NEGATIVE TRAIT THESAURUS

RESENTFUL



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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:
Marked by bitterness

SIMILAR FLAWS:
Bitter, rancorous, sour, waspish

POSSIBLE CAUSES:
Inequality in the workplace
Experiencing preferential treatment within society (racial profiling, discrimination, etc.)
Having parents who played favorites with their children
Injustice
A traumatic humiliation
Long-standing envy or jealousy
Family feuds
Rejection by a lover, family member, or close friend
Oppression
Desiring to be recognized or appreciated
Losing one's freedom
A deeply embedded sense of fairness

ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES:
Edginess
Being judgmental of others
Reliving the past; picking at old wounds
Sarcasm
Running others down
Deliberately sabotaging someone in order to make him look foolish or lose face
Unfriendliness
Constantly talking about how one was wronged
Desiring to make the offending party pay
Poor communication skills
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ASSOCIATED THOUGHTS:
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ASSOCIATED EMOTIONS:
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POSITIVE ASPECTS:
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NEGATIVE ASPECTS:
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EXAMPLES FROM LITERATURE:
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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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