WHIMSICAL DEFINITION:fancifully spontaneous; giving in to humorous or imaginative impulsiveness CATEGORIES:identity, interactive SIMILAR ATTRIBUTES:fanciful, free-spirited, quaint POSSIBLE CAUSES: Growing up in an artistic or creative environment Having parents who encouraged exploration and expression over structure and rules Being a free spirit Being highly playful and fun-loving Having a strong sense of curiosity ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS: Embracing a unique and often comical outlook Feeling unrestrained by rules or society Unpredictability Happiness Seeking out new and different experiences Encouraging others to explore their sense of fun Having a strong sense of humor Spontaneity Flamboyancy Seeing beauty in things most others do not Attempting to shake things up Breaking minor rules or going against the norm for innocent fun Giving over to laughter Asking unusual questions:Are leprechauns related to gnomes, do you think? Voicing funny thoughts to encourage laughter Being strongly imaginative Daydreaming about fantastical or impossible things Showing cleverness Being in tune with one’s moods and emotions Having a fun and vibrant attitude Silliness Embracing creativity Making random choices to see what will happen Kidding around with friends Enjoying make-believe and storytelling Thinking in a nonlinear fashion Embracing one’s inner child Joining fantasy role-playing groups online or in real life Enjoying surprises and unexpected results Having an unusual perspective A desire to dress up and role-play Appreciating the unusual Taking an interest in strange or obscure music and art Expressing oneself in odd or unusual ways Making faces to express one’s emotions Impulsiveness Not caring or worrying about what others think Getting a crazy or unusual idea and running with it ASSOCIATED THOUGHTS: That hill is huge! I should roll down it to see how dizzy I get. So, what happens if a genie rubs a magic lamp? Does he get three wishes too? Janie’s mom looks like a unicorn. You know, without the horn. Hey, I should tell her that! I think I’ll wear only green from now on and see how long it takes people to notice. ASSOCIATED EMOTIONS:amazement, anticipation, curiosity, desire, happiness, satisfaction POSITIVE ASPECTS:Whimsical characters always make things interesting. Their offbeat and open-minded way of looking at life can inspire others to let go, laugh, and embrace their inner child. Having a strong sense of humor and enjoying both fantasy and fun, whimsical characters embrace imagination and can liven up stuffy, serious moments with good-natured levity. NEGATIVE ASPECTS:These characters’ lack of seriousness can make them appear irresponsible, landing them in trouble with others. While they are chasing fun, they might not be there for the people who need them, weakening those relationships. Some may grow frustrated at how fanciful and spontaneous these characters are when seriousness and consistency might be the better choice. EXAMPLE FROM FILM:Fraulein Maria (The Sound of Music) is a grown woman and nun initiate, but she barely fits the mold. She repurposes ugly curtains into play clothes, dances on hilltops, and makes up songs while biking through Switzerland. It’s simply in her nature to be lighthearted and spontaneous, which serves her well, first as a governess and later as the mother of seven.Other Examples from Literature:Lucy Pevensie (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe), Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables) TRAITS IN SUPPORTING CHARACTERS THAT MAY CAUSE CONFLICT:analytical, cautious, controlling, disciplined, fussy, humorless CHALLENGING SCENARIOS FOR THE WHIMSICAL CHARACTER: PLOTLINE: Experiencing a loss or defeat, especially when one has worked hard to achieve one’s goal PLOTLINE: Living in a somber environment (a convent or a Catholic boarding school, etc.) PLOTLINE: Having to make small talk with someone who is stuffy and serious PLOTLINE: Being assigned a task that requires following guidelines and focused thinking PLOTLINE: Wanting to be seen as a professional but struggling with the regimented nature of it