CHARACTER MOTIVATION THESAURUS

RESISTING PEER PRESSURE (KIDLIT)



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HELPFUL TIP:

To understand why your character is driven toward a certain goal, get to know their positive and negative traits, as well as any significant emotional wounds that might be motivating them. Then you can explore the various kinds of conflict that could block them as they move toward their goal.
FORMS THIS MIGHT TAKE:
Choosing to be someone's friend despite opposition
Stopping to be someone's friend because they are toxic
Resisting pressure to bully someone who isn't part of the group
Resisting the demand to become part of a group or clique
Refusing to lie about something important
Choosing to not keep a hurtful secret
Resisting pressure to tell someone's secret so it can be used by another
Choosing to not cheat (on a test, while playing a game, etc.)
Choosing not to steal something for fun
Refusing to damage property for fun
Choosing not to take a dangerous risk
Refusing to hurt someone, physically or emotionally (fight them, take something from them, humiliate them, etc.)
Refusing to pull a prank or trick on a specific target
Resisting the urge to do something against the rules that is wrong
Saying no to cigarettes, vaping, drugs, or alcohol even when one's friends are doing it
Choosing to not skip school or attend late as one's friends are doing

HUMAN NEED DRIVING THE GOAL (INNER MOTIVATION):
There are five basic human needs that, when missing from a character's life, could motivate them to pursue this goal. The following needs are all possibilities, but only one of them should be the primary driver for any given character. For more information on the relationship between human needs and outer motivations, please see​ this ​Character Motivation tutorial.
Self-Actualization: A character who wants to be accepted would have a hard time resisting peer pressure that promise acceptance unless one of the people they look up to has a strong level of moral integrity. Then the character's own desire to live by the same set of beliefs would push them to resist the pressure and become their own person.
Esteem and Recognition: If a character lacking in self-esteem reached a breaking point because others continually pushed them around, resisting peer pressure would restore their lost inner strength and belief in themselves. 
Love and Belonging: If a friend was being bullied then the character would stand up to peer pressure to join in.
Safety and Security: If the character realized that giving into pressure meant putting themselves in danger, they would do everything in their power to resist. 

HOW THE CHARACTER MAY PREPARE FOR THIS GOAL:
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POSSIBLE SACRIFICES OR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GOAL:
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ROADBLOCKS WHICH COULD PREVENT THIS GOAL FROM BEING ACHIEVED:
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TALENTS & SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THE CHARACTER ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:
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WHAT'S AT STAKE IF THIS GOAL ISN'T MET?
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