the need to prove one's self theme

It is illustrated that humans, in order to feel content, may feel the need to demonstrate that the skills they claim to have are true, to themselves and to others.

24 total · 3 choice · 17 major · 4 minor

StoryLevelMotivation
tftc1989e4x09 choice The cocky speedster Billy wouldn't be satisfied until the legendary street racer Joe "Iceman" Garrett came out of retirement to race him.
tz1959e3x05 choice Jesse really wanted to show that he was better at pool than the legendary pool player Fats Brown.
tz1985e3x20 choice Jesse really wanted to show that he was better at pool than the legendary pool player Fats Brown.
ds93x09 major Kira accused Thomas Riker of being driven by a desire to step out from William Riker's shadow
ds96x03 major Alexander wished to prove himself by showing he had what it took to be a Klingon warrior
ds97x11 major Norvo Tigan murdered Morica Bilby to prove to his overbearing mother that he was capable of running the family business in keeping with the standards set by his mother
ent1x12 major Tucker and Malcolm decided to prove they could refit the cannons just as well as the Jupiter station engineers.
futurama3x10 major Kif felt a need to prove his manliness to Amy's parents.
gdtcoc2022e05 major Richard Pickman had some sort of desperate need to have his art be accepted or recognized by Will.
movie: Arena (1989) major Steve put his skills to the test in a fierce alien boxing league that no human had dared compete in for the past 50 years.