internal conflict
War within oneself
Internal conflict is a struggle within a person's mind—competing desires, moral dilemmas, or contradictory impulses pulling in different directions: Her internal conflict over the job offer kept her awake for days.
In storytelling, internal conflict drives character development, as protagonists wrestle with fear, guilt, or difficult choices.
The term also applies to discord within organizations or groups: The party's internal conflict threatened to derail the campaign.
Persistent apprehensive distress
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- self-doubtUncertainty about oneself
- regretSorrow over past actions
remorse · insecurity · ambivalence · turmoil · distress · unease · restlessness · agitation
Forced choice between undesirables
- choiceAct of selecting
- indecisionFailure to decide
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
- quandaryState of perplexity
predicament · conundrum · catch-22 · impasse · trade-off · alternatives · options · weighing
Discomfort from contradictory beliefs
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- self-awarenessInsight into one's psyche
- identity crisisLoss of personal certainty
- imposter syndromeBelief you're secretly unqualified
ego · superego · id · subconscious · repression · denial · rationalization · projection
Combat sport requiring holds
- battlingEngaged in conflict
- grapplingClose-quarters combat technique
- tornPulled into pieces
- dividedSeparated into portions
conflicted · warring · opposing · contradiction · paradox · push-pull · tug-of-war · resistance
Internal moral sense
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- valuesPrinciples held worthwhile
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
duty · obligation · right · wrong · temptation · virtue · sin · justification
Learning one's true character
- transformationThorough change in form
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- overcomingDefeating a challenge
resilience · reconciliation · acceptance · integration · healing · catharsis · epiphany · awakening
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- self-doubtUncertainty about oneself
regret · remorse · insecurity · ambivalence · turmoil · distress · unease · restlessness · agitation · tension
dilemma
Forced choice between undesirables
- choiceAct of selecting
- indecisionFailure to decide
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
quandary · predicament · conundrum · catch-22 · impasse · trade-off · alternatives · options · weighing · deliberation
cognitive dissonance
Discomfort from contradictory beliefs
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- self-awarenessInsight into one's psyche
- identity crisisLoss of personal certainty
imposter syndrome · ego · superego · id · subconscious · repression · denial · rationalization · projection · defense mechanism
wrestling
Combat sport requiring holds
divided · conflicted · warring · opposing · contradiction · paradox · push-pull · tug-of-war · resistance · surrender
conscience
Internal moral sense
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- valuesPrinciples held worthwhile
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
integrity · duty · obligation · right · wrong · temptation · virtue · sin · justification · culpability
self-discovery
Learning one's true character
- transformationThorough change in form
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- breakthroughSudden important advance
overcoming · resilience · reconciliation · acceptance · integration · healing · catharsis · epiphany · awakening · insight
- dramaTV drama, acting, television drama, drama school, playwright
- characterizationprotagonist, trait, antagonist, hero, villain
- personal writingdiary, journal, autobiographical essay, memoir, memoirs
- literary devicesmetaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, alliteration
- introspection in filmself-reflection, inner dialogue, contemplation, soul-searching, flashback
- storytellingstorytelling, story, tale, narrative, narrator
internal conflictexternal conflict
Opposition from outside sources
interpersonal conflict · man versus nature · international conflict · civil war · war
internal conflictinner peace
Mental and emotional tranquility
peace of mind · serenity · equanimity · inner harmony · self-assurance
internal conflictresolution
Formal decision or determination
peace · clarity · decisiveness · certainty · conviction
conflict, internal, internalize, internalized, internalizing, internals