NEGATIVE TRAIT THESAURUS

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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:
Being strongly opinionated without sufficient knowledge; having a bias for or against

SIMILAR FLAWS:
Biased, bigoted, racist

POSSIBLE CAUSES:
Growing up in a household with strong opinions and bias
Having a strong need for order, to place things into categories (right and wrong, good and bad)
Loyalty to a belief due to conditioning: "We're all Democrats in this family."
An intolerant upbringing
Ignorance; a lack of information or experience with diversity
A group mentality or cultish thinking: "Hazing is just part of the process. Everyone's got to do it."
Fear
Desiring to fit in and belong

ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES:
Discrimination
Making snap judgments and decisions
Refusing to listen to other theories or alternative ideas
A reluctance to interact with a person or group that opposes one's beliefs
Telling racial jokes; making racial slurs and comments
Ignoring facts or common sense in favor of acting on one's emotional reactions
Making assumptions based on biases
Negative stereotyping
Hate-mongering
Adopting a group's beliefs and practices as part of one's identity
Viewing everything that opposes one's beliefs as a threat
Holding onto deep, enduring beliefs
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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 FILM:
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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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