition, defined by feelings of being the hero of a story; the center of the world.
While the condition is present in every human being to some degree, it may manifest in a variety of manners, such as narcissistic behavior, persecution complex as well as a healthy dose of confidence.
Origin
What's the origin of Main Character Syndrome?
The origin of the phrase is unknown, although it was already identified by psychology in the 19th century.
Spread & Usage
How did Main Character Syndrome spread?
“Main character syndrome” was first defined on Urban Dictionary in 2009.
Starting in May, 2020, a TikTok trend was started by two users.
On May 11th, @lexapro_lesbian uploaded a video of herself, dancing in the street, while singing a song about herself being the main character of the neighborhood.
Not long after, @ashlaward uploaded a video on TikTok, talking about how more people should view themselves as protagonist in their lives.
Her message got through, as “main character syndrome” became a popular trope on TikTok since then, as a lot of users upload videos, putting themselves in the position of the protagonist.