Character Trait: Disloyal

To engage your reader, it's important to always show not tell the traits of your characters. Disloyal is a character trait that describes someone who is unfaithful, unreliable, or lacks commitment to an individual or group. A disloyal character may break promises, betray trust, or act selfishly to serve their own interests instead of those of others. They may also switch sides or allegiances, and have a tendency to prioritize personal gain over loyalty to their friends, family, or organization. This trait can add complexity and conflict to a character, but also make them less trustworthy and sympathetic to readers.

Possible causes of being disloyal

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

• A history of being disloyal themselves, either consciously or unconsciously
• Lack of trust in others due to past experiences
• Lack of empathy towards others
• A desire to fit in with a certain group or culture
• Fear of commitment or being tied down
• Desire for personal gain or advancement
• Narcissistic tendencies or a sense of entitlement
• Insecurity or low self-esteem
• A belief that loyalty is not important or valuable

Behaviors associated with being disloyal

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

• Withholding important information
• Denying or lying about one's actions or intentions
• Cheating or infidelity
• Putting personal interests above loyalty to others
• Betraying trust
• Switching sides or loyalties easily
• Talking behind someone's back
• Failing to defend or support someone when needed
• Breaking promises or commitments

Attitudes associated with being disloyal

You may be able to show disloyal through their attitudes.

• Duplicitousness
• Untrustworthiness
• Lack of commitment
• Deception
• Betrayal
• Dishonesty
• Indifference
• Unreliability
• Selfishness

Thoughts and struggles associated with being disloyal

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

• Constantly shifting allegiances, often to the highest bidder or the most powerful person in the room
• Fear of being discovered and facing consequences for disloyal actions
• Justification of disloyal behavior as necessary for survival or advancement
• Difficulty forming meaningful relationships due to a lack of trustworthiness and a tendency to betray others
• Inner conflict between the desire for personal gain and the guilt or shame that may come with betraying others
• Difficulty making decisions or commitments due to a lack of trust in others and a fear of being betrayed themselves

Emotions associated with being disloyal

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

• Treason
• Untrustworthiness
• Falsehood
• Double-crossing
• Duplicity
• Perfidy
• Falseness
• Hypocrisy
• Backstabbing
• Unfaithfulness
• Two-timing
• Deceitfulness
• Betrayal
• Infidelity

Facial expressions associated with being disloyal

Here are some facial expressions your disloyal character may exhibit.

• A smirk or sneer
• Pursed lips or a pout
• A tilted head or cocked eyebrow
• Looking away or avoiding eye contact
• Raised eyebrows and a fake smile
• A tight-lipped or pressed mouth
• Fidgeting or nervous movements
• Averted or shifty eyes

Body language associated with being disloyal

Here is some body language your disloyal character may exhibit.

• Smirking or smiling in a way that seems insincere or sarcastic
• Crossing arms in front of the chest, creating a barrier between themselves and others
• Avoiding eye contact or looking away when questioned about loyalty
• Leaning away from someone or physically distancing themselves
• Not following through on promises or commitments
• Being overly critical or negative towards others, especially behind their backs
• Showing a lack of interest or investment in the success of a group or team
• Gossiping or spreading rumors about others
• Fidgeting or appearing nervous when talking about loyalty or commitment

Behaviors associated with being disloyal

Here are some behaviors your disloyal character may exhibit.

• Withholding important information
• Failing to defend or support someone when needed
• Talking behind someone's back
• Denying or lying about one's actions or intentions
• Breaking promises or commitments
• Switching sides or loyalties easily
• Cheating or infidelity
• Betraying trust
• Putting personal interests above loyalty to others

Growth and evolution of disloyal characters

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

• Being put in a situation where they must choose between their loyalty and their own self-interest, and making the choice to prioritize loyalty
• Developing a sense of loyalty towards someone or something
• Gaining a better understanding of the value of loyalty through experiences or interactions with others
• Facing consequences for their disloyalty, such as losing the trust of others or facing punishment, and using this as a catalyst for change
• Recognizing the harm caused by their disloyalty and feeling remorseful about it
• Learning to trust and rely on others, which can lead to increased loyalty towards those individuals

Stereotypes of disloyal characters to avoid

Try to avoid writing stereotypical disloyal character like these examples.

• Avoid making the disloyal character seem one-dimensional or purely evil
• Avoid making the disloyalty seem too easily justified or rationalized by the character
• Avoid portraying the disloyal character as lacking any redeeming qualities
• Avoid making the disloyalty too predictable or transparent

Negatives of being disloyal

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

• Inability to keep secrets
• Unreliability
• Dishonesty
• Betrayal of trust
• Lack of respect for others' feelings
• Lack of commitment
• Selfishness
• Lack of integrity
• Breaking promises

Positives of being disloyal

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

• Disloyal characters can be more complex and nuanced, making them more interesting to read about
• Disloyalty can be a catalyst for change and growth in both the character and the story
• Disloyalty can be a sign of independence and autonomy
• Disloyal characters can often be more unpredictable and add an element of surprise to a story
• Disloyalty can be a way for characters to break free from toxic relationships or situations

Verbal expressions of disloyal characters

Here are some potential expressions used by disloyal characters.

• Cheating on a partner
• Failing to keep secrets
• Making empty promises
• Gossiping behind someone's back
• Lying or being dishonest
• Switching sides or allegiances
• Breaking a commitment
• Taking credit for someone else's work
• Betraying trust

Relationships of disloyal characters

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

• Disloyal individuals may also have difficulty maintaining long-term friendships, as they may prioritize their own interests over the needs of others.
• They may struggle to maintain professional relationships, as their lack of loyalty may lead to unethical behavior or conflicts of interest.
• They may be more likely to engage in secret or illicit affairs, causing strain on romantic relationships.
• Disloyal people may have a tendency to betray the trust of those closest to them.

Examples from books of characters who are disloyal

• Tom Buchanan from F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby"
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern from Shakespeare's "Hamlet"
• Iago from Shakespeare's "Othello"
• Holden Caulfield from J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" (arguably)
• Judas Iscariot from the Bible
• Athos, Porthos, and Aramis from Alexandre Dumas's "The Three Musketeers" (at times)
• Francis Dolarhyde from Thomas Harris's "Red Dragon"
• Catherine Trammell from James Patterson's "Basic Instinct"
• Severus Snape from J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series

Writing exercises for writing disloyal characters

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

• Create a backstory for the character that reveals a history of disloyalty, such as cheating on a partner or lying to a friend.
• Imagine a situation where the character is faced with a choice between loyalty and self-preservation, and write about the decision they make and the consequences that follow.
• Write a scene where the character betrays someone they are close to, such as a friend or family member.
• Write a dialogue between the character and someone they have betrayed, exploring the reasons behind their disloyalty.
• Imagine a scenario where the character is offered a bribe or incentive to be disloyal, and write about how they respond.
• Write a monologue from the perspective of the character, where they justify their disloyalty to themselves or someone else.
• Create a scene where the character witnesses someone else being disloyal, and explore their thoughts and emotions in reaction to it.