Hi everyone
Due to a computer meltdown (this is somebody else's) I've had to put my novel on hold, but I will be continuing the bare bones on paper for a while as I cannot put it off any longer!
Question is, I have two female characters who are totally mean to the main character, a teen girl. One, however, has a heart and does finally become her friend but the other is nasty to the core. I thought about making her a psychopath because they have no emotions and manipulate for their own ends... is this correct? I don't know much about it only that I saw a film about a girl who was a psychopath - it was called pretty persuasion - and the girl in it is exactly how I want the nasty person to be. I don't want her to be duh I hate you so I'll beat you up mean but cold and calculating mean. Perhaps she sees the main character as a threat and wants rid of her. Either way I want her to be a huge obstacle for my protagonist. What do you think?
2006-12-14 01:20:46 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
NOTE: ***Sociopath is American terminology, and I am British. They are the same thing.
2006-12-14 01:49:03 · update #1
It sounds like it has the bones of being a good idea, but needs something else, something different to make it really stand out as a special story. So far, it's a pretty standard sort of hatred-being-directed at one person story. You need to add a twist that noone saw coming to keep it fresh.
2006-12-14 02:43:30 · answer #1 · answered by JoKnowsThisOne 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think your thinking right along the lines of a sociopath/psychopath. Just remember that sociopaths operate on very simple principals: "Do only what will give oneself the best possible return, while mitigating risk of harm." Some are shortsighted sociopaths, while others are calculating and patient. So make sure to keep your character consistent.
Sociopaths make up ~1-3% of the population (Wikipedia). They have no problem with killing/destroying anything that prevents them from achieving their goals. The only thing keeping them in check is the risk of getting caught.
Sociopaths crave raw power, so they can gravitate to positions of power. Common choices are lawyers, politicians, doctors and upper management types.
2006-12-14 09:39:29 · answer #2 · answered by arcaemous 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi Celestite, Infact I think you can make the Psycopath girl turn GOOD in the end due to some circumstances and The girl with somewhat good heart as the HIDDEN PSYCHOPATH . Really, that will Make a whole lot difference. Do Think.
2006-12-15 05:43:09 · answer #3 · answered by Ramki 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps investigate the concept of a sociopath?
I Live in the UK too. Psychology Masters Degree. They are not the same thing.
2006-12-14 09:32:49 · answer #4 · answered by carokokos 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think she should be confusing to the main character leaving the reader in doubt whether she's really evil. No one is evil all the time and characters are boring if they are too predicatable.
2006-12-14 09:32:02 · answer #5 · answered by Debbie T 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good. I would suggest that you create a background of murders she has committed ( In a cold and calculating way), and make it lead to her association with your innocent character. Good luck.
2006-12-14 09:33:05 · answer #6 · answered by Joe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the correct psychological disorder you are referring to is sociopath:
act to satisfy their needs/desires/fears/anger
show little, if any, emotional reaction to other people, events. etc
lacks the ability to feel another's pain and suffering
does not possess a conscience
2006-12-14 09:35:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it sounds good. But you want to be careful on making sure it dosn't sound too much like anyone elses work.
2006-12-14 09:35:38 · answer #8 · answered by laci 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good idea...I like it.
2006-12-14 09:30:09 · answer #9 · answered by Bliss. 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋