Character Trait: Deceitful

To engage your reader, it's important to always show not tell the traits of your characters. The character trait deceitful refers to a person who is prone to lying, deception, and dishonesty. Deceitful individuals often use their words and actions to manipulate others for personal gain or to avoid consequences. They may also be skilled at hiding their true intentions or feelings, making it difficult for others to trust them. Deceitful characters can add complexity and intrigue to a story, but it's important to approach their portrayal with sensitivity and nuance.

Possible causes of being deceitful

You might want to weave these into your character's back story to build a more believable character.

• Learned behavior from family or peers
• Fear of consequences for telling the truth
• Traumatic experiences that have led to a lack of trust in others
• A desire for power or control over others
• Cultural or societal norms that value deception or manipulation
• Low self-esteem or lack of confidence in oneself

Behaviors associated with being deceitful

You may be able to show your character's trait of deceitful by using these.

• Creating false personas or identities
• Withholding information
• Misrepresenting the truth
• Using flattery or charm to deceive
• Lying
• Manipulating others for personal gain
• Falsifying documents or evidence
• Pretending to be someone or something they're not
• Betraying trust

Attitudes associated with being deceitful

You may be able to show deceitful through their attitudes.

• Opportunistic
• Sneaky
• Cunning
• Untrustworthy
• Calculating
• Manipulative
• Hypocritical
• Dishonest
• Self-serving

Thoughts and struggles associated with being deceitful

Here are some ideas for things your deceitful character may think or struggle with.

• May have a deep-seated need for control and power over others
• May have a fear of vulnerability and being honest about their true thoughts and feelings
• Fears being exposed and losing the trust of those around them
• Constantly lies and manipulates others to achieve their goals
• May struggle with forming genuine connections and relationships due to their tendency to manipulate and deceive
• May feel guilt or shame over their deceitful actions, but ultimately justifies them for their own benefit
• Struggles to maintain their facade and keep track of their lies

Emotions associated with being deceitful

Here are some ideas for emotions your deceitful character may experience.

• Greed
• Manipulation
• Lack of trust in others
• Self-doubt
• Shame
• Anxiety
• Guilt
• Dishonesty
• Fear of being caught
• Paranoia
• Suspicion
• Secretiveness
• Arrogance
• Betrayal

Facial expressions associated with being deceitful

Here are some facial expressions your deceitful character may exhibit.

• Smirking or smug expressions
• Darting or shifty eyes
• A forced smile or grin
• Frowning or furrowed brows when caught in a lie
• Averting or quickly turning away from someone
• Scratching or rubbing the back of the neck or head
• Covering the mouth or face with hands or objects
• Pursed lips or tight jaw
• Avoiding eye contact

Body language associated with being deceitful

Here is some body language your deceitful character may exhibit.

• Fidgeting or twitching
• Hesitating or stammering when speaking
• Avoiding eye contact or staring too intensely
• Touching or scratching the nose or ear
• Leaning away or physically distancing oneself
• Speaking in a monotone or overly rehearsed manner
• Inconsistent or forced facial expressions
• Crossed arms or legs, creating a physical barrier
• Covering the mouth or face with a hand

Behaviors associated with being deceitful

Here are some behaviors your deceitful character may exhibit.

• Creating false personas or identities
• Pretending to be someone or something they're not
• Falsifying documents or evidence
• Lying
• Misrepresenting the truth
• Betraying trust
• Manipulating others for personal gain
• Withholding information
• Using flattery or charm to deceive

Growth and evolution of deceitful characters

Here are some ways that your deceitful character may grow and evolve over time.

• They may face a situation where honesty is the only option, and they must choose whether to come clean or continue to deceive those around them.
• They may learn empathy and gain a better understanding of the consequences of their actions on others, leading them to change their behavior.
• The character may experience a personal crisis or moment of self-reflection that prompts them to reevaluate their values and motivations.
• A deceitful character may learn to value honesty and integrity as they face the consequences of their lies and manipulations.
• Alternatively, they may become even more skilled at deception, using their experiences to refine their tactics and become more cunning.
• They may develop a conscience and feel guilty about their actions, leading them to make amends and seek forgiveness.
• The character may also struggle with trust issues as they realize the impact their deceit has on their relationships with others.

Stereotypes of deceitful characters to avoid

Try to avoid writing stereotypical deceitful character like these examples.

• Avoid making the character's lies too convenient. It's important to show the consequences of their deceitful actions and how they impact the story and other characters.
• Avoid making the character's deceitfulness too extreme. Characters that lie excessively without remorse or reason can come across as cartoonish and unrealistic.
• Avoid making the character's deceitfulness too obvious. It's more interesting if the character's lies are subtle and the reader needs to piece together the truth.
• Avoid making deceitfulness the character's sole defining trait. This can make the character one-dimensional and uninteresting.

Negatives of being deceitful

Here are some potential negatives of being deceitful. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as positives depending on the context.

• Reputation damage and loss of credibility
• Increased stress and anxiety from maintaining lies
• Difficulty forming genuine connections with others
• Damaged relationships and friendships
• Risk of being caught and facing consequences
• Guilt and shame from deceiving others
• Decreased trust from others

Positives of being deceitful

Here are some potential positives of being deceitful. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as negatives depending on the context.

• They may have a talent for lying and keeping secrets, which can be useful in certain situations.
• Deceitful characters can be very cunning and strategic, often able to manipulate situations to their advantage.
• Deceitful characters can be very good at reading people and understanding their motivations, which can help them anticipate and navigate obstacles.
• They may be very good at adapting to changing circumstances and thinking on their feet.
• Deceitful characters can be very creative and resourceful, often able to come up with innovative solutions to problems.
• They may have a certain charm or charisma that allows them to win people over, even if they are not being entirely truthful.

Verbal expressions of deceitful characters

Here are some potential expressions used by deceitful characters.

• Blaming others for one's own mistakes or misdeeds
• Being evasive or avoiding direct questions
• Creating false personas or identities
• Misrepresenting facts or distorting the truth
• Concealing information or withholding the truth
• Telling lies or half-truths
• Making promises that are unlikely to be kept
• Using flattery or charm to manipulate others
• Using exaggeration or hyperbole to deceive

Relationships of deceitful characters

Here are some ways that being deceitful could affect your character's relationships.

• Deceitful people may engage in gaslighting, making others doubt their own perceptions or memories.
• They may create drama or conflict to distract from their own misdeeds.
• They may pretend to be someone they are not to impress or gain the trust of others.
• They may use flattery and charm to get what they want.
• They may lie or conceal the truth to protect themselves.
• They may have a history of betrayal or breaking promises.
• Deceitful people may manipulate others for personal gain.
• Deceitful people may be skilled at hiding their true intentions or feelings, making it difficult for others to truly know them.

Examples from books of characters who are deceitful

• Lord Voldemort from the "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling
• Amy Dunne from "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn
• Jay Gatsby from "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Tom Ripley from "The Talented Mr. Ripley" by Patricia Highsmith
• Count Olaf from "A Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony Snicket
• Nurse Ratched from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" by Ken Kesey
• Iago from "Othello" by William Shakespeare
• Scarlett O'Hara from "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell
• Hannibal Lecter from "The Silence of the Lambs" by Thomas Harris

Writing exercises for writing deceitful characters

Here are some writing exercises you might try for learning to write deceitful characters.

• Write a scene where the deceitful character tries to deceive someone who is more perceptive than they anticipated.
• Write a scene where the deceitful character is caught in a lie. How do they react and try to cover it up?
• Write a scene where the deceitful character has to choose between telling the truth and continuing to deceive others.
• Describe a situation where the deceitful character successfully deceives someone, but it ultimately leads to negative consequences for them or others.
• Create a character profile for the deceitful character, detailing their motivations and justifications for their deceitful behavior.
• Write a dialogue between the deceitful character and someone they are trying to manipulate.
• Create a backstory for the character that explains why they have a tendency to deceive others.