OBJECTIVE
DEFINITION:having a viewpoint devoid of bias or personal preference; clear-thinking

CATEGORIES:achievement, interactive

SIMILAR ATTRIBUTES:impartial, unbiased

POSSIBLE CAUSES:
A deep sense of fairness and equality
Having a strong appreciation for knowledge in its various forms
Respecting the value of experience
Being a truth-seeker

ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS:
Having control over one’s emotions
Wanting to see a problem from all sides before making a decision
Being able to identify bias, then stripping it from the equation
Seeking to get to the root of the matter
Strong listening skills
Asking questions to ensure that one fully understands
Not jumping to conclusions or making assumptions
Diplomacy; speaking in a way that has a calming effect on others
Being highly logical and rational
Setting emotions aside to allow for a neutral viewpoint
Waiting to make decisions until one can do so without emotion
Setting friendships aside as needed or establishing boundaries with people to avoid bias
Strong observation skills
Avoiding situations that may lead to personal bias (not having clients who are family, etc.)
Always seeking to find the best solution
Sometimes preferring to observe rather than participate
Taking time to investigate and gather information
Being able to see and acknowledge one’s own weaknesses
Not acting reactively; maintaining a calm demeanor
Reporting the facts from all sides
Being able to put oneself in the “shoes” of everyone involved
Suppressing opinions and only reporting facts
Being able to articulate the perspective of opposing sides to show understanding
Refusing to invest in labels or stereotypes
Viewing a situation with fresh eyes despite what might have led up to it
Not omitting certain facts
Describing what happened exactly as it occurred, without interpreting it
Not relying on intuition or gut feelings
Being non-judgmental
Dealing with small disappointments with minimal upset or stress
Mental clarity
Avoiding people who try to curry favor
Being honest and valuing honesty in others
Not openly displaying emotions in day-to-day life as much as others might
Having a reserved nature
Being difficult to irritate or anger
Taking time to contemplate
Not being ruled by fear or volatile emotions

ASSOCIATED THOUGHTS:
I think I’ll give everyone a few minutes to calm down before asking questions.
Because Allan’s sister is involved, someone else should mediate.
I don’t know a lot about eco farming, so I should find out more before weighing in.
I’ll draw a diagram of the accident to help police officers understand what happened.
I’m sure we can find a logical solution if we concentrate on facts instead of opinions.

ASSOCIATED EMOTIONS:determination, satisfaction, sympathy, uncertainty

POSITIVE ASPECTS:Objective characters do well in an advisor’s role because they are able to separate emotions from a volatile situation and proceed logically. When problems arise, they will go to great lengths to come up with a solution that is fair, based on the facts presented. Others respect that these characters take the time to investigate and gather information when making decisions. By being impartial, even when family or friends are involved, the advice of an objective character usually holds a lot of weight.

NEGATIVE ASPECTS:Objectivity can be a blessing and a curse, especially when family is involved; while an impartial character has no trouble separating his feelings from the situation, loved ones may take things personally or feel betrayed by the objective character. Some situations are not ideal for characters with this trait, especially when they must act quickly. Because of their need to know all the facts, opportunities may be lost by the time a decision is reached.

EXAMPLE FROM TV:Amy Farrah Fowler fromThe Big Bang Theoryis naturally objective, which suits her as a neurobiologist. She has a strong handle on her emotions and asks questions to get to the root of the issue at hand. Highly observant, she acts based on information and proven truth rather than being swayed by intuition or emotion. Even when personally involved, she is often able to pull herself out of emotional entanglements and take a logical approach to problem solving.Other Examples from Film:Lucius Fox (Batmanseries), Buster (Misery)

TRAITS IN SUPPORTING CHARACTERS THAT MAY CAUSE CONFLICT:forgetful, inhibited, manipulative, melodramatic, private, scatterbrained, uncommunicative, unsocial, untruthful

CHALLENGING SCENARIOS FOR THE OBJECTIVE CHARACTER:
PLOTLINE: Being victimized and trying to recount the events impartially
PLOTLINE: Knowing instinctively that something is wrong but being unable to prove it
PLOTLINE: Being involved in a situation where the facts and laws result in justice not being served
PLOTLINE: Trying to protect others while keeping one’s emotions in check