Character Trait: Boastful

To engage your reader, it's important to always show not tell the traits of your characters. The character trait "Boastful" refers to a person who excessively talks about their own accomplishments, abilities, or possessions in a way that is intended to impress others and gain admiration. A boastful person tends to exaggerate their achievements and belittle others, often to mask their own insecurities. This trait can manifest in various ways, such as bragging, name-dropping, or showing off, and can lead to alienating others and damaging relationships.

Possible causes of being boastful

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

• Overcompensation for perceived shortcomings or weaknesses
• Cultural or societal values that emphasize competition and individualism
• Insecurity or low self-esteem
• Need for attention or validation
• Personality disorders such as narcissism or histrionic personality disorder
• Fear of failure or rejection
• Past experiences of being belittled or overlooked

For detailed feedback on boastful characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's storytelling improvement app.

Behaviors associated with being boastful

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

• Dismissing or belittling the accomplishments of others
• Being defensive or reactive when challenged or criticized
• Seeking attention and validation through self-promotion
• Overstating one's abilities or talents
• Interrupting others to share one's achievements or experiences
• Exaggerating or embellishing stories to make oneself appear more impressive
• Bragging about one's accomplishments or possessions

Attitudes associated with being boastful

You may be able to show boastful through their attitudes.

• Constant need for attention and recognition
• Exaggeration of personal achievements and abilities
• Obsession with status and material possessions
• Putting down others to make oneself look better
• Insecurity and fear of being seen as weak or inferior
• Inability to accept criticism or failure
• Lack of empathy towards others' feelings and needs

Thoughts and struggles associated with being boastful

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

• Fear of being perceived as weak or inferior
• Difficulty accepting criticism or admitting mistakes
• Feeling the need to one-up others in conversation
• A tendency to take unnecessary risks or act impulsively to prove themselves
• An underlying feeling of emptiness or dissatisfaction despite outward success
• Insecurity about their worth and value without external validation
• Tendency to exaggerate or embellish stories
• Strained relationships with others who may feel belittled or overshadowed
• Constantly talking about their achievements and accomplishments

Emotions associated with being boastful

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

• Bragging
• Self-importance
• Egotism
• Overconfidence
• Conceit
• Arrogance
• Narcissism
• Hubris
• Showiness

Facial expressions associated with being boastful

Here are some facial expressions your boastful character may exhibit.

• Smirking
• Interrupting others to talk about themselves
• Glancing around for validation
• Narrowed eyes
• Tight-lipped smile
• Chin held high
• Speaking loudly and confidently
• Raised eyebrows
• Puffed-up chest

Body language associated with being boastful

Here is some body language your boastful character may exhibit.

• Interrupting others to talk about their own accomplishments
• Bragging about material possessions or social status
• Standing with chest puffed out
• Speaking in a loud and confident tone
• Making grand hand gestures while speaking
• Smirking or smiling smugly while talking about themselves
• Looking down on others or belittling their achievements

For detailed feedback on boastful characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's storytelling improvement app.

Behaviors associated with being boastful

Here are some behaviors your boastful character may exhibit.

• Exaggerating or embellishing stories to make oneself appear more impressive
• Seeking attention and validation through self-promotion
• Overstating one's abilities or talents
• Interrupting others to share one's achievements or experiences
• Dismissing or belittling the accomplishments of others
• Bragging about one's accomplishments or possessions
• Being defensive or reactive when challenged or criticized

Growth and evolution of boastful characters

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

• Discover their true strengths: The boastful character may realize that they have been overcompensating for their weaknesses and begin to focus on their true strengths instead.
• Gain empathy: The boastful character may learn to see things from others' perspectives and develop empathy for those around them.
• Develop self-awareness: The boastful character may realize that their behavior is causing negative consequences and begin to reflect on their actions.
• Experience failure: Failing at something may teach the boastful character that they are not invincible and help them become more grounded.
• Learn humility: Through experiences that challenge their ego, the boastful character may learn to be more humble.
• Learn from others: The boastful character may meet someone who is genuinely talented and humble, inspiring them to change their ways and become more like that person.
• Face consequences: The boastful character may face negative consequences for their actions, which can lead them to recognize the harm they have caused and work to make amends.

Stereotypes of boastful characters to avoid

Try to avoid writing stereotypical boastful character like these examples.

• Making the character excessively arrogant and obnoxious
• Giving the character no redeeming qualities or likable traits
• Making the character's boasting offensive or insensitive to others
• Making the character's boasting too frequent or repetitive
• Making the character's boasting unrealistic or unbelievable
• Making the character one-dimensional, only focused on bragging

Negatives of being boastful

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

• Inability to learn from mistakes or accept criticism
• Being disliked or even hated by others
• Missing out on opportunities for growth and improvement by refusing to acknowledge weaknesses or limitations
• Being perceived as insecure or compensating for feelings of inadequacy
• Losing credibility and trustworthiness
• Alienating others by appearing arrogant or conceited
• Creating a false image of oneself that can lead to disappointment or embarrassment
• Creating unrealistic expectations that can't be met, leading to disappointment or failure

Positives of being boastful

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

• Their bragging can serve as a catalyst for conflict and tension, leading to interesting plot developments.
• Boastful characters can be entertaining and engaging, adding a sense of excitement and energy to a story.
• They may be able to accomplish great things due to their confidence and willingness to take risks.
• Boastful characters often have a strong sense of pride and determination, which can make them compelling and inspiring to readers.
• They may inspire others to strive for greatness and encourage them to have confidence in their own abilities.
• Boastful characters are often confident and self-assured, which can be admirable qualities.

Verbal expressions of boastful characters

Here are some potential expressions used by boastful characters.

• Bragging about possessions, wealth, or status
• Talking over others to assert dominance in a conversation
• Name-dropping to impress others
• Constantly talking about one's achievements and accomplishments
• Refusing to acknowledge or accept criticism
• Exaggerating one's abilities or accomplishments
• Interrupting others to redirect the conversation to oneself
• Belittling or criticizing others to make oneself look better
• Using "I" statements excessively

Relationships of boastful characters

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

• Boastful people may struggle with forming deep and meaningful connections with others, as they may prioritize their own accomplishments over building emotional intimacy with others.
• They may have a difficult time accepting criticism or feedback, as they may view it as a threat to their self-image.
• They may have a tendency to interrupt others or talk over them in an effort to be the center of attention.
• Boastful people may have a tendency to dominate conversations and steer them towards topics that allow them to showcase their accomplishments.
• Boastful people may struggle with empathy and may not be able to fully understand or connect with the struggles or accomplishments of others.

Examples from books of characters who are boastful

• Tom Buchanan from "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Holden Caulfield from "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger
• Draco Malfoy from "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling
• Humbert Humbert from "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov
• Edmund Pevensie from "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis
• Odysseus from "The Odyssey" by Homer
• Scarlett O'Hara from "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell
• Gaston from "Beauty and The Beast" by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve
• Stanley Kowalski from "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams

Writing exercises for writing boastful characters

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

• Create a dialogue between two characters, one who is boastful and one who is humble. How do they interact? Does the boastful character's attitude affect the other character's behavior or mood?
• Write a scene where your character is bragging about their accomplishments to a group of people. How do the others react? Do they believe the character or think they are full of themselves?
• Imagine a situation where your character fails at something. How do they react? Do they make excuses or blame others for their failure? Or do they take responsibility and learn from their mistakes?
• Write a scene where your character is trying to impress someone they admire. How do they go about it? Do they succeed in gaining the other person's admiration or do they come across as insincere?
• Create a scene where your character's boastful behavior has negative consequences for them or someone else. How do they react? Do they learn from their mistake or continue to behave in the same way?
• Write a backstory for your character that explains why they are boastful. Did they grow up in a competitive environment where success was highly valued? Or did they develop this trait as a defense mechanism to hide their insecurities?
• Write a scene where your character is challenged by someone who is better than them at something. How do they react? Do they become defensive or do they rise to the challenge and improve their skills?