PENSIVE DEFINITION:musingly thoughtful CATEGORIES:achievement, identity SIMILAR ATTRIBUTES:contemplative, meditative, reflective, speculative, thoughtful POSSIBLE CAUSES: Having a mind that tends to wander or daydream Shyness Having a brooding or worrying nature Being interested in issues that require deep thought (politics, religion, social issues, etc.) Being the kind of person who needs introspection in order to process things Desiring to escape reality Being an intellectual ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS: Staring off into space Sitting still for long periods of time Wandering off by oneself Going for isolated walks or drives Thinking carefully before speaking Speaking in circles; talking through one’s thoughts Multitasking Showing an appreciation for knowledge and education Asking a lot of questions Bringing up heady issues in order to discuss them with others Valuing other points of view Expressing annoyance when one’s thought process is interrupted Becoming frustrated when one is unable to satisfactorily work through a problem Being easily bored by topics that aren’t of interest Going long periods of time without engaging with others Seeking out knowledgeable people with whom to discuss issues Being easily distracted Reading and researching to further one’s perspective Forgetting appointments and meetings Taking a job that doesn’t require much thought so one can live inside one’s head Losing the thread of conversations Taking notes or keeping journals to keep track of one’s thoughts and ideas Being reclusive Getting overdue notices because one has forgotten to pay bills Letting one’s untended yard go to seed Becoming stiff from sitting in one position for too long while processing ideas Forgetting run-of-the-mill activities (eating, showering, feeding the dog, etc.) Difficulty interacting with people if one has been introspective for too long Insulting others by not being able to pay attention when they’re speaking Losing track of time Blurting out thoughts that have nothing to do with the current conversation Playing devil’s advocate in an effort to see things from another viewpoint Adding to a conversation only to discover that the topic has changed ASSOCIATED THOUGHTS: That’s an idea that deserves serious thought. Good grief. Is it midnight already? What an interesting question. There are innumerable possibilities… If the politicians thought more and fought less, they’d come up with better solutions. ASSOCIATED EMOTIONS:amazement, amusement, annoyance, curiosity, eagerness POSITIVE ASPECTS:Pensive characters are big thinkers. They like to ponder issues, and as such, are likely to come up with innovative answers. They’re not daunted by seeming impossibilities but tackle them directly in their own quiet and thoughtful way. So much time spent in deep thought leads to a naturally philosophical attitude, well-formed opinions, and an interest in an array of topics. NEGATIVE ASPECTS:Pensive characters tend to live in their own heads; as such, they can turn reclusive and lose touch with what’s happening around them. Their inward focus may make it difficult for them to pay attention and listen; this can lead people to perceive them as arrogant, dismissive, or rude. Some pensive characters may actively avoid others, being more comfortable with their thoughts than with people, which could add to their difficulty forming meaningful relationships. EXAMPLE FROM LITERATURE:Ponyboy Curtis (The Outsiders)isn’t like most of the other greasers in his neighborhood. Unlike his thuggish counterparts, he likes to read and watch movies and think about things. Instead of hanging out with the gang and rumbling, he prefers to be alone, thinking about the characters he’s seen on screen or the stories he’s read. He’s perfectly happy living in his head, which makes him kind of an oddball among his peers.Other Examples from Literature and TV:Jonas (The Giver), Wilson (Home Improvement) TRAITS IN SUPPORTING CHARACTERS THAT MAY CAUSE CONFLICT:courteous, frivolous, ignorant, playful, scatterbrained, suspicious CHALLENGING SCENARIOS FOR THE PENSIVE CHARACTER: PLOTLINE: Developing a mental handicap that affects one’s ability to focus or analyze PLOTLINE: Facing distractions that make it difficult to spend prolonged time in thought PLOTLINE: Teaming up with someone whose traits (chattiness, etc.) make focused thought difficult PLOTLINE: Working in an environment where logical thought isn’t common or valued PLOTLINE: Being forced to speak on an issue before one has had time to consider it