EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS

HAVING TO KILL TO SURVIVE



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HELPFUL TIP:

Emotional wounds will steer a character's behavior, corrupt his worldview, and cause negative traits to form. To understand exactly how this occurs, please read our tutorial for the Wound Thesaurus.

NOTE: We realize that sometimes a wound we profile may have personal meaning, stirring up the past for some of our readers. It is not our intent to create emotional turmoil. Please know that we research each wounding topic carefully to treat it with the utmost respect.
EXAMPLES:
A forced initiation into a gang
Killing to escape confinement or torture
A parent protecting a child or himself from a stranger
A parent protecting a child or herself from a violent spouse
A child protecting a loved one
Having to kill in battle (as a soldier) or as part of one's job (a bank guard, police officer, etc.)
Being forced to kill someone as part of a sadistic game or situation
Killing to protect one's vital resources in dire circumstances
Killing to obtain vital resources (food, water, weapons) for one's family
A child being forced to become a soldier

WOUND CATEGORY:
Crime and Victimization, Traumatic Events

BASIC NEEDS OFTEN COMPROMISED BY THIS WOUND:
safety and security, love and belonging, esteem and recognition

LIES THAT MAY DEVELOP FOR CHARACTERS WITH THIS WOUND:
They're a violent and dangerous person—a monster
They did the unthinkable and so are capable of anything
They'll suffer damnation for what they've done
No one will ever trust them again
People look at them differently now
People are afraid to be around them out of a fear that they'll snap and commit violence
It doesn't matter what they do; people will only see them as a killer
If you take a life, you don't deserve to have one yourself
The world is an evil place

THE CHARACTER MAY FEAR:
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POSSIBLE RESPONSES AND RESULTS:
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POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES THAT MAY RESULT:
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NEGATIVE TRAITS THAT MAY RESULT:
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TRIGGERS THAT MIGHT AGGRAVATE THIS WOUND:
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STEPS TOWARD HEALING:
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OPPORTUNITIES TO FACE OR OVERCOME THIS WOUND:
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