Internal Conflict
Definition: psychological struggle within the mind of a literary or dramatic character, the resolution of which creates the plot’s suspense.
Have you ever read a novel where the characters felt especially real and relatable โ even in a fantasy novel? There’s a 99% chance that this is because of internal conflict. Internal conflict is what gives the reader the ability to step into the shoes of the character and actually care about what’s happening.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
There are 7 common types of Internal Conflict:
- Moral
- Self-Perception
- Religious
- Love
- Societal
- Political
- Existential
Moral Conflict
Moral conflict takes place when your character has to make a decision to either stick to their moral code or go against it to get what they want or need. An example of this is a person stealing to feed their children. Stealing goes against their moral code, but they don’t want their family to starve.
Self-Perception Conflict
Self-perception conflict happens when the character isn’t sure if they’re presenting their authentic self to others. A good example of this is “The Queen’s Shadow.” In this novel, Padme Amidala puts up a “mask” while she fills the role of senator. She dresses, speaks, and acts a certain way that isn’t true to herself, but it’s important to her role.
Religious Conflict
Religious conflict happens when a character’s thoughts or actions go against their religious beliefs. The character will usually doubt themself and their faith. A good example of this takes place in the film “Hacksaw Ridge.” Desmond Doss is a pacifist who joins the Army as a medic. During training, he’s pressured to take arms, but doesn’t because it goes against his beliefs.
Love Conflict
Love conflict happens when a character has to do something for the “greater good” even though it may hurt a loved one. A good example of this (and a good example of a tertiary character having internal conflict) is in “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.” The mother sends the Pevensie children off to stay in the countryside because their home isn’t safe during the war.
Societal Conflict
Societal conflict happens when the character struggles against the parameters society has laid out for them. A good example of this is in “House of Dragons” (no major spoilers). Princess Rhaenyra is named heir to the throne in spite of the societal opinion that a male should be named heir.
Political Conflict
Political conflict may be used in a few ways. One common way is a person liking a politician’s stance, but not liking their personality. Another common way is a politician lying about what they stand for in order to improve their public appearance.
Existential Conflict
Existential conflict occurs when a character has a hard time figuring out where they belong in the world or what their purpose for being alive is. A great example of this is Feyre in “A Court of Mist and Fury.” In this novel, Feyre has a hard time figuring out her place in the Night Court and often doubts that she’s any use.
In the comments below, tell me which form of internal conflict you’re using in your manuscript. If you liked this blog post, you should check out “6 Common Types of External Conflict in Story.”
