CHARACTER MOTIVATION THESAURUS

ACHIEVING DOMINION OVER ANOTHER (DARK)



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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.
NOTES:
Power and control is a central goal of many antagonists and some anti-heroes. In this case, the goal is to achieve complete control over one individual. Keep in mind that the methods for control will be vastly different depending on what type of control the character seeks.

FORMS THIS MIGHT TAKE:
Enslaving someone
Making another dependent on oneself for survival
Trapping a rival so they are under one's complete control
Holding someone captive
Kidnapping
Forcible confinement
Having control over another person's mortality (life and death decision-making)
Having complete control over a spouse, lover, or child
Controlling another person's fate in a significant way
Steering a child's focus in life (to become a hockey star, to develop into a musical prodigy, etc.)

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 is narcissistic in nature may believe that only through control can they truly be revered as they believe they should be. Alternatively, a parent who was robbed of a career or opportunity may feel they can still attain a higher purpose if their talented child achieves this dream in their place.
Esteem and Recognition: A character looking to show others how powerful he is will seek dominion over another to prove their own worth.
Love and Belonging: A character seeking the approval and acceptance of a powerful person or group may pursue total control over another to prove they too belong in the same circle.
Safety and Security: A character who truly believes only they can keep another safe may see dominion as being "for the other person's own good."
Physiological Needs: In a kill-or-be-killed situation, a character who feels threatened may strike first and remove another person's power so they cease to be a threat.

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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CLICHÉS TO AVOID:
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