CONFLICT THESAURUS

HAVING TO PUNISH SOMEONE



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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:
Duty and responsibility, relationship friction, power struggles, losing an advantage

EXAMPLES:
The character punishing their child for poor choices or inappropriate behavior
Removing a student's in-school or extracurricular privileges, such as recess or being president of a club, due to misbehavior 
Assigning failing grades to a student who neglected to turn in assignments
Issuing a ticket or arresting someone who broke the law
Demoting an employee for flouting authority 
Suspending or expelling a student
Barring an athlete's participation in a game due to poor sportsmanship or a rule violation
Removing someone from their home because they violated a contract or didn't pay their rent
Closing someone's account (social media, bank, etc.) due to a terms of use violation 
Firing an employee or putting them on forced leave because they violated workplace policies
Closing a business due to health code violations or failure to obtain permits or licenses
Administering physical punishment to a convicted criminal
Removing someone's children or animals because of neglect

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
The recipient of the punishment lashing out verbally
Being berated by others who were impacted by the decision (members of a sports team, a client, etc.)
A sports match, tournament, or game being lost because the character couldn't participate
The parents of the student or athlete contesting the decision
A lessening of morale on the team or in the workplace
Other involved parties going unpunished
Receiving threats from the one being punished
The recipient refusing to take responsibility for their actions, making things difficult for the character

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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WOUNDS THIS COULD LEAD TO:
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POSITIVE TRAITS TO HELP THE CHARACTER COPE:
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POSITIVE OUTCOMES:
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