CONFLICT THESAURUS

LOSING A CHILD IN A PUBLIC PLACE



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HELPFUL TIP:

Conflict is your story’s secret sauce, supplying tension, relationship 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:
Dangers and threats, failures and mistakes, duty and responsibility, loss of control

NOTES:
Losing a child in a crowded area is every parent's worst nightmare. Amusement parks, grocery stores, malls, public pools and beaches, a busy urban street...that feeling of panic as the brain jumps to the worst-case scenario is nothing anyone wants to experience—whether the misplaced child is the character's own or one in their charge.

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Dropping everything to focus on the search
Bystanders judging the character for losing their charge
Having to drag other children around in the search
Being burdened with bags
Having to search in an unfamiliar area
Rushing to find a security guard or store manager to make an announcement 
Not knowing the language
Overreacting in an embarrassing way
Anxiety symptoms (scattered thinking, dizziness, etc.) making the search harder 
Having to rapidly explain the situation to others so they can help with the search
The character snapping at the people they're with
Poor judgment from having to make quick choices in the moment

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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