NEGATIVE TRAIT THESAURUS

DEFENSIVE



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HELPFUL TIP:

Characters with this flaw will be extra sensitive to certain emotions, so think about how events in your story might specifically trigger these feelings to generate compelling tension and conflict. Another idea is to give a supporting character a positive attribute that is an opposite of this flaw, which will get under the skin of both characters and cause friction in their relationship.
DEFINITION:
Marked by the need to defy aggression or attack

POSSIBLE CAUSES:
A history of being falsely accused
A guilty conscience
Bitterness
Having a secret that one wants to hide
Frequently being in the wrong and needing to prove oneself
Abuse or neglect

ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES:
Jumping to conclusions
Always having a reason to explain one's behavior
Becoming easily angered over little things
Aggression
Indignation: "I would never do something like that! How could you even think it?"
Suspicion
Quitting jobs before one can be fired
Bringing up the past to support one's position or cast doubt on others involved
Dumping one's girlfriend before she can end the relationship
Reacting with anger if one feels threatened
An aversion to admitting wrongdoing; being a right-fighter
Blaming others, refusing to take responsibility for negative outcomes
Highly alert; strong self-preservation skills
Reading into what people say and do
Having thin skin; an inability to take criticism
Becoming fidgety when feeling threatened (shifting, pacing, making an excuse to leave, etc.
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ASSOCIATED THOUGHTS:
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ASSOCIATED EMOTIONS:
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POSITIVE ASPECTS:
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NEGATIVE ASPECTS:
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EXAMPLE FROM FILM:
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OVERCOMING THIS TRAIT AS A MAJOR FLAW:
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TRAITS IN SUPPORTING CHARACTERS THAT MAY CAUSE CONFLICT:
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