The Impact of Trauma: Creating Relatable and Compelling Characters

When it comes to crafting a believable and compelling story, characters are the heart and soul that drive the narrative forward. As we all may know, conflict is a driving force behind every great story. To add an element of depth and realism to your characters, incorporating psychological trauma or emotional wounds can be incredibly effective. These internal struggles not only make characters more relatable and human but also provide rich grounds for conflict and growth. By delving into the psychological scars of your protagonists and antagonists, you can create a more engaging and nuanced narrative that resonates deeply with your audience. In the following sections, we’ll explore practical examples of how to weave emotional and psychological trauma into your characters' backstories, enhancing the overall impact of your storytelling.

Lost in the Woods

Let's say that you're crafting a story following a character named, Johnathan. Johnathan recently joined the Peace Corps and is excited about his upcoming trip to the Amazon to assist a local village in digging a well. After arriving in the Amazon, Johnathan and his ragtag group of friends get lost while hiking to the village they are sent to provide humanitarian aid to. Throughout the story, Johnathan and his friends face the treacherous elements, wildlife, starvation, and not-so-friendly natives as they attempt to traverse the dense undergrowth.

So there we go, we have the physical conflict. But what about the psychological trauma or internal conflict? What internal demons may Johnathan have to face? We have to make him more believable to your readers right? Here are some things that Johnathan may come across internally:

Personal Attributes Johnathan may develop during the story:

1. Cautiousness

2. Alert

3. Observant

4. Resourcefulness

Possible flaws Johnathan may have after surviving the ordeal:

1. Controlling behavior

2. Bad temperament

3. Withdrawal

4. Uncommunicative

What if Johnathan loses some of the friends he's made, after joining the Peace Corps, due to decisions he's made?

Possible beliefs Johnathan may have during or after the survival situation:

1. "I'm incompetent" or "I can't trust my instincts", will Johnathan second guess his decisions, thus causing more deaths or injuries?

2. "Nature is unpredictable and should be avoided at all costs"

3. "I need others to rescue me", In the story will Johnathan retreat inside himself and wait for an external source to help him?

Conclusion

By asking yourself the above questions and infusing your character with psychological trauma and emotional damage, you can create a multidimensional and relatable character that will drive your story. Your character will have the potential to act as a mirror, reflecting the complexities of the human experience.

This post was greatly aided by "The Emotional Wound Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Psychological Trauma" authored by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. Additionally, for a deeper exploration into the human psyche, consider referencing the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM-5). I trust this entry has been beneficial and encourages you to refine your characters with newfound depth and authenticity

-Juwan Allen