Tsundere/Headscratchers

• It's just my impression or Tsunderes really tend to be tragic characters?
  • Well.. Tsundere's originally were intended to be new interesting characters, away from the Yamato Nadeshikos and Plucky Girls of that time and inspired by feminist protesters of the 1970s. Dunno if that makes them tragic. Perhaps times are changing again and their behaviour is reinterpreted.
  • It's up to the media genre whatever they become tragic characters. If it's drama, then probably yes. If it's comedy, then perhap no, except when True Art Is Angsty and/or Cerebus Syndrome are at work, especially since people these day tends to love tragic and deconstruction tropes.
  • Plus, tragedy often helps justify why a tsundere acts so.
• Strange it hasn't been said before, but this behavior sounds very much like bipolar.
  • What? Bipolar switches between depressed and hyperactive for extended periods of time, usually weeks or even months. Tsunderes are angry or nice, and can switch in seconds. The only "bipolar" you're seeing is the fact there's two distinct personality modes.
  • Is borderline personality disorder a better fit?
  • No, BPD is bigger than that. It involves self image, black/white thinking, tendency to self-harm and characterized by agression and depression rather than affection. Romantic relationships are just one of the places where it might manifest.
• What's the difference between a Tsundere and a Jerk with a Heart of Gold?
  • Tsunderes switch between angry and nice in a blink of an eye. A Jerk with a Heart of Gold is mean and only make it's switch to nice when you really get to know them.
  • Tsundere is a specifically romance-related trope for characters who can fell anywhere in the general behavior spectrum (A character could be The Messiah or a Complete Monster and still be tsundere towards their Love Interest). Meanwhile, Jerk with a Heart of Gold deals more with how the character interacts with everyone around them.
  • A tsundere is a person who usually acts like one of the tsuntsun/deredere personalities, but switches to the other at various times, whereas a Jerk With a Heart of Gold always acts like a dick, but is also a good person deep inside.
• This is rather random but my friend and I have started to notice alot of misuse of the term "tsundere."
  • We've been reading alot of weaboo horror stories and one of the most common themes is that boy/girl will be pursued relentlessly by weaboo boy/girl only to tell them to back off/I don't like you that way/ we aren't friends/ I'm highly uncomfortable with your advances/ I'm gay/ I'm straight/ I strongly dislike you/ I have a significant other/I loathe you, or a multitude of other deterrants. Many even going so far as to try and completely block the interested party from their life but each time are met with a "Hee hee, you're so tsundere it's adorable."
    • Follow the Leader leading to Trope Decay, it's the bane of every trope.
    • Another possible explanation: the pursuer is confusing tsundere behavior for someone Playing Hard to Get.
• Why is it that Tsunderes are the most common harem winners? Is it because they are portrayed the most realistically? I mean, how many girls do we know are generally nice towards practically everyone except the guys they like?
  • Dramatic tension.
  • So, other personality types such as the Rei Clone and Yamato Nadeshiko doesn't convey as much dramatic tension as the Tsundere?
  • On the other hand, there was a certain experiment involving four different conversational behaviors. Towards a certain listener, one speaker is angry all the time, another starts out sweet but turns angry, another sounds calm and/or sweet all the time, and the last one starts out angry but turns out to be sweet all along. Guess which one won.