{"id":5054,"date":"2012-03-08T14:48:44","date_gmt":"2012-03-08T14:48:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/\/?p=5054"},"modified":"2021-07-30T21:54:56","modified_gmt":"2021-07-30T21:54:56","slug":"the-role-of-impulse-in-creating-three-dimensional-characters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/the-role-of-impulse-in-creating-three-dimensional-characters\/","title":{"rendered":"The Role of Impulse in Creating Three Dimensional Characters"},"content":{"rendered":"
Here’s the bottom line: An increasing body of science suggests that we disagree about politics not for intellectual or philosophical reasons, but because we have fundamentally different ways of responding to the basic information presented to us by the world. These are often ways of which we are not even aware– automatic, subconscious– but that color all of our perceptions, and that effectively drive us apart politically.<\/p>\n What’s more, what is true for how we come to our opinions about politics is also, assuredly, true for how we approach “facts” that are perceived to have some bearing on (or threaten) the validity of our political opinions–whether those facts are scientific, economic, historical, or even theological in nature.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n In the Emotional Toolbox approach to character, a three-dimensional character actually has three dimensions<\/p>\n 1) Immediate Response-\u00a0where the character goes first\u00a0emotionally<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n 2) Long-Term Orientation- the character’s general philosophy<\/span><\/em> on life and love<\/p>\n 3) Strategic Approach- how the character plans<\/span><\/em> and works to achieve a goal<\/p>\n In this post I will consider a character\u2019s Immediate Response. \u00a0This is how a character viscerally reacts to an unexpected challenge, opportunity, or threat. (For example aggressive questions at a Press Conference.)<\/p>\n A character’s Immediate Response is where the character goes first emotionally<\/span><\/em>. This response is a character\u2019s automatic reaction when caught off-guard, questioned, or challenged unexpectedly.<\/p>\n These characters are instinctively propelled forward by outrage and moral indignation. Their judgment and action is swift and immutable. They refuse to compromise or back down. They are relentless in confronting what they perceive as evil, corrupt, bad, or ethically unacceptable.<\/p>\n Rick Santorum, a Power of Conscience character, is known for his impulsive comments and passing swift judgement when presented with anything that might violate his standards of decency, ethics, or principles.<\/p>\n<\/a>Here is an interesting study from Chris Mooney, Author of\u00a0The Republican War on Science<\/strong> and The Republican Brain<\/strong>. \u00a0The quote doesn’t just speak to politics but how three dimensional characters are created.<\/p>\n
<\/a>For example, Power of Conscience characters instantly decide if someone or something is good and true\u2014 or bad, unjust, unfair or inhumane.\u00a0Their first response is to attack any challenge, opportunity, or threat which they believe\u00a0involves impropriety, immorality or wrong-doing.<\/p>\n