This list of character defects

Resentment*

Cowardice*

The original AA pamphlet listed this as “Fear, Cowardice,” but as we know, those are two different things. Cowardice is allowing fear to prevent you from taking the best action.

Self-Pity*

Self-Justification*

We’ve all done this at one time or another, but it’s a problem when someone won’t take accountability for any of their mistakes.

Self-Importance, or Egotism*

We could also say “arrogance” here.

Self-Condemnation, or Guilt*

Lying and Evasiveness*

Impatience*

This is certainly one I struggle with!

Hate*

This has to be one of the worst ones on any list of character defects.

False Pride*

Being phony or in denial. I think being hypocritical ties into this.

Jealousy*

Envy*

Brené Brown wrote in her book Atlas of the Heart that jealousy refers to a relationship or position being threatened, while envy is wanting what someone else has. When you think about it, those are two very different things!

Laziness*

I’ve noticed that a lot of people say this is their biggest flaw. It can be a symptom of depression or anxiety, though. 

Procrastination*

Insincerity*

Negative Thinking*

I think this is such a common one in the modern world because social media and the internet push so much negative content on us. But being a glass-half-empty person…or even worse, a “I bet the water is poisoned” person…is a character flaw that can hold people back.

Immoral Thinking*

Perfectionism*

…and intolerance of anything less.

Criticizing*

I think that when criticizing becomes constant or chronic, it becomes a character defect.

Greed*

Distrustfulness

This is an especially great character flaw for a hero or heroine in a romance novel.

Hypochondria

Being Thin-Skinned

Moodiness

Being a Buzzkill

This could be a subset of moodiness, but some moody people keep it to themselves.

Willful Ignorance

Callousness

Cruelty

If someone is callous, they’re indifferent to suffering, but if they’re cruel, they go out of their way to cause it and they enjoy it.

Violence

Rigidity

Being unable to change course or do something differently, even when the circumstances call for it, is a character defect.

Diffidence

In other words, shyness or timidity, or lacking the ability to speak up.

Lechery

Self-Indulgence

Being a Know-It-All

Naivetë

Immaturity

Immature or childish traits could include throwing tantrums over small matters, refusing responsibilities, or indulging in a juvenile sense of humor.

Fastidiousness

Being overly picky and persnickety can be a negative character trait.

Prejudice

This could be one prejudice in particular, or a whole slew of them.

Rudeness

Crassness

Bluntness

Characters with no tact can be disastrous. Of course, they can also be hilarious. 

Dullness

Being boring and predictable has its positive aspects, but depending on the situation, it can also be a character defect.

Capriciousness

Being unpredictable has its positive aspects, but taken to an extreme, it can be a character flaw, too!

Selfishness

Indecision

Extravagance

Stinginess

Bossiness

 Dependence

I could also say “neediness” here.

Obsession With Status

This is the character flaw of a person who always has to wear designer brands, chooses friends based on their social or economic status, and feels like a luxury car parked in their driveway makes them better than everyone else.

Boastfulness

Aimlessness

This may or may not go along with “laziness.” It’s the character trait of a person who doesn’t have any particular direction or plan…and isn’t even trying to get one.

Being Passive-Aggressive

Being Toxic-Nostalgic

I admit that I made this term up. I’m thinking here of the kind of person who believes that everything used to be better, and their happy days will never come again. They can’t remember that there were hard times in the past, too.

Avoiding Conflict

Not just choosing one’s battles, but running away from all of them.

Becoming Infatuated Too Easily

Sanctimoniousness

Fanaticism

Cynicism

Detachment

Negligence

Disloyalty

Over-Idealism

It’s great to be idealistic, but one can take it to an extreme, embarking on ill-advised projects and calling out anyone who doesn’t adhere completely to your ideals.

Cockiness

Pugnaciousness

This character defect describes someone who’s always looking for a brawl.

Sloppiness

This could be a subset of “laziness,” but then again, some very hard-working people are sloppy.

Excessive Sarcasm

Sarcasm is fine in moderation, but when it becomes a character’s only mode of expression, and when the character uses it in inappropriate situations, it becomes a flaw.

Excessive Anxiety

This can include a tendency to worry about things that don’t matter much, and/or to worry about things over which one has no control.

Pettiness

This refers to the kind of person who will get upset over the slightest of slights and hold a grudge for the slimmest of reasons.

Nosiness

Personally, I am super nosy, but as a writer I think sometimes I get a pass.

Tendency to Gossip

Tendency to Overthink

When this is your character flaw, “analysis paralysis” is real.

Tendency to Overshare

Awkwardness

This character flaw relates to poor social skills, such as struggling to carry on a normal conversation. I think a lot of people perceive themselves as more awkward than they really are, though. 

Disorganization

Tardiness

Obliviousness

Restlessness

Inferiority Complex

Superiority Complex

Tendency to Talk Too Much

Tendency to Yell 

Lack of Listening Skills

Lack of Empathy

Tendency to Hide One’s Feelings

Refusal to Ask for Help

Being able to ask for help when one needs it is one of the most basic survival skills there is.

Giving Up Too Easily

Paranoia

Vanity

Although I’m not a particularly vain person, I don’t think it’s that serious of a flaw, to be honest. 🙂

Forgetfulness

Whininess

Inconsistency

Uptightness

Inability to Say No

Being a Buzzkill

Obsessiveness

Addiction

Rebelliousness

If a person has to argue or has to defy authority every time, even when they don’t have a good reason to do it, they can cause a lot of problems for themselves.

Conformity

This can come from cowardice, a lack of creativity, or both.

Lack of Self-Awareness