POSITIVE TRAIT THESAURUS

COURTEOUS



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:
Mannerly; considerate of others

SIMILAR ATTRIBUTES:
Chivalrous, conscientious, considerate, gallant, genteel, polite, respectful, well-mannered

POSSIBLE CAUSES:
Being brought up in an environment where politeness was seen as a virtue
Being inherently thoughtful and kind
Being taught to place others before oneself
Having empathy for others
The desire to be respected in turn; adhering to “The Golden Rule”
Fear (of disapproval, broken relationships, conflict, violence, etc.)

ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES:
Being neat and orderly
Having a strong work ethic
Being thoughtful and kind
Exhibiting good manners
Respecting the personal space of others
Being intuitive of the needs of others
Showing interest in others to make them feel important
Congratulating others for their accomplishments
Treating people fairly
Giving compliments
Factoring in the moods of others before bringing something up
Having a gentle manner
Offering to pitch in and help
Using a considerate tone
Giving people credit for their work and their ideas
Giving people one's undivided attention (not taking phone calls or texting, etc....

ASSOCIATED THOUGHTS:
...

ASSOCIATED EMOTIONS:
...

POSITIVE ASPECTS:
...

NEGATIVE ASPECTS:
...

EXAMPLE FROM LITERATURE:
...

CHALLENGING SCENARIOS FOR CHARACTERS WITH THIS TRAIT:
...

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