NEGATIVE TRAIT THESAURUS

CHILDISH



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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:
Marked by immaturity or a lack of experience

SIMILAR FLAWS:
Babyish, immature, infantile, juvenile, puerile

POSSIBLE CAUSES:
A lack of life experience
A sheltered upbringing
Overprotective, smothering caregivers
The desire to be babied or treated like a child
A past trauma that stymied emotional growth
An aversion to growing up or taking on adult responsibility

ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES:
Preferring babyish activities, immaturity
An indifference to “adult” things (activities, hobbies, interests, clubs, organizations, etc.)
Shallow problem-solving skills
Gullibility
Impropriety; doing or saying inappropriate things
Living life exuberantly
Irresponsibility and impulsiveness
Being forgetful and/or easily distracted
Difficulty prioritizing
Being unreasonably irritable
Shifting responsibilities to others; forcing them to make hard decisions and choices
Wanting to be coddled when in a bad mood
Playing pranks, telling jokes, and enjoying humor that does not align with one's age
Petulance when one doesn't get one's way
Being easily overwhelmed when difficulties come
Poor coping skills
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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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