- A reaction cycle consists of four distinct phases: an emotional response, an analytical response, anticipation, and choice.
- First, the character responds to the disruption to their plan from an emotional standpoint. They’ll consider how the disruption makes them feel about where they were going and what’s going to happen now. Emotions lead the way.
- Next the character will begin to react analytically and with reason. They’ll consider what this disruption means for their overall plan. They’ll determine whether their plan needs to change and whether any options have been cut off or opened up. The character will also need to make a decision about what to do now. It’s after this analysis that they’ll begin to consider their various options and imagine how they might play out (i.e. the anticipation stage).
- Finally, the character makes a choice about how to proceed given this new disruption to their plan.
- It’s worth noting that different characters spend different time on each of the stages. One may quickly breeze through the emotional stage (such as a detective) while another may seem to give no reasoned thought at all. Regardless, all characters go through all stages as they respond to a disruption to their plan
nov 15 2019 ∞
mar 12 2020 +
mar 12 2020 +