POSITIVE TRAIT THESAURUS

DISCREET



Never struggle with Show-and-Tell again. Activate your free trial or subscribe to view the Positive Trait Thesaurus in its entirety, or visit the Table of Contents to explore unlocked entries.

CHOOSE MY PLAN

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:
Intentionally unobtrusive; conducting oneself with care, sound judgment, and a respect for privacy

SIMILAR ATTRIBUTES:
Circumspect, prudent

POSSIBLE CAUSES:
Having a respectful nature
Loyalty
Growing up during a time when secrets were important (the Cold War, WWII, etc.)
Working within an industry where sensitive information must be protected
Being exposed to danger (civil unrest, political takeovers, high crime, etc.) in the past
Being raised in the public eye (growing up in a political, famous, or wealthy family, etc.)

ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES:
Keeping secrets
Controlling the flow of information for the greater good
Being careful with one's words; being tactful
Seeking out information in an effort to be well-informed
Protecting others by omitting the truth
Wearing clothing that is nondescript or unremarkable
Moderating one's movements to avoid being the focus of attention
Thinking logically and planning ahead
Being careful with one's personal information
Maintaining control of one's emotions
Avoiding situations where it's easy to lose control (drinking too much, etc.)
Being observant and watchful
Asking careful questions while keeping one's motivation to oneself
...

ASSOCIATED THOUGHTS:
...

ASSOCIATED EMOTIONS:
...

POSITIVE ASPECTS:
...

NEGATIVE ASPECTS:
...

EXAMPLE FROM FILM:
...

CHALLENGING SCENARIOS FOR CHARACTERS WITH THIS TRAIT:
...

TRAITS IN SUPPORTING CHARACTERS THAT MAY CAUSE CONFLICT:
...