Our morals shape our personality and our desires
Morals act like an internal compass, guiding what we feel is right, just or acceptable. Morality is a person’s sense of right and wrong, and over time, guides our decisions and actions.
A character’s beliefs determine their personality and actions.
Society’s morals, culture, and role models inspire authors to explore conflicting values.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a foundational theory in psychology, organizes human motivations into a five-tiered structure that encompasses physiological needs such as food and shelter, the need for safety and security, the desire for love and belonging, pursuing esteem and recognition, and the goal of self-actualization, representing a comprehensive framework for understanding human drives.
Characters develop traits in the pursuit of satisfying their current needs. For example, a character craving esteem might develop determination and perseverance, while unmet needs can lead to behavioral changes, such as desperation prompting actions outside their usual personality. Prolonged unmet needs may even influence or alter a character’s moral compass, especially under extreme circumstances like danger or war.
Understanding these needs helps writers create motivations that resonate universally with readers, fostering empathy and engagement.
Categories of Positive Attributes
Not all character traits stem directly from morality or needs; some arise from personal preferences and experiences. Let’s identify four major categories of positive attributes that contribute to a well-rounded character:
- Moral Attributes: Traits linked to beliefs about right and wrong, such as kindness, generosity, honor, and justice. These traits often influence related behaviors consistent with the character’s moral code.
- Achievement Attributes: Traits that support goal attainment and align with moral responsibility, including meticulousness, dependability, and resourcefulness.
- Interactive Attributes: Traits shaped by social interactions and personal likes or dislikes, such as patience, courtesy, and social awareness. This category contains the largest variety of traits because of the social nature of characters.
- Identity Attributes: Traits that express individuality and personal expression, like creativity, quirkiness, spirituality, and patriotism. These can be foundational to a character’s personality and influence many areas of life.
Impact on Physical Environment
A character’s environment, both past and present, significantly influences their traits. Childhood surroundings imprint foundational attributes that often persist into adulthood, but drastic environmental changes can prompt shifts in personality.
For instance, a character accustomed to wealth may adopt new traits like thriftiness and efficiency when adjusting to a less affluent lifestyle, demonstrating adaptability to new circumstances.
Integrating Character Attributes
To build a rich character profile, authors need a comprehensive understanding of both your protagonist’s and antagonist’s needs, fears, desires, likes, dislikes, and moral beliefs.
Developing a backstory reveals how experiences shape current traits and motivations.
This deep insight allows writers to authentically portray the character’s mindset and emotional wounds, which are essential for crafting compelling character arcs and believable stories.