NEGATIVE TRAIT THESAURUS

MACHO



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HELPFUL TIP:

Characters with this flaw will be extra sensitive to certain emotions, so think about how events in your story might specifically trigger these feelings to generate compelling tension and conflict. Another idea is to give a supporting character a positive attribute that is an opposite of this flaw, which will get under the skin of both characters and cause friction in their relationship.
DEFINITION:
Aggressive pride in one's manly qualities, including a belief in one's right to dominate

POSSIBLE CAUSES:
Being raised by traditional people with traditional ideas
A fear of being perceived as feminine or unmanly
Overcompensation for masculine-focused insecurities (virility, being height-challenged, etc.)
A history of being bullied
Having an overly critical father figure

ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES:
Obsessively working out
Aggression
Bullying others
Steroid use
Domineering behaviors
Attending live sporting events or getting together with the guys to watch the game
Participating in extreme sports (bungee jumping, skydiving, drag racing, etc.)
Not backing down from a perceived threat or insult
Competitiveness; having to be the best
Refusing to ask for help
Getting into fights and arguments
Embracing danger as a way to prove oneself as manly
Taking excessive pride in one's possessions (showing off a new truck or one's trophies, etc.)
Chauvinistic tendencies
Using the “I'm the head of the household” reasoning to behave as one sees fit
Doing anything to avoid losing face in front of other men (lying, starting a fight, etc....

ASSOCIATED THOUGHTS:
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ASSOCIATED EMOTIONS:
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POSITIVE ASPECTS:
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NEGATIVE ASPECTS:
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EXAMPLE FROM FILM:
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OVERCOMING THIS TRAIT AS A MAJOR FLAW:
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TRAITS IN SUPPORTING CHARACTERS THAT MAY CAUSE CONFLICT:
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