crackerjackjoe (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} crackerjackjoe) wrote,@ 2005-05-22 20:18:00 |
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Writing with Personality...Disorder
I swear I was at the store reading "Writing with Personality," but Amazon doesn't seem to be listing it, or I have misremembered the title. I'd link it if I could find it. If I was a paranoid personality, I'd suspect a plot. But this is a blog post, so that is the last thing anyone should expect. The book wanted to make sure the writer could write as if they had a personality. I'm interested in personalities because I want to make sure I write characters with distinct and believable personalities, that is, believable personality disorders. All happy, functional personalities are alike.
As far as I'm concerned there are three ways to categorize personalities. There are two kinds of people in the world, those who dived the world into dichotomies and those who don't. Introvert-Extrovert is one common dichotomy, that is not in favor with me right now. Introvert has almost become a slur, you might as well say someone has a "loser personality." Let me hasten to add that I fall in the introvert category. The best definition of introvert/extrovert is that introverts get worn out hanging out with people and extroverts get all excited by hanging out with people.
Briggs Myers has too many categories. Even if everyone does fall into 2*2*2*2 (16) categories, I can't keep them straight. I'm INTP, but when I read the descriptions, it is a lot like reading astrology, lots of stuff that could easily apply to anyone.
The personality disorder literature has my current favorite classification system. All of the types have two names, one for when the personality traits are useful and functional, one name for when the personality traits cause the person or those around them misery. Generally, the misery is either anxiety or depression.
A character in a story needs a conflict. I'll list the personality types and the obvious conflict the character is going to be faced with, given their personality (disorder) and what role one would expect them to play in a novel.
Schizoid (solitary/reclusive)- These people are in a world of their own. Sometimes confused with Avoidant because schizoid's stick to themselves. Not to be confused with schizophrenic, who are utterly bonkers. I wouldn't expect a schizoid to get much stage time in a novel, but they would be a good candidate for a stream of consciousness novel.
Schizotypal, eccentric- Weird people. Again, not to be confused with schizophrenic. I haven't found a positive connotation word for this type yet. On the other hand, these are ideal for comedies. Keep at least one schizotypal character in every novel to keep the story from being too serious and to avoid trouble with the schizotypal character worker's union.
Antisocial- The antisocial type believes that the world is a rough hostile place and you have to take advantage of others to survive. They are the cartoon villains, but they don't think they are being evil. It would be better to see them as nihilists. Not to be confused with schizotypal or avoidant. Antisocial people are willing to be very mean to other people. When you need to write a villain, reach for an antisocial instead.
Histrionic- People that want to be at the center of attention. Seductive or macho depending on gender. These people are heroes and celebrities. Since histrionics want to be at the center of attention, it only make sense that they would be a MC.
Narcissistic. These people suspect they are unique. From this belief follows a lot of self centered behavior. Again, not to be confused with anti-social types, who also can be mean sorts. The narcissist is subject to hubris, so on paper, they are constantly creating great story conflicts by overestimating their abilities.
Avoidant/Sensitive. Have a low tolerance for the psychic pain of dealing with people. Avoidants keeps away from others, but find the lifestyle lonely, unlike the schizoid, has no problem being alone. I'm not sure that characters with this type would make good characters.
Dependent- People that, well, are dependant on having others do everything. Dependents give a writer an easy story conflict- separate them from their beloved and you'll generate several chapters.
Obsessive-Compulsive/Conscientious - People who 'own truth'. They know they are right and from this a lot of rigid, perfectionist behavior flows. These characters fulfill their personality type because they desperately need to adhere to it to be who they think they are. Let these characters edit your book, after you've finished writing it, they are very good at it.
Borderline- Volatile and uncooperative. Psychologists don't like studying these people because they are, well, volatile and uncooperative. The borderline is famous for the love-hate relationships. Your novel and your relationship novel is probably a lot like a relationship with a borderline. Borderline personalities are unsympathetic, so a character that is schedule to fall from grace would be easier to write as a borderline.
Paranoid, cautious- Someone who perceives threats. It becomes a disorder when the threats aren't real or likely. Characters in good novels really are the targets of devious plots. The author really is out to get the poor little character. The villain really does have plans for the hero that involve lasers and subterranean dungeons. A character feeling a bit persecuted and cautious would be perfectly sane, give his circumstances.
I swear I was at the store reading "Writing with Personality," but Amazon doesn't seem to be listing it, or I have misremembered the title. I'd link it if I could find it. If I was a paranoid personality, I'd suspect a plot. But this is a blog post, so that is the last thing anyone should expect. The book wanted to make sure the writer could write as if they had a personality. I'm interested in personalities because I want to make sure I write characters with distinct and believable personalities, that is, believable personality disorders. All happy, functional personalities are alike.
As far as I'm concerned there are three ways to categorize personalities. There are two kinds of people in the world, those who dived the world into dichotomies and those who don't. Introvert-Extrovert is one common dichotomy, that is not in favor with me right now. Introvert has almost become a slur, you might as well say someone has a "loser personality." Let me hasten to add that I fall in the introvert category. The best definition of introvert/extrovert is that introverts get worn out hanging out with people and extroverts get all excited by hanging out with people.
Briggs Myers has too many categories. Even if everyone does fall into 2*2*2*2 (16) categories, I can't keep them straight. I'm INTP, but when I read the descriptions, it is a lot like reading astrology, lots of stuff that could easily apply to anyone.
The personality disorder literature has my current favorite classification system. All of the types have two names, one for when the personality traits are useful and functional, one name for when the personality traits cause the person or those around them misery. Generally, the misery is either anxiety or depression.
A character in a story needs a conflict. I'll list the personality types and the obvious conflict the character is going to be faced with, given their personality (disorder) and what role one would expect them to play in a novel.
Schizoid (solitary/reclusive)- These people are in a world of their own. Sometimes confused with Avoidant because schizoid's stick to themselves. Not to be confused with schizophrenic, who are utterly bonkers. I wouldn't expect a schizoid to get much stage time in a novel, but they would be a good candidate for a stream of consciousness novel.
Schizotypal, eccentric- Weird people. Again, not to be confused with schizophrenic. I haven't found a positive connotation word for this type yet. On the other hand, these are ideal for comedies. Keep at least one schizotypal character in every novel to keep the story from being too serious and to avoid trouble with the schizotypal character worker's union.
Antisocial- The antisocial type believes that the world is a rough hostile place and you have to take advantage of others to survive. They are the cartoon villains, but they don't think they are being evil. It would be better to see them as nihilists. Not to be confused with schizotypal or avoidant. Antisocial people are willing to be very mean to other people. When you need to write a villain, reach for an antisocial instead.
Histrionic- People that want to be at the center of attention. Seductive or macho depending on gender. These people are heroes and celebrities. Since histrionics want to be at the center of attention, it only make sense that they would be a MC.
Narcissistic. These people suspect they are unique. From this belief follows a lot of self centered behavior. Again, not to be confused with anti-social types, who also can be mean sorts. The narcissist is subject to hubris, so on paper, they are constantly creating great story conflicts by overestimating their abilities.
Avoidant/Sensitive. Have a low tolerance for the psychic pain of dealing with people. Avoidants keeps away from others, but find the lifestyle lonely, unlike the schizoid, has no problem being alone. I'm not sure that characters with this type would make good characters.
Dependent- People that, well, are dependant on having others do everything. Dependents give a writer an easy story conflict- separate them from their beloved and you'll generate several chapters.
Obsessive-Compulsive/Conscientious - People who 'own truth'. They know they are right and from this a lot of rigid, perfectionist behavior flows. These characters fulfill their personality type because they desperately need to adhere to it to be who they think they are. Let these characters edit your book, after you've finished writing it, they are very good at it.
Borderline- Volatile and uncooperative. Psychologists don't like studying these people because they are, well, volatile and uncooperative. The borderline is famous for the love-hate relationships. Your novel and your relationship novel is probably a lot like a relationship with a borderline. Borderline personalities are unsympathetic, so a character that is schedule to fall from grace would be easier to write as a borderline.
Paranoid, cautious- Someone who perceives threats. It becomes a disorder when the threats aren't real or likely. Characters in good novels really are the targets of devious plots. The author really is out to get the poor little character. The villain really does have plans for the hero that involve lasers and subterranean dungeons. A character feeling a bit persecuted and cautious would be perfectly sane, give his circumstances.
