HONORABLE DEFINITION:characterized by noble principles; displaying integrity CATEGORIES:identity, interactive, moral SIMILAR ATTRIBUTES:ethical, principled, reputable, respectable, upright POSSIBLE CAUSES: Having a strong sense of empathy Being raised in an environment where ethics and honor were valued Having role models that put duty and country first ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS: Loyalty Speaking the truth when asked Standing up for one’s beliefs even when it’s unpopular to do so Giving without expecting anything in return Treating people (even opponents) with respect and fairness Taking the high road Forgiving people Giving someone the benefit of the doubt Transparency; acting without manipulation Honesty Graciousness Thanking an opponent after a game; wishing them well Being up-front about what one wants or needs Requesting help when it’s needed Helping others when one is able to do so Humility Adhering to a code of ethics Seeking out truth and knowledge Fact-checking Having good manners Keeping one’s ego in check Not taking advantage of other people or unlawful opportunities Maintaining control of one’s emotions Accepting responsibility Making changes to bring about positive improvement Having a strong sense of right and wrong Living by example Having strong self-esteem Treating others as equals Protecting those who need it Respecting and upholding the law Keeping one’s promises Making sacrifices so others are safe Having a strong sense of loyalty to one’s community or country Never asking others to do what one is not willing to do first ASSOCIATED THOUGHTS: I’ve been honest from the get go. He should have taken me at my word. I’m no hero; I just did the right thing, that’s all. Amy’s new, but I’ll trust her on this. I would want the same if our roles were reversed. I should take Mark home before his drinking gets out of hand. ASSOCIATED EMOTIONS:confidence, determination, gratitude, hopefulness, pride, satisfaction POSITIVE ASPECTS:Honorable characters have an inner strength and integrity that makes them highly trusted and respected. They do what they believe to be right, no matter what the cost to themselves. Someone who acts with honor will put personal ego aside and behave with complete transparency, showing his strength of character. NEGATIVE ASPECTS:Because honorable characters try to see the best in people, they can be targets for those who are unprincipled. This may lead to them being duped or taken advantage of. Some honorable characters may blindly trust in organizations and people and fail to see that these individuals aren’t worthy of such loyalty. If they don’t continually evaluate the groups and individuals they’re aligned with, their actions can actually do harm instead of good. EXAMPLE FROM FILM:Jean Valjean, the freed slave fromLes Misérables, tries to do the right thing and view everyone as equal. His respect extends to people from all walks of life as he empathizes with their struggles for survival and freedom. He treats people with dignity and embodies forgiveness—even for Javert, the ruthless policemen who hounds him over the decades despite the honorable life Jean has lived since his original transgression.Other Examples from Film and Literature:Marko Ramius (The Hunt for Red October), Aragorn (The Fellowship of The Ring), Cameron Poe (Con Air) TRAITS IN SUPPORTING CHARACTERS THAT MAY CAUSE CONFLICT:ambitious, hypocritical, impatient, loyal, sleazy, unethical CHALLENGING SCENARIOS FOR THE HONORABLE CHARACTER: PLOTLINE: Choosing between family and the law PLOTLINE: Having one’s trust betrayed PLOTLINE: Desiring to seek retribution after a preventable loss (the death of a child to drunk driving, etc.) PLOTLINE: Doing the right thing when it conflicts with one’s desire