Why do some criminals keep crying out of envy seeing their enemy undefeated?

What changes in society have caused an increased need for external validation? (E.g., the self-loathing on so many internet forums which indicates many may not even be introduced to the idea that they can't be fully at the whim of the world)
How did you feel when you learned you were not really a painter, that as an AI creation you were unable to experience or express genuine human emotions?