POSITIVE TRAIT THESAURUS

OBSERVANT



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HELPFUL TIP:

Characters with this positive attribute will be extra sensitive to certain emotions, so think about how events might specifically trigger feelings in a way that elevates or lowers their moods or causes moral dilemmas to form—whichever best fits your story goals. Try giving a supporting character a negative trait that acts as an opposite of this attribute, causing frustration, disillusionment, or even emotional volatility that leads to poor decisions and mistakes.
DEFINITION:
Paying careful attention
(Note: Being observant refers to one's ability to notice things, while being perceptive involves the ability to understand and draw conclusions from things that have been observed. While closely related, the two traits aren't synonymous, nor do they always go hand in hand.)

SIMILAR ATTRIBUTES:
Attentive, keen, sharp-eyed

POSSIBLE CAUSES:
Nosiness
Shyness; involving oneself through observation rather than participation
Curiosity
Being highly intelligent and easily bored
A fear of missing something important
Paranoia

ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES:
Noticing when someone's mood has changed
Commenting when someone has gotten a haircut or is wearing new clothes
Listening in on multiple conversations
People watching
Picking up on someone's nervous tics or habits and asking them what's wrong
Accurately reporting what fellow students or co-workers have done all day long
Noticing details that others might miss
Seeing potential dangers before they occur
Instantly sizing up a room upon entering
Having excellent recall
Having heightened senses
Being cautious
Accurately repeating things that were said at a much earlier time
Taking safety and precaution seriously
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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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EXAMPLE FROM LITERATURE:
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CHALLENGING SCENARIOS FOR CHARACTERS WITH THIS TRAIT:
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TRAITS IN SUPPORTING CHARACTERS THAT MAY CAUSE CONFLICT:
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