COOPERATIVE DEFINITION:willing to work or collaborate with others CATEGORIES:achievement, interactive, moral SIMILAR ATTRIBUTES:agreeable, helpful, obliging POSSIBLE CAUSES: Growing up with several siblings and sharing household chores Living in a military family (or having a military background) Being people-friendly Being naturally community-minded Having strong leadership abilities Growing up in a family that ran a business ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS: Having an open mind Asking questions to start the collaborative process Knowing people by name Having strong social skills Being helpful and forthright Having a strong sense of responsibility Taking pride in one’s work Honesty Being polite Choosing a career that relies on group efforts (being a chef in a restaurant, etc.) Accountability Encouraging others along the way:Great job with the flyer. It’s just what we need. Being invested in the goal Having an upbeat mood and positive outlook regarding the work needing to be done Giving others a chance to speak or weigh in SayingYes; generally being agreeable Being willing to work hard Being community-minded Working with others with enthusiasm and energy Carrying out tasks without argument Being a peacemaker Appreciating other people and their skills and sayingThank you Being willing to try new things or new ideas Being able to compromise Showing up on time Being prepared Listening to what others have to say Being able to follow another’s direction if needed Putting the good of the team first Dedication and loyalty Noticing what needs to be done and stepping up to do it Enjoying the feeling of camaraderie Being respectful of the time and effort other members are putting forth Dividing tasks based on the strengths and weaknesses of others Taking pride in building, creating, or completing something Paying attention to when people are struggling and finding a way to help ASSOCIATED THOUGHTS: Shredding all these files is going to take forever, but it has to be done. Mark’s a fast worker. Between the two of us, we’ll have this place clean in no time. I’m so glad Brenda is on my team. I’ve wanted to work with her since forever. Lisanne likes to start early, so I’ll change my schedule. ASSOCIATED EMOTIONS:determination, eagerness, gratitude, hopefulness, satisfaction POSITIVE ASPECTS:Cooperative characters are easy to get along with, dedicated to the task, and invaluable team members. They understand that they can accomplish more by pooling the talents and resources of others than working alone. They are good listeners, respect their teammates, and take pride in group accomplishments. NEGATIVE ASPECTS:Cooperative characters can sometimes assume that others are just as committed and willing to work as they themselves are, which can lead to trouble. Blindly depending on others to provide information and leadership can result in a less-than-satisfactory result. If others in the group lack dedication or passion, cooperative characters may find themselves taking on more than their share of responsibility in order to finish the job. EXAMPLE FROM FILM:Dan Burns (Dan in Real Life) isn’t one to rock the boat. Although recently widowed, he agrees to go on a blind date when his family sets one up. When he does meet someone interesting and discovers that she’s dating his brother, he tries to bow out. His inclination is to go with the flow and keep peace, making him a cooperative, though passive, hero.Other Examples from Film and TV:Sam Weinberg (A Few Good Men), Stu Redman (The Stand), Mike Weston (The Following) TRAITS IN SUPPORTING CHARACTERS THAT MAY CAUSE CONFLICT:ambitious, apathetic, controlling, entitled, free-spirited, hostile, independent, suspicious, whiny CHALLENGING SCENARIOS FOR THE COOPERATIVE CHARACTER: PLOTLINE: Working with someone who is used to getting his or her way PLOTLINE: Being in a group or organization that lacks leadership and vision PLOTLINE: Working with people who don’t seem to care about the goal PLOTLINE: Working with a partner who creates drama for everyone involved PLOTLINE: Dealing with personality clashes within a team or group