CONFLICT THESAURUS

PEER PRESSURE



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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:
Power struggles, failures and mistakes, relationship friction, moral dilemmas and temptation, loss of control, ego-related conflict

EXAMPLES:
Doing something irresponsible or dangerous because others are doing it (using drugs, cliff diving into unknown waters, etc.)
Giving in to a dare (picking a fight with a stranger, vandalizing property, etc.)
Going farther physically than one wants to because they're pressured to do so
Laughing at an off-color joke, even if one feels uncomfortable about it
Seeing wrongdoing and not pointing it out, due to fear of losing friends
Covering for someone who's doing something they're not supposed to do
Taking part in a prank
Allowing oneself to be subjugated to someone else (laughing off insults, agreeing to ideas the character doesn't believe in, etc.)
Participating in activities one isn't really passionate about because important people in the character's life are involved (joining a country club, trying out for a sports team, etc.)
Living beyond one's financial means to keep up appearances (buying a luxury car, taking expensive trips, only wearing designer clothes, etc.)
Expressing support for political, religious, or social ideals one doesn't actually believe in
Going to great or unhealthy lengths to maintain a certain physical appearance simply to look like everyone else
Making important life decisions based on what others are doing (where to go to college, where to send one's kids to school, what career to pursue, where to live, etc.)

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Embarrassment over the foolish decisions one has made
Getting into minor trouble at school or work
One's reputation being damaged

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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