#yep just gonna nerd out about psychology under the cut

[wabbitseezonarchive]

I was reading that wiki article from a couple weeks ago, and as I did, something clicked. And like, I think I figured out what sparked Daffy’s shift from being this happy-go-lucky goofball to an attention seeking super jerk lol. It makes sense to me anyways!

Okay, so like if anyone reads this whole thing, I’ll be super flattered lmao. But I was reading that article (that was sent to me in an ask a loooong time ago) and thinking about it, and a couple of things stuck out to me that made sense. Like, in the article it mentions that some of the reasons a person might develop a compulsive need for attention and praise are: 1) because of a perceived lack of worth 2) dependency on the approval of parents

There are other factors that can lend to it, but those two are the major ones in Daffy’s case. And I’ve actually mentioned this before, in one-shots about how he misses his animators and is really reminiscent and fondly nostalgic for the Golden Age. He loves his animators. So much lol. He’s so attached to them. His humans! ♥ That treated himself and his friends like their children, despite all the discrimination that toons were undergoing in that time-period! He respects them so much to this day, and he’d always be looking to them for approval. He was always happiest when they were cheering him on, which they always did.

Back in the 40s, when he was at the height of his popularity and Bugs was still establishing himself at the studio, Daffy was the top-dog at WB. The public adored him, but beyond that, his animators were so incredibly proud of him. They just showered him with attention-- at least, that’s how he perceived it. But he could see that he was doing really well, and he could see how happy his animators were with him, and of course that made him happy in turn.

Then, as the war ramped up and Bugs skyrocketed in popularity, more and more of the spotlight began shifting away from him and onto Bugs. Then, suddenly, Bugs was center-stage. The production of his cartoons slowed down in favor of Bugs’, as the public really resonated with him during wartime. And for the first time in his life, Daffy felt pushed out of the public eye. I think his animators would have seen this, too -- that Daffy was beginning to feel neglected -- so, out of their want for him to be happy, they began pairing him with Bugs in cartoons, as a way to get him back into the public eye.

Of course, whereas with Porky, who Daffy could trick and get the upper-hand over without much trouble -- Bugs was far too witty and clever for Daffy to outsmart. So again, for the first time, he shifted roles from the trickster to the one being tricked. It wasn’t something he was used to.

From then on, whenever Daffy tried to compete with Bugs, he would inevitably lose. And unfortunately, it’s something he just kept trying to do. I think largely in part, because he wanted to prove to his animators ( and to himself ) that he was capable of being as good as Bugs; at still standing on his own and commanding the performance, and winning over the audience, just like in the old days. He wanted to prove it. But as time went on, he kept losing, and that need for the approval of his animators -- and approval in general -- just grew and grew. Until it exploded into a full-on rivalry with Bugs--- complete with jealousy, bitterness, and even resentment in some instances.

Of course, when it comes down to it, Bugs and him are still BFFs. He wouldn’t want to live without Bugs or anything. They get along well more often than not! And they are proud and happy for each other’s successes! It’s more like --- Daffy’s like a jealous older sibling, who’s constantly fighting for the attention and approval of their parents by trying to out-do his overachieving sibling. That’s the analogy I think of when I think of their rivalry haha. Bugs didn’t do anything, and ultimately, when it comes down to it, they’re more friends than they are rivals.

But yes, in the end Daff’s subconsciously trying to make his animators proud of him.

If you actually read this whole thing, you rock lol.