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* A [[Eldritch Abomination|not-so-nice]] version is a major plot point in ''[[Paranoia Agent]]''. {{spoiler|Belief in the [[Urban Legend]] of Shonen Bat led to him becoming real}}, and unpleasant, freaky, and ''[[Gainax Ending|completely incomprehensible]]'' things ensued.
* A [[Eldritch Abomination|not-so-nice]] version is a major plot point in ''[[Paranoia Agent]]''. {{spoiler|Belief in the [[Urban Legend]] of Shonen Bat led to him becoming real}}, and unpleasant, freaky, and ''[[Gainax Ending|completely incomprehensible]]'' things ensued.
* In ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'', apparently you only have a soul if you believe you have one. {{spoiler|When Negi makes out with Chachamaru to initiate a Pactio (which requires that she has a soul to get one), despite Chachamaru all but giving up, Negi believes in her so much that she gets both a soul and a Pactio.}}
* In ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'', apparently you only have a soul if you believe you have one. {{spoiler|When Negi makes out with Chachamaru to initiate a Pactio (which requires that she has a soul to get one), despite Chachamaru all but giving up, Negi believes in her so much that she gets both a soul and a Pactio.}}
* In ''[[Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya]]'', the main character Illya, can fly because she was a fan of [[Magical Girl|Magical Girls]] before becoming one and believes that all Magical Girls have to be able to fly. Miyu on the other hand, can't fly because she is smart and can't ignore the laws of physics.
* In ''[[Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya]]'', the main character Illya, can fly because she was a fan of [[Magical Girl]]s before becoming one and believes that all Magical Girls have to be able to fly. Miyu on the other hand, can't fly because she is smart and can't ignore the laws of physics.
* ''[[Pokémon 3]]'' crossed this trope with [[Reality Warper|Reality Warping]], resulting in the Unown being driven crazy by their own creation, and then being stopped by Entei when Molly Hale began believing in him.
* ''[[Pokémon 3]]'' crossed this trope with [[Reality Warper|Reality Warping]], resulting in the Unown being driven crazy by their own creation, and then being stopped by Entei when Molly Hale began believing in him.


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*** Subverted by {{spoiler|the death of Little Boy Blue in # 82}}.
*** Subverted by {{spoiler|the death of Little Boy Blue in # 82}}.
* The [[DC Comics]] character ''Dr. Thirteen'' was a skeptic who disproved hauntings. Since he was established as existing in [[The DCU]], and eventually encountered [[The Phantom Stranger]], the fact he was always right in his ''own'' stories seemed strange and turned him into a [[Flat Earth Atheist]], until [[Neil Gaiman]]'s ''[[Books of Magic]]'' explained that his complete dismissal of magic meant he lived in a personal world where there was none.
* The [[DC Comics]] character ''Dr. Thirteen'' was a skeptic who disproved hauntings. Since he was established as existing in [[The DCU]], and eventually encountered [[The Phantom Stranger]], the fact he was always right in his ''own'' stories seemed strange and turned him into a [[Flat Earth Atheist]], until [[Neil Gaiman]]'s ''[[Books of Magic]]'' explained that his complete dismissal of magic meant he lived in a personal world where there was none.
* [[Excalibur (Comic Book)|Excalibur]] member Meggan was an [[Empathic Shapeshifter|empathic adaptive shapeshifter]] -- she looked like what people expected her to look like, and consequently spent a good part of her childhood turning into a monster. Eventually, she managed to develop a strong enough sense of identity that other people's expectations no longer affected her shapeshifting.
* [[Excalibur (Comic Book)|Excalibur]] member Meggan was an [[Empathic Shapeshifter|empathic adaptive shapeshifter]]—she looked like what people expected her to look like, and consequently spent a good part of her childhood turning into a monster. Eventually, she managed to develop a strong enough sense of identity that other people's expectations no longer affected her shapeshifting.
** In one of those cosmic ironies, the current powerset of Captain Britain, Meggan's husband, depends on his own confidence, much like Gladiator below - the stronger his confidence, the stronger he becomes.
** In one of those cosmic ironies, the current powerset of Captain Britain, Meggan's husband, depends on his own confidence, much like Gladiator below - the stronger his confidence, the stronger he becomes.
* Another example from the [[Marvel Universe]] is the Shi'ar Imperial Guard commander Gladiator: His strength is based on his own belief in his power. Shake his confidence and he can be beaten easily, rev it up and he crushes stars with his fists.
* Another example from the [[Marvel Universe]] is the Shi'ar Imperial Guard commander Gladiator: His strength is based on his own belief in his power. Shake his confidence and he can be beaten easily, rev it up and he crushes stars with his fists.
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* In the August 1966 issue of ''[[The Flash]]'', Barry Allen starts to fade away from existence once a villain unleashes a ray that causes everyone to not believe he exists. Everyone except a little orphan girl he had helped before forgets that he really exists until he and the orphan girl start a massive letter writing campaign to force people to remember The Flash.
* In the August 1966 issue of ''[[The Flash]]'', Barry Allen starts to fade away from existence once a villain unleashes a ray that causes everyone to not believe he exists. Everyone except a little orphan girl he had helped before forgets that he really exists until he and the orphan girl start a massive letter writing campaign to force people to remember The Flash.
** This issue is somewhat prescient considering that the DCU contains an actual comic book limbo where characters (often those who haven't appeared in books for quite some time in the real world) go to when people start to forget their stories.
** This issue is somewhat prescient considering that the DCU contains an actual comic book limbo where characters (often those who haven't appeared in books for quite some time in the real world) go to when people start to forget their stories.
* This is central to one of Warren Ellis' stories for ''[[Hellblazer]]''. An occult writer "acquires" a magical item called The Crib, and sets about killing people with it. The thing is, there's no such artifact, and it only works because both he and his victims believed in it. John Constantine, being more knowledgeable about the truth of the occult world, ''knows'' there's no such item, so it has no effect on him, and he's able to reveal what the person ''actually'' had -- an old cereal box with a dead mouse in it. It's discussed in earlier stories that magic in general works on this principle, but this is the first one where it really takes center stage and we see just how far it goes.
* This is central to one of Warren Ellis' stories for ''[[Hellblazer]]''. An occult writer "acquires" a magical item called The Crib, and sets about killing people with it. The thing is, there's no such artifact, and it only works because both he and his victims believed in it. John Constantine, being more knowledgeable about the truth of the occult world, ''knows'' there's no such item, so it has no effect on him, and he's able to reveal what the person ''actually'' had—an old cereal box with a dead mouse in it. It's discussed in earlier stories that magic in general works on this principle, but this is the first one where it really takes center stage and we see just how far it goes.
* Gods and other supernatural beings in [[Neil Gaiman]]'s [[The Sandman]] live off of this trope which shows up in his other writings as well.
* Gods and other supernatural beings in [[Neil Gaiman]]'s [[The Sandman]] live off of this trope which shows up in his other writings as well.
** When they turn up in a [[Grant Morrison]] issue of ''[[Justice League of America]]'', the heroes are sent into a boy's nightmare world, where a telepathic conqueror has created a world where it has already won and there are no heroes to stop it. As the boy's belief wanes, so do their powers.
** When they turn up in a [[Grant Morrison]] issue of ''[[Justice League of America]]'', the heroes are sent into a boy's nightmare world, where a telepathic conqueror has created a world where it has already won and there are no heroes to stop it. As the boy's belief wanes, so do their powers.
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{{quote|That wasn't enough. You didn't clap hard enough. Tinkerbell's dead.}}
{{quote|That wasn't enough. You didn't clap hard enough. Tinkerbell's dead.}}
** [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]]: On the first night the original play was performed, they didn't know ''what'' would happen. When Nina Boucicault as Peter called out "Clap your hands!" there was an immediate deluge of applause, some people even stood up. Boucicault was so overwhelmed she began to cry.
** [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]]: On the first night the original play was performed, they didn't know ''what'' would happen. When Nina Boucicault as Peter called out "Clap your hands!" there was an immediate deluge of applause, some people even stood up. Boucicault was so overwhelmed she began to cry.
* C. S. Friedman's ''[[Coldfire Trilogy]]'' features a substance called fae which responds to brain activity and can do anything. This is used as a justification for [[Functional Magic]] as well as [[Clap Your Hands If You Believe]]. A clever fae hack involved spreading a made-up religion in order to change the natural laws.
* C. S. Friedman's ''[[Coldfire Trilogy]]'' features a substance called fae which responds to brain activity and can do anything. This is used as a justification for [[Functional Magic]] as well as Clap Your Hands If You Believe. A clever fae hack involved spreading a made-up religion in order to change the natural laws.
** Fae is also ''nasty.'' It doesn't just make for "proactive" magic; things based entirely on natural laws DON'T work if their user has any fear they might malfunction. Hear a bump in the night, and the fae will play on your instinctive fear to fill in what might have made it... The vicious cycle goes straight down into scenarios that approach [[Cosmic Horror Story]]. Furthermore, even the ''slightest'' belief that a device such as a gun could backfire will make it backfire; the fae makes Murphy's Law even worse. This is why the setting has been stuck in [[Medieval Stasis]] for 1000 years at the series' start.
** Fae is also ''nasty.'' It doesn't just make for "proactive" magic; things based entirely on natural laws DON'T work if their user has any fear they might malfunction. Hear a bump in the night, and the fae will play on your instinctive fear to fill in what might have made it... The vicious cycle goes straight down into scenarios that approach [[Cosmic Horror Story]]. Furthermore, even the ''slightest'' belief that a device such as a gun could backfire will make it backfire; the fae makes Murphy's Law even worse. This is why the setting has been stuck in [[Medieval Stasis]] for 1000 years at the series' start.
* The title character of ''[[The Dresden Files]]'' has little or no faith in the Almighty, so crosses don't ward off vampires for him. However, he has loads of faith in magic, and so his silver pentacle charm (a symbol of magic) works very well in putting aforementioned fang-faces in their place.
* The title character of ''[[The Dresden Files]]'' has little or no faith in the Almighty, so crosses don't ward off vampires for him. However, he has loads of faith in magic, and so his silver pentacle charm (a symbol of magic) works very well in putting aforementioned fang-faces in their place.
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* A variant occurs in the [[Harold Shea]] stories by [[L. Sprague de Camp|L Sprague De Camp]] and Fletcher Pratt, in which it's possible to travel to another world by believing in the logical principles that govern that world. The place you're going was real to begin with (even though [[All Myths Are True|they're all based on mythology or literature]]), but believing the right things makes it accessible to your senses.
* A variant occurs in the [[Harold Shea]] stories by [[L. Sprague de Camp|L Sprague De Camp]] and Fletcher Pratt, in which it's possible to travel to another world by believing in the logical principles that govern that world. The place you're going was real to begin with (even though [[All Myths Are True|they're all based on mythology or literature]]), but believing the right things makes it accessible to your senses.
* Lord Dunsany uses this. To say where would spoil an excellent short story.
* Lord Dunsany uses this. To say where would spoil an excellent short story.
* [[Gone Horribly Wrong|Goes horribly, horribly wrong]] in regard to the "Stuff" in ''[[The Gone-Away World]]'' by Nick Harkaway. It becomes not what you believe, but what you're ''thinking of''--and if you're thinking of ten things at once, it'll become a splice of all 10 things. This gets [[It Got Worse|even worse]] if you [[Transformation Trauma|get covered in Stuff]].
* [[Gone Horribly Wrong|Goes horribly, horribly wrong]] in regard to the "Stuff" in ''[[The Gone-Away World]]'' by Nick Harkaway. It becomes not what you believe, but what you're ''thinking of''—and if you're thinking of ten things at once, it'll become a splice of all 10 things. This gets [[It Got Worse|even worse]] if you [[Transformation Trauma|get covered in Stuff]].
* The gods in the ''[[Discworld]]'' series work like this. The climax of ''[[Discworld/Monstrous Regiment|Monstrous Regiment]]'' involved {{spoiler|a beloved leader who had died and was being tormented by the prayers of those who put her on a godlike pedestal.}} In ''[[Discworld/Hogfather|Hogfather]]'', when the [[Big Bad]] was magically preventing people from believing in the [[You Mean "Xmas"|local equivalent]] of [[Santa Claus]], the extra, unused belief-energy made any imaginary creature that was even slightly plausible (like a creature that eats odd socks, and a bird that eats pencil stubs) come into existence. ''[[Discworld/Small Gods|Small Gods]]'' describes in detail how gods come into existence and become powerful.
* The gods in the ''[[Discworld]]'' series work like this. The climax of ''[[Discworld/Monstrous Regiment|Monstrous Regiment]]'' involved {{spoiler|a beloved leader who had died and was being tormented by the prayers of those who put her on a godlike pedestal.}} In ''[[Discworld/Hogfather|Hogfather]]'', when the [[Big Bad]] was magically preventing people from believing in the [[You Mean "Xmas"|local equivalent]] of [[Santa Claus]], the extra, unused belief-energy made any imaginary creature that was even slightly plausible (like a creature that eats odd socks, and a bird that eats pencil stubs) come into existence. ''[[Discworld/Small Gods|Small Gods]]'' describes in detail how gods come into existence and become powerful.
** "Belief" is stated as a very powerful force on the Discworld - if enough people believe something to be true, it will become true, however there are limits. The rules have never been fully stated, but it appears there needs to be a "space" that makes it somewhat reasonable such a thing could be true (hence the non-existence of the Give-The-Dean-A-Big-Bag-Of-Money goblin). In ''[[Discworld/Pyramids|Pyramids]]'' the mess of [[Crossover Cosmology|multiple combined mythologies]] that made up the religion of Djelibeybi, much of which was self-contradictory, and a lot of which could be contradicted by simple observation, only became true when the kingdom was pushed into an alternate reality with an even lower reality threshold than the Disc.
** "Belief" is stated as a very powerful force on the Discworld - if enough people believe something to be true, it will become true, however there are limits. The rules have never been fully stated, but it appears there needs to be a "space" that makes it somewhat reasonable such a thing could be true (hence the non-existence of the Give-The-Dean-A-Big-Bag-Of-Money goblin). In ''[[Discworld/Pyramids|Pyramids]]'' the mess of [[Crossover Cosmology|multiple combined mythologies]] that made up the religion of Djelibeybi, much of which was self-contradictory, and a lot of which could be contradicted by simple observation, only became true when the kingdom was pushed into an alternate reality with an even lower reality threshold than the Disc.
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* In [[Sergey Lukyanenko]]'s ''[[The Stars Are Cold Toys|Star Shadow]]'', it is eventually revealed that the human [[Faster-Than-Light Travel|jump drives]] work because the pilots believe them to work. This is also why humans are the only ones who retain their sanity when using it - because this should not be possible. The protagonist even recalls that the jumper was invented by a bunch of underfunded Russian researchers, and the scientific basis for the device was added as an afterthought and seems tacked-on. Also, every jumper works exactly the same, no matter the design or power. Kinda makes sense since astronauts have to believe they'll succeed in order not to die.
* In [[Sergey Lukyanenko]]'s ''[[The Stars Are Cold Toys|Star Shadow]]'', it is eventually revealed that the human [[Faster-Than-Light Travel|jump drives]] work because the pilots believe them to work. This is also why humans are the only ones who retain their sanity when using it - because this should not be possible. The protagonist even recalls that the jumper was invented by a bunch of underfunded Russian researchers, and the scientific basis for the device was added as an afterthought and seems tacked-on. Also, every jumper works exactly the same, no matter the design or power. Kinda makes sense since astronauts have to believe they'll succeed in order not to die.
* In explaining the history of money [[Dave Barry]] specifically uses the Tinker Bell scene as an analogy for how money works these days (i.e. no longer tied to gold or another precious metal). We all believe currency has value, so it does.
* In explaining the history of money [[Dave Barry]] specifically uses the Tinker Bell scene as an analogy for how money works these days (i.e. no longer tied to gold or another precious metal). We all believe currency has value, so it does.
* A rare inversion with a short story ("Obstinate Uncle Otis") about an obstinate Vermonter (and as such, the most obstinate man in the world) whose power of disbelief was legendary, to the point where he could almost convince others that their eyes were tricking them. And then he got struck by lightning, and got a dose of [[Your Mind Makes It Real|Your Mind Makes It Reality]]. The statue in the town square to the man he hated? Gone after he commented about how "No one would build a statue to a nincompoop like that!" The barn that was obstructing a nice view? Also gone when he commented how "No barn there, boy! Nothing but th' view - finest view in Vermont." His nephew realizes the danger this poses (e.g. his hatred of [[Franklin Roosevelt]], his recent disbelief in stars, etc.). It comes back to bite the elderly man on the ass, though, as he got a bit of [[Easy Amnesia]] and believed himself to be a traveling salesman with a different name. "Humph - ain't no such person as Otis Morks."
* A rare inversion with a short story ("Obstinate Uncle Otis") about an obstinate Vermonter (and as such, the most obstinate man in the world) whose power of disbelief was legendary, to the point where he could almost convince others that their eyes were tricking them. And then he got struck by lightning, and got a dose of [[Your Mind Makes It Real]]ity. The statue in the town square to the man he hated? Gone after he commented about how "No one would build a statue to a nincompoop like that!" The barn that was obstructing a nice view? Also gone when he commented how "No barn there, boy! Nothing but th' view - finest view in Vermont." His nephew realizes the danger this poses (e.g. his hatred of [[Franklin Roosevelt]], his recent disbelief in stars, etc.). It comes back to bite the elderly man on the ass, though, as he got a bit of [[Easy Amnesia]] and believed himself to be a traveling salesman with a different name. "Humph - ain't no such person as Otis Morks."
** And before [[Fridge Horror]] enters into it, the narrator was ''also'' named Otis Morks, yet didn't disappear - unlike his hapless, obstinate Uncle.
** And before [[Fridge Horror]] enters into it, the narrator was ''also'' named Otis Morks, yet didn't disappear - unlike his hapless, obstinate Uncle.
{{quote|'''Narrator:''' The ancient prophets may have had faith strong enough to move mountains. But Uncle Otis was possessed of something far more remarkable, it seemed - a lack of faith which could ''un''move them.}}
{{quote|'''Narrator:''' The ancient prophets may have had faith strong enough to move mountains. But Uncle Otis was possessed of something far more remarkable, it seemed - a lack of faith which could ''un''move them.}}
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* An early ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' episode had a [[Sufficiently Advanced Alien]] known as [[Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep"|The Traveler]] strengthened by the entire Enterprise crew concentrating on making him better. (Granted, they were in an area of the universe where [[Space Is Magic|thoughts become reality]], but it still fits the trope).
* An early ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' episode had a [[Sufficiently Advanced Alien]] known as [[Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep"|The Traveler]] strengthened by the entire Enterprise crew concentrating on making him better. (Granted, they were in an area of the universe where [[Space Is Magic|thoughts become reality]], but it still fits the trope).
* The ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' [[Big Bad]] of seasons 9 and 10, [[Sufficiently Advanced Alien|the Ori]], are [[Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence|ascended beings]] who thrive on worship. And they also ''lose'' their powers when not worshiped, {{spoiler|hence how The Ark Of Truth beats Adria, forcing the Priors to realize that the Ori, and by extension, Adria herself, were ''not'' gods.}} A fitting end.
* The ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' [[Big Bad]] of seasons 9 and 10, [[Sufficiently Advanced Alien|the Ori]], are [[Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence|ascended beings]] who thrive on worship. And they also ''lose'' their powers when not worshiped, {{spoiler|hence how The Ark Of Truth beats Adria, forcing the Priors to realize that the Ori, and by extension, Adria herself, were ''not'' gods.}} A fitting end.
** The [[Big Bad|Big Bads]] of the previous eight seasons, [[A God Am I|the Goa'uld]], are a more figurative example. Once a significant number of people stop believing that a particular Goa'uld is a god, it's usually a sign that said Goa'uld is about to lose out.
** The [[Big Bad]]s of the previous eight seasons, [[A God Am I|the Goa'uld]], are a more figurative example. Once a significant number of people stop believing that a particular Goa'uld is a god, it's usually a sign that said Goa'uld is about to lose out.
* [[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S3/E13 Last of the Time Lords|The finale]] of the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' new series third season came under some fire for relying on this, albeit with a [[Hand Wave]] involving a [[Phlebotinum]] assisted telepathic field that focused the belief, causing what fans call TinkerBell [[Crystal Dragon Jesus|Jesus]] or Fairy Doctor.
* [[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S3/E13 Last of the Time Lords|The finale]] of the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' new series third season came under some fire for relying on this, albeit with a [[Hand Wave]] involving a [[Phlebotinum]] assisted telepathic field that focused the belief, causing what fans call TinkerBell [[Crystal Dragon Jesus|Jesus]] or Fairy Doctor.
** In the [[Doctor Who/Recap/S31/E13 The Big Bang|fifth season finale]] {{spoiler|the Doctor was erased from existence, but Amy remembered him and somehow magically brought him back.}} It... ''sort of'' [[It Makes Sense in Context|makes sense in context.]]
** In the [[Doctor Who/Recap/S31/E13 The Big Bang|fifth season finale]] {{spoiler|the Doctor was erased from existence, but Amy remembered him and somehow magically brought him back.}} It... ''sort of'' [[It Makes Sense in Context|makes sense in context.]]
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** In ''[[Mage: The Awakening]]'', the disbelief of normal humans ''can'' unravel magic, but only because their souls bear a fragment of the nothingness which stands between the sources of magic and reality.
** In ''[[Mage: The Awakening]]'', the disbelief of normal humans ''can'' unravel magic, but only because their souls bear a fragment of the nothingness which stands between the sources of magic and reality.
** In ''[[Changeling: The Lost]]'' a magical effect preys on the beliefs and psychological expectations of mortals and other supernaturals to make Changelings and Fae Tokens appear as mundane people and objects, rather than the (sometimes flagrantly) magical things they are.
** In ''[[Changeling: The Lost]]'' a magical effect preys on the beliefs and psychological expectations of mortals and other supernaturals to make Changelings and Fae Tokens appear as mundane people and objects, rather than the (sometimes flagrantly) magical things they are.
** Elsewhere in the [[New World of Darkness]], spirits of things reflect what people ''believe'' that thing should be -- a dog spirit, for instance, is nearly the platonic ideal of a dog -- but it's left deliberately unclear whether this is because human belief shapes spirits, or spirits shape human belief. Is a spider spirit the way it is because we believe a spider should be this way... or do we think spiders should be this way because this is how spider spirits are?
** Elsewhere in the [[New World of Darkness]], spirits of things reflect what people ''believe'' that thing should be—a dog spirit, for instance, is nearly the platonic ideal of a dog—but it's left deliberately unclear whether this is because human belief shapes spirits, or spirits shape human belief. Is a spider spirit the way it is because we believe a spider should be this way... or do we think spiders should be this way because this is how spider spirits are?
* In ''[[In Nomine]]'', the Marches, the land of dreams separating the corporeal realm (Earth and the rest of the physical universe) from the celestial realm {Heaven and Hell) is populated by the power of human imagination with pagan gods and creatures of myth.
* In ''[[In Nomine]]'', the Marches, the land of dreams separating the corporeal realm (Earth and the rest of the physical universe) from the celestial realm (Heaven and Hell) is populated by the power of human imagination with pagan gods and creatures of myth.
* The ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' campaign setting ''[[Planescape]]'' revolves around the idea that belief shapes the planes. It can also move mountains, as the beliefs of the inhabitants of an area determines it's actual geographic location.
* The ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' campaign setting ''[[Planescape]]'' revolves around the idea that belief shapes the planes. It can also move mountains, as the beliefs of the inhabitants of an area determines it's actual geographic location.
** Exploited several times in the video game ''[[Planescape: Torment]]''; for example, the player at one point unlocks a memory of a previous incarnation who had just debated a man into the conclusion that he did not exist, which caused him to vanish.
** Exploited several times in the video game ''[[Planescape: Torment]]''; for example, the player at one point unlocks a memory of a previous incarnation who had just debated a man into the conclusion that he did not exist, which caused him to vanish.
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** So apparently they watched an episode of ''[[Transformers]]'', leading to the creation of Ark, the [[Transforming Mecha]] eidolon.
** So apparently they watched an episode of ''[[Transformers]]'', leading to the creation of Ark, the [[Transforming Mecha]] eidolon.
* In ''[[Age of Mythology]]'' and the Titans expansion, all four civilizations need their followers to do something for them before they'll grant units and upgrades. However, simply advancing your civilization gives you one free God Power to use at your discretion, so advance today!
* In ''[[Age of Mythology]]'' and the Titans expansion, all four civilizations need their followers to do something for them before they'll grant units and upgrades. However, simply advancing your civilization gives you one free God Power to use at your discretion, so advance today!
* In ''[[City of Heroes]]'', the Clockwork King's robots shouldn't work at all, but because he believes they do-- [[Justified Trope|thus subconsciously animating them with his telekinetic powers]]-- they do.
* In ''[[City of Heroes]]'', the Clockwork King's robots shouldn't work at all, but because he believes they do-- [[Justified Trope|thus subconsciously animating them with his telekinetic powers]]—they do.
* The is the general fandom consensus towards how ''[[Silent Hill]]'' works; the [[Dark World]] and the monsters therein are manifestations of a character's fears, memories etcetera, the [[Malevolent Architecture]] is someone willing the player character not to succeed, and the player character receives weapons and ammunition from their desire to live and achieve whatever goal they're working towards. As the game continues and all people concerned become more desperate and determined, the difficulty level and the potency of available weapons increases. This also explains why the mysterious "power" is limited to the eponymous town, as only a small cult there believes in it... until the more recent games, that is.
* The is the general fandom consensus towards how ''[[Silent Hill]]'' works; the [[Dark World]] and the monsters therein are manifestations of a character's fears, memories etcetera, the [[Malevolent Architecture]] is someone willing the player character not to succeed, and the player character receives weapons and ammunition from their desire to live and achieve whatever goal they're working towards. As the game continues and all people concerned become more desperate and determined, the difficulty level and the potency of available weapons increases. This also explains why the mysterious "power" is limited to the eponymous town, as only a small cult there believes in it... until the more recent games, that is.
** The film makes this somewhat canon. {{spoiler|The little girl's hatred, combined with that of a spirit of vengeance, transforms the town into a hell. In turn, the cult it was created to punish is protected by their faith; more precisely, it's their blind ignorance of their own fate which prevents the spirit from killing them all (until it finds a loophole).}}
** The film makes this somewhat canon. {{spoiler|The little girl's hatred, combined with that of a spirit of vengeance, transforms the town into a hell. In turn, the cult it was created to punish is protected by their faith; more precisely, it's their blind ignorance of their own fate which prevents the spirit from killing them all (until it finds a loophole).}}
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* A classic joke has a beautiful woman trying to drive a vampire away by brandishing her crucifix; the vampire's response is an amused, "Sorry, lady, 'svet gornisht helfen" (Yiddish for "It won't help a bit").
* A classic joke has a beautiful woman trying to drive a vampire away by brandishing her crucifix; the vampire's response is an amused, "Sorry, lady, 'svet gornisht helfen" (Yiddish for "It won't help a bit").
** A bit odd, since it's usually the ''wielder's'' faith that counts. (Maybe she's actually [[Boomerang Bigot|a self-hating Jew?]])
** A bit odd, since it's usually the ''wielder's'' faith that counts. (Maybe she's actually [[Boomerang Bigot|a self-hating Jew?]])
* This is generally how the occult practice of chaos magic works -- if someone believes in it, you, too, can believe in it, and channel it for power. [[Grant Morrison]], being delightfully wacky, has written articles on channeling the occult significance of everything from the [[Classical Mythology|Greek pantheon]] to the [[New Gods]] to [[James Bond]].
* This is generally how the occult practice of chaos magic works—if someone believes in it, you, too, can believe in it, and channel it for power. [[Grant Morrison]], being delightfully wacky, has written articles on channeling the occult significance of everything from the [[Classical Mythology|Greek pantheon]] to the [[New Gods]] to [[James Bond]].
* This is a common feature of New Age beliefs in general. In Wicca and some other Neo-Pagan religions, a variant is taught: you can perform magic(k) by visualizing the desired results and focusing your will upon them, but doubts in the efficacy of the technique will rob you of the necessary focus and prevent it from working.
* This is a common feature of New Age beliefs in general. In Wicca and some other Neo-Pagan religions, a variant is taught: you can perform magic(k) by visualizing the desired results and focusing your will upon them, but doubts in the efficacy of the technique will rob you of the necessary focus and prevent it from working.
** Some practitioners of magic(k) claim that any symbol has the power the magic(k)ian invests in it. This can lead to two conclusions: One, the whole subjectivist interpretation (the idea of all persons living in a reality of their own making (thus not the same as the one everyone else lives in), or two, that humans actually innately possess some huge magic power, but have developed mental blocks to prevent the world's destruction by a toddler [[Eldritch Abomination]], and such symbols are ways around these psychic walls.
** Some practitioners of magic(k) claim that any symbol has the power the magic(k)ian invests in it. This can lead to two conclusions: One, the whole subjectivist interpretation (the idea of all persons living in a reality of their own making (thus not the same as the one everyone else lives in), or two, that humans actually innately possess some huge magic power, but have developed mental blocks to prevent the world's destruction by a toddler [[Eldritch Abomination]], and such symbols are ways around these psychic walls.
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