CONFLICT THESAURUS

HAVING POOR JUDGMENT



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HELPFUL TIP:

Conflict is your story’s secret sauce, supplying tension, friction, and complications to a character’s journey. It comes in a million different forms, so identify the obstacles and problems that will hit your character the hardest by using the Character Builder to uncover their primary insecurities, fears , and desires. Don’t forget to include everyday conflict scenarios that will frustrate them and keep the pressure high.
CATEGORY:
Failures and mistakes, relationship friction, increased pressure and ticking clocks

NOTES:
Mistakes are mistakes because they're not intentional; many times they're the result of a character being shortsighted or not thinking things through, generating minor or moderate consequences. This entry explores these kinds of conflict scenarios. For ones that are more serious, possibly resulting in injury or death, see UNDERESTIMATING DANGER. 

EXAMPLES:
The character giving in to peer pressure and doing something thoughtless or destructive
Continuing to get involved romantically with the same kind of person who has hurt the character in the past
Choosing a college or moving across the country just to be near a love interest
Posting something on social media that harms the character's reputation
Getting a tattoo with a love interest's name early in the relationship
Sleeping with someone the character shouldn't
Getting drunk before an important event (a placement exam, an interview, a meeting with future in-laws, a championship game, etc.)
Making decisions in the moment; not thinking of the future or planning ahead
Cheating on an exam
Sharing sensitive information (account passwords, a credit card, etc.) with others
Participating in a foolish prank that goes terribly wrong
Responding to confrontation in a way that makes the character feel better initially but does more harm in the long run
Providing an alibi for a friend without thinking about possible blowback

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Being taken advantage of 
Losing money or possessions
The character offending others with their behavior or speech
Spending time or money to make retribution
Having to break off relationships with poor influences in the character's life
The character's reputation being damaged
Becoming the butt of a joke for doing something stupid
Increased rules or unwanted scrutiny by those in authority (an earlier curfew, probation, etc.)

POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS RESULTS:
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RESULTING EMOTIONS:
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POSSIBLE INTERNAL STRUGGLES:
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PEOPLE WHO COULD BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED:
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NEGATIVE TRAITS THAT COULD MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE:
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IMPACT ON BASIC NEEDS:
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POSITIVE TRAITS TO HELP THE CHARACTER COPE:
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POSITIVE OUTCOMES:
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