Character Trait: Backstabbing

To engage your reader, it's important to always show not tell the traits of your characters. Backstabbing is a negative character trait that is often associated with betrayal, deception, and dishonesty. A backstabber is someone who pretends to be a friend or ally, but ultimately works against you behind your back. This trait is often seen as cowardly and untrustworthy, and can cause significant harm to relationships and trust.

Possible causes of being backstabbing

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

• Jealousy or envy towards others' success or relationships
• Lack of trust in others
• Insecurity and low self-esteem
• Narcissistic tendencies or a need for attention
• History of betrayal or being betrayed in the past
• Desire for power or control
• Difficulty communicating openly and honestly
• Fear of failure or rejection
• Manipulative tendencies

For detailed feedback on backstabbing characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's critique report.

Behaviors associated with being backstabbing

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

• Betraying the trust of others for personal gain
• Sabotaging someone's efforts or projects
• Failing to keep promises or commitments made to others
• Turning on someone after being a close ally or confidant
• Gossiping about others behind their backs
• Taking credit for someone else's work or ideas
• Spreading rumors or lies to damage someone's reputation
• Manipulating situations to put oneself in a better position at the expense of others
• Pretending to be someone's friend while secretly working against them

Attitudes associated with being backstabbing

You may be able to show backstabbing through their attitudes.

• Deceitfulness
• Selfishness
• Opportunism
• Duplicity
• Betrayal
• Two-facedness
• Disloyalty
• Manipulation
• Cunning

Thoughts and struggles associated with being backstabbing

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

• They may have a desire for power or control, feeling that they need to manipulate others to get ahead.
• They may have a tendency to be secretive or dishonest, hiding their true motives or feelings to gain an advantage.
• They may struggle with guilt or regret after betraying someone, but often justify their actions as necessary for their own success.
• They may feel a sense of insecurity or inferiority, using backstabbing as a way to prove themselves or climb the social ladder.
• The Backstabbing character may struggle with trust issues, often believing that everyone is out to get them.

Emotions associated with being backstabbing

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

• Resentment
• Revenge
• Treachery
• Distrust
• Betrayal
• Disloyalty
• Shame
• Guilt
• Deceit
• Envy
• Anger
• Jealousy

Facial expressions associated with being backstabbing

Here are some facial expressions your backstabbing character may exhibit.

• A fake or forced smile
• A sly smile or smirk
• A tense or tight-lipped smile
• A condescending or mocking expression
• Narrowed eyes or squinting
• Averted gaze or avoiding eye contact
• Rolling the eyes or a dismissive gesture
• Raised eyebrows with a look of surprise or innocence

Body language associated with being backstabbing

Here is some body language your backstabbing character may exhibit.

• Laughing at inappropriate moments during a conversation
• Standing too close to someone while speaking to them
• Placing hands on hips while speaking to someone
• Leaning away from the person they are talking to
• Rolling eyes or raising eyebrows when someone is talking
• Smiling while talking negatively about someone
• Speaking in a soft or hushed tone while gossiping
• Crossing arms while speaking to someone
• Looking over the shoulder frequently

For detailed feedback on backstabbing characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's critique report.

Behaviors associated with being backstabbing

Here are some behaviors your backstabbing character may exhibit.

• Spreading rumors or lies to damage someone's reputation
• Turning on someone after being a close ally or confidant
• Manipulating situations to put oneself in a better position at the expense of others
• Failing to keep promises or commitments made to others
• Taking credit for someone else's work or ideas
• Gossiping about others behind their backs
• Sabotaging someone's efforts or projects
• Pretending to be someone's friend while secretly working against them
• Betraying the trust of others for personal gain

Growth and evolution of backstabbing characters

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

• Realize the negative consequences of their actions and try to make amends.
• Strive to earn back the trust and respect of others through consistent and genuine actions.
• Develop a deeper understanding and empathy for others, leading to a more compassionate approach.
• Learn to communicate their feelings and frustrations instead of resorting to manipulation.
• Experience a change of heart and become loyal and trustworthy.
• Face the consequences of their actions, which may include losing the trust and respect of those around them.
• Acknowledge their behavior and apologize to those they have wronged.

Stereotypes of backstabbing characters to avoid

Try to avoid writing stereotypical backstabbing character like these examples.

• Characters who always get away with their backstabbing without any consequences
• Characters who backstab for no apparent reason or without any motivation
• One-dimensional characters who only exist to betray others
• Characters who only backstab because they are jealous or envious of others
• Characters who are portrayed as inherently evil or villainous simply because they are backstabbers
• Characters who betray others without any emotional conflict or moral dilemma
• Characters who are easily manipulated or persuaded to betray their allies
• Characters who backstab solely for personal gain with no regard for others' feelings or well-being.
• Characters who are always sneaky and deceitful, with no redeeming qualities

By avoiding these stereotypes, writers can create more complex and compelling Backstabbing characters who are nuanced, multi-dimensional, and believable.

Negatives of being backstabbing

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

• Can cause guilt or remorse for the backstabber
• Can damage personal and professional relationships
• May lead to a negative reputation or loss of credibility
• Creates a hostile work or social environment
• May result in retaliation or revenge from the victim
• Creates stress and tension in the workplace or social circle
• Hinders teamwork and collaboration
• Can lead to missed opportunities or sabotage of others' successes
• Breaks trust with others

Positives of being backstabbing

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

• They are often charismatic and charming, able to win over others with their wit and charisma.
• They are shrewd and cunning, able to manipulate people and situations to get what they want.
• They are not afraid to take risks and make bold moves to achieve their goals.
• They are independent and self-reliant, not relying on anyone else to get ahead.
• They are strategic thinkers who can anticipate the moves of others and plan accordingly.
• They can be very resourceful, using their connections and knowledge to gain an advantage.

Verbal expressions of backstabbing characters

Here are some potential expressions used by backstabbing characters.

• Blaming others for their mistakes
• Betraying confidences
• "I have your back" (but then betrays them)
• Taking credit for someone else's work
• Pretending to be a friend, but secretly sabotaging them
• Using personal information against them
• Making promises and not keeping them
• Saying negative things behind someone's back
• Spreading rumors or gossip

Relationships of backstabbing characters

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

• They may constantly seek attention and validation from others, often at the expense of their relationships.
• They may have a pattern of betraying or abandoning friends and loved ones when it benefits them.
• They may manipulate and use others for their own benefit without any regard for the other person's feelings or well-being.
• They may be overly critical or judgmental of others to deflect attention from their own shortcomings or mistakes.
• They may show false concern or sympathy for others to appear caring and empathetic, but ultimately have ulterior motives.
• They may act friendly and trustworthy to gain someone's trust, only to turn on them later for personal gain.
• They may engage in gossip and spread rumors to damage someone's reputation or sabotage their success.

Examples from books of characters who are backstabbing

• Cathy Ames from "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
• Iago from "Othello" by William Shakespeare
• Dolores Umbridge from "Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling
• Francis Underwood from "House of Cards" by Michael Dobbs
• Regina Giddens from "The Little Foxes" by Lillian Hellman
• Randall Flagg from "The Stand" by Stephen King
• Count Fosco from "The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins
• Amy Dunne from "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn
• Tom Ripley from "The Talented Mr. Ripley" by Patricia Highsmith

Writing exercises for writing backstabbing characters

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

• Create a list of character traits that would make someone more likely to betray others (e.g. selfishness, jealousy, insecurity). Use this list to develop your character's personality.
• Think of a time when someone betrayed you or you betrayed someone else. Write down the emotions you felt and the reasons behind the betrayal. Use these insights to create a backstory for your character.
• Create a character who is known for their loyalty and then reveal that they have a history of betraying people. Show the shock and confusion of the other characters in the story.
• Write a scene where your character betrays someone close to them. Show the internal conflict they experience as they make the decision to betray and the guilt or regret they feel afterward.
• Consider the consequences of your character's betrayal. How does it affect the people around them? How does it impact their own life? Use this to develop the plot of your story.
• Write a scene where your character is betrayed by someone they trusted. Show how they react to the betrayal and how it affects their relationships and their behavior going forward.