Main character syndrome and main character energy originated on social media to refer to a person who behaves as though the protagonist in the story of their life.

Main character energy and main character syndrome are informal Internet expressions used to describe a confident, self-assured attitude or pattern of behavior. They are not clinical terms or diagnoses.

If you have main character energy, you may view life as a narrative with yourself at the center. Main character energy may include:

  • taking ownership of your life
  • intentionally prioritizing your own happiness and growth
  • being self-empowerment

Both terms are also used to criticize an excess of that same behavior or attitude. Examples can include:

  • being arrogant
  • treating others like they are less important
  • acting self-centered or selfish

It’s important to note that main character syndrome isn’t a clinical diagnosis. It’s an informal term based on energy and vibes used online to describe people of all ages.

Keep reading to learn more about main character syndrome, how it’s used on social media and beyond, and how it may be related to narcissism and grandiosity.

Main character energy can refer to specific behaviors or attitudes you may project, especially how you relate to others. It may refer to your treatment of others in certain situations, though it doesn’t always have negative implications.

Viewing yourself as a main character may have certain benefits in supporting your confidence, mental health, and well-being, such as:

There’s a benefit to doing what makes you happy without worrying about what others think of you.

Having main character energy is also applied to change-makers, and practicing it may inspire you to enrich your world.

Protagonists of fictional works, while undoubtedly the most important characters in their stories, are often the heroes responsible for resolving conflict, whether saving Middle Earth from dark forces, solving the mystery and stopping Moriarty, or taking a stand to end the Hunger Games.

Some examples of how it’s commonly used online include when a person:

  • feels empowered to make their own decisions
  • prioritizes their own happiness and does not cater to others’ expectations
  • doesn’t care about what others think of them
  • steps forward to help others without making a big deal of it

However, there’s often a fine line between the positive and negative associations of main character energy.

A common feature in negative interpretations of main character energy and main character syndrome is how one views, relates to, and treats others.

Examples of too much main character energy often include having:

When taken too far, having main character energy often describes selfishness or narcissism, such as acting like you’re the only person who matters.

This can involve treating others as nothing more than obstacles, side characters, or NPCs (non-playable characters) in your story. (NPC is a video game term that refers to a character you can’t control as the player, such as a shopkeeper or one who gives your hero quests. These characters have predefined roles and set dialogue and actions.)

The term “NPCs” is often used on social media and in life to refer to and dehumanize people, usually strangers or people online, who act in predictable, unoriginal ways and appear to lack agency.

If you’re concerned that your own main character energy is venturing too close to dehumanizing others, it’s important to remember that everyone is the main character of their own life. Try to consider others’ perspectives and what they may be going through.

Viewing other people as if they don’t matter or have their own lives may mean you need to take a step back, get a wider perspective, and remember that everyone has their own thoughts and agency.

Main character syndrome is not a clinical diagnosis.

However, it may sometimes describe behavior that may also be explained by a form of narcissistic personality disorder.

Narcissistic personality disorder is a personality disorder in which a person has a pattern of:

  • grandiosity, or superiority
  • need for admiration
  • lack of empathy

According to a 2020 review of research, grandiose narcissism is a more extraverted and assertive type of narcissism that’s associated with:

  • high self-esteem
  • a sense of personal superiority and entitlement
  • overconfidence
  • a willingness to exploit others for self-gain
  • hostility and aggression when challenged

To receive a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder, you must experience symptoms that significantly affect your life, relationships, and well-being. Narcissistic personality disorder is more than a personality trait. It’s a diagnosable and treatable mental health condition. Treatment may include medication and talk therapy.

If you’re concerned you may have narcissistic personality disorder, it’s best to talk with a licensed psychologist.

Main character syndrome and main character energy are informal social terms to describe when someone behaves as though they were the main character in a story.

These terms can have positive and negative connotations depending on their use.

Main character energy can refer to confidently taking charge of your own life and not caring what others think about you.

But taken to an extreme, it can also refer to someone who puts themselves above others and feels that they’re the only one who matters.

Neither term is a clinical diagnosis. But the negative use of main character syndrome shares some traits with symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder. Narcissistic personality disorder is a psychological condition that requires diagnosis from a licensed psychologist. Treatment can help manage the symptoms.