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Why do I sympathize with villains?
From the University of Southern California comes a study that says the human brain feels more empathy for villains than people we actually like. Watching evil doers suffer activates that part of the brain involved in empathy far more than watching a liked one.
Does a villain have to be sympathetic?
I’ve noticed this trend recently, especially within the MCU. They think that for a good story to happen, the villain must have some complicated, sympathetic backstory.
Why do I feel empathy for criminals?
People capable of empathy tend to support tough punishments for crime, but at the same time they are less likely to call for the harshest punishments, such as the death penalty. Empathy and perceptions of empathy help to shape the interactions of police and members of the communities they are assigned to protect.
Why do I always like the villains?
Rather than being seduced by the so-called dark side, the allure of evil characters has a reassuringly scientific explanation. According to new research published in the journal Psychological Science, people may find fictional villains surprisingly likeable when they share similarities with the viewer or reader.
How do you sympathize a villain?
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- Villains Aren’t Necessarily Antagonists. Let’s not mix up villains with antagonists.
- Define Evil.
- Consider the Villain’s Perspective.
- Weave an Intricate Backstory.
- Give The Villain An Admirable Trait.
- Explain the Villain’s Motivation.
- Give Your Villain a Personality.
How do you sympathize with a villain?
5 Tips for Writing a Sympathetic Villain
- Make them believe they’re the hero.
- Craft a tragic backstory.
- Give them an internal conflict.
- Employ supporting characters.
- Show them doing a good deed.
How do you make a sympathetic villain?
Why are villains important?
Every story needs a great villain because without him, the hero can’t shine. He’s the force of antagonism that keeps the action moving and the reader engaged. He pokes and prods at the protagonist, forcing her to stretch, grow and change. Stories, after all, are about change.
How do you make a reader sympathize with a villain?
Here are some tips:
- Show them caring about something. Give them a dog, a kid sister, a beloved cricket, anything.
- Make them vulnerable. If a character appears invincible it’s hard to identify with them as a living and breathing human being.
- Give them quirks.
- Justify their motivations.
- Show their wounds.
How do you empathize a character?
10 Ways To Create Immediate Character Empathy
- Displaying a valued trait such as loyalty, love, or courage.
- Particularly good at something.
- Treated unjustly.
- Wishing for something universally understood.
- Thrust into danger.
- Thrust into grief.
- Caring for others, especially at a cost to oneself.
- Unique, attention-getting.
How do you write an empathetic villain?
Play around with your villain for a while, treating them as though they were your hero. Discern their emotions, motivations, and good intentions. Give them at least one supporting character to reinforce the reader’s ability to connect on an emotional level (see Frodo’s sympathy for Gollum.)