From Sex to Schizophrenia: Everything You Need to Develop Your Characters!
What makes a person commit a white-collar crime? Who is a likely candidate to join a cult? Why do children have imaginary friends? How does birth order affect whether or not a person gets married? When does mind over matter become a crippling problem?
Writer's Guide to Character Traits, 2nd edition answers all of these questions and many others. With more than 400 easy-to-reference lists of traits blended from a variety of behaviors and influences, you'll gain the knowledge you need to create distinctive characters whose personalities correspond to their thoughts and actions - no matter how normal or psychotic they might be. In this updated and expanded edition, you'll also find:
• Comprehensive instruction on how to use this book
• New statistical information to help you create true-to-life characters
• Corresponding exercises that show you how to put the material to work in your stories
• A quick-reference index to make cross-referencing a snap
• Idea sparkers to get your thoughts out of your head and onto the page
Plus, you'll learn about common - and not so common - psychological, physical, and relationship disorders; delve into the minds of criminals; find out what it takes to be a professional athlete, scientist, and truck driver; discover what life is like for a gang member, suicidal teen, and alcoholic; and more.
In Writer's Guide to Character Traits, 2nd edition, note psychologist and author Dr. Linda Edelstein takes you beyond generic personality types and into the depths of the human psyche where you're sure to find the resources you need to make your characters stand out from the crowd.
ISBN-13: 9781582973906
Media Type: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Publication Date: 08-09-2006
Pages: 384
Product Dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)
Series: Writer's Guide to Character Traits
Table of Contents
|
Introduction |
1 |
| Chapter 1 |
Real People and Believable Characters |
7 |
|
Cohesiveness and Consistency |
7 |
|
Empathy |
11 |
|
Believable Characters |
11 |
|
Diversity |
12 |
|
Stereotypes and Cliches |
13 |
| Chapter 2 |
Adult Styles |
14 |
|
Adventurer Style |
15 |
|
Bossy Style |
17 |
|
Conventional Style |
19 |
|
Conformist Style |
20 |
|
Creator Style |
21 |
|
Dependent Style |
22 |
|
Eccentric Style |
24 |
|
Extrovert Style |
25 |
|
Fall Guy Style |
26 |
|
Fearful Style |
27 |
|
Flamboyant Style |
28 |
|
Hyper Style |
29 |
|
Loner Style |
30 |
|
Man's Man Style |
32 |
|
Passive-Aggressive Style |
33 |
|
Personable Style |
34 |
|
Problem Solver Style |
36 |
|
Resilient Style |
37 |
|
Show-Off Style |
38 |
|
Ultra-Femme Style |
39 |
|
Victim Style |
40 |
| Chapter 3 |
Child and Adolescent Types |
43 |
|
Child Development |
44 |
|
The First Year |
45 |
|
Toddlerhood |
47 |
|
Childhood |
49 |
|
Middle Childhood |
53 |
|
Adolescent Development |
58 |
|
Early Adolescence |
58 |
|
Middle Adolescence |
65 |
|
Early Adult Transition |
66 |
| Chapter 4 |
Psychological Disorders |
68 |
|
Problems in Child Development |
68 |
|
Early Influences Shape Personality |
69 |
|
Mild Disorders of Childhood |
69 |
|
Moderate and Severe Childhood Difficulties |
74 |
|
Problems in Adolescent Development |
81 |
|
Problems in Adult Development |
83 |
|
Severe Disorders of Adulthood |
98 |
| Chapter 5 |
Criminal Styles |
108 |
|
Nondeadly, Nonsexual Criminals |
108 |
|
Sexual Criminals |
123 |
|
Murderers |
131 |
| Chapter 6 |
Sexual Styles |
140 |
|
Traits of Normal Sexuality |
140 |
|
Types of Adult Sexual Orientation |
141 |
|
Traits of Sexual Problems |
142 |
|
Genetic Sexual Types |
150 |
|
Traits of Religious Attitudes Toward Sex |
151 |
|
Traits of Sexual Excitement |
153 |
| Chapter 7 |
Love and Marriage |
154 |
|
Falling in Love |
154 |
|
Choosing a Partner |
155 |
|
Rituals, the Engagement, and the Wedding |
163 |
|
Marriage |
165 |
|
Parenting |
167 |
|
Problems in Love and Marriage |
169 |
|
Separation and Divorce |
176 |
| Chapter 8 |
Turn of Events |
187 |
|
Birth Order |
188 |
|
Friendship Throughout Life |
192 |
|
Crises of Adolescence |
193 |
|
Transitions |
196 |
|
Young Adulthood |
197 |
|
Constructing a Family |
199 |
|
Aging |
207 |
| Chapter 9 |
Physical Disorders |
216 |
|
Remembering and Forgetting |
216 |
|
Pseudophysical Disorders |
223 |
|
Sleep Problems |
228 |
|
Substance Abuse |
229 |
|
Eating Disorders |
235 |
|
Communication Disorders |
238 |
|
Sexually Transmitted Diseases |
239 |
|
Sexual Dysfunction |
242 |
|
Alternative Healing Practices |
245 |
|
Occult Practices and Mystics |
246 |
| Chapter 10 |
Career Traits |
248 |
|
Career Choice |
248 |
|
Career Problems |
249 |
|
Traits of People in Forty-Six Careers |
251 |
| Chapter 11 |
Group Influences |
269 |
|
Family Types |
270 |
|
Group Development |
272 |
|
Traits of Leaders and Members in Groups |
277 |
|
Roles of Group Members |
279 |
|
Traits of Specific Groups |
281 |
| Chapter 12 |
Nonverbal and Verbal Communication |
290 |
|
Nonverbal Traits |
290 |
|
Faces |
291 |
|
Body Actions |
294 |
|
Dress |
298 |
|
Names |
300 |
|
Verbal Communication |
301 |
| Chapter 13 |
The Big Index |
303 |
|
Styles, Adult Normal |
303 |
|
Styles, Adult Problems |
304 |
|
Styles and Symptoms, Child Problems |
304 |
|
Traits (Emotions, Personality Characteristics, Behaviors, and Attitudes) |
304 |
|
Careers |
314 |
|
Physical Disorders and Symptoms |
315 |
|
Criminals |
317 |
|
Bibliography |
318 |
Show More
