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Stephen Vincent Strange
Starting off in the MCU, we're first introduced to his character in the Doctor Strange (2016) movie. He's seen scrubbing in for surgery, (incorrectly, might I add, but I'm also a medical nerd too). He's a neurosurgeon and he has all the classic and stereotypical neurosurgeon ego. He's rude, he's over confident, and he believes himself better than others.
We can PROVE this as he talks to his coworker, Billy, teasing him about the music playing. In this scene, we're also introduced to his great memory, what he attributes to being able to gain better knowledge in Kamar-Taj faster than usual students. He makes a fool out of Billy, and not even a few minutes later, he's making a fool out of ANOTHER coworker, Dr. West (who we see in Multiverse Of Madness at Christine's wedding), giving a biased second opinion about someone appearing to be brain dead. He is biased as Christine Palmer, his love interest, believes that this patient could not be brain dead.
"Doctor Strange: The patient’s not dead, but he’s dying. Do you still want to harvest his organs?
Dr. West: I’ll assist you.
Doctor Strange: [Wheels the patient's bed down the hallway, Christine follows him.] No! Dr. Palmer will assist me."
He does save the patient in the end, the surgery clearly stroking his ego as he does the risky surgery free handed, even with protests. He risked the patients life for his ego. His arrogance is pointed out by Christine after.
"Christine Palmer: You know, you didn’t have to humiliate him in front of everyone.
Doctor Strange: I didn’t have to save his patient either. [He dances slightly as when walks.] But, you know, sometimes I just can’t help myself."
This arrogance is continued until he is humbled by the car accident. Here, we see Stephen turn for the worst, going through all of his money and ruining his relationship with Christine for the off-chance that he could regain his hands. He isn't upset about the hands, however. He's upset that his career is ruined. His cushy, ego fulfilling, career is gone. He won't get the praise he longs for, and no one will truly like him because they don't need him anymore. This is what makes his mental progression through the movie so important. He's bordering on the side of Narcissistic, until it all crashes down (literally).
"Doctor Strange: Look at these fixators.
Christine Palmer: No one could have done better.
Doctor Strange: I could have done better."
Having to go to a past patient he had turned down for help was humbling. That car crash, caused by his overworking and ego to have something "challenging", was humbling.
Him going to Kamar-Taj, spending his last bit of money just to go back to his cushy life style, is him giving up. He literally cannot go back.
I also think that the scene where Strange gets beat up by thugs is very important to the mental space he is in in that moment. Broke when he used to be rich; unusable medical knowledge when it used to be all he did; unable to fight back for himself when he used to; it's all what makes him so desperate. That scene shows that holding onto his past is literally doing him nothing but harm. He's desperate to keep the watch, the watch Christine had given him as we see in Multiverse Of Madness, and he gets beat up for it. The past is painful to him, and he sees no way forward until Kamaar Taj.
In Kamar-Taj, Stephen is skeptical. He believes in only science, bringing his arrogance into the equation. It isn't until the Ancient One shows him proof does he believe. I think this is important if we bring up his conversation with Dr. West. He didn't believe the patient brain dead, even with an incredibly unlikely chance they weren't because of that bullet. Instead, he pulled a possibility out of his ass and gave it a shot. He also has this stance on his treatment regarding his hands, going for experiments and risky things rather than the truth because of something he wants.
"Doctor One: Doctor Strange… those tissues are still healing.
Doctor Strange: So speed it up. Pass the stent under the brachial artery under the radial artery.
Doctor Two: It’s possible. Experimental and expensive, but possible.
Doctor Strange: All I need is possible."
"Etienne: I looked at all your research. I read all the papers you’ve sent, but… none will work. I… I don’t think you realise how severe the damage is, I…
Doctor Strange: Look, here’s the thing, I…
Etienne: At best, I’d try and fail. Look, I understand. Here’s the thing. I… What you want from me is impossible, Stephen.
Doctor Strange Come on…
Etienne: I’ve got my own reputation to consider.
Doctor Strange: Etienne, wait.
Etienne:I can’t help you…
Doctor Strange: No. No, no, wait!"
This is a clear 180 from his stance towards Kamar-Taj, as he is dead set on science and the rules. This could also show that he just wanted to show off to Christine, be better. When he's in the room with someone smarter and better than him, he's skeptical, a clear view into his personality. He thinks himself the only person who is right.
"Doctor Strange: I spent my last dollar getting here on a one-way ticket, and you’re talking to me about healing through belief?
The Ancient One: You’re a man who’s looking at the world through a keyhole, and you spent your whole life trying to widen that keyhole. To see more, know more. And now, on hearing that it can be widened in ways you can’t imagine, you reject the possibility?
Doctor Strange: No, I reject it because I do not believe in fairy tales about chakras, or energy, or the power of belief. There is no such thing as spirit! We are made of matter, and nothing more. We’re just another tiny, momentary speck within an indifferent universe.
The Ancient One: You think too little of yourself."