Can / Need

Some notes from our early development of the Dramatica theory of story. Probably written around 1991:

CAN/NEED

GOAL -- WANTS TO BE HAPPY

* Begins in a negative state of being. "I am not happy. I don't know how to become happy, but I want to BE happy".

* Tries to resolve "unhappiness". Looks inside of self for answer but cannot find it. "What can I DO to become happy? I don't know what to do to become happy".

* Looks outside of self for answer. "Let me look at others who are happy. If I become what they ARE, I too will BE happy".

(NOTE: This is the first level of Justification. They are looking at what they DO, not what they ARE. To BE is a state of being, not reachable by DOing. However, the PROOF is preceived as the reactions of others to ones deeds and since a can/need person is unable to measure BEing in any other terms, it is as good a place to start as any.)

* Decides on a course of action. "If I DO what they are doing, I will BE what they ARE". Specifically, "What do I NEED to do to do what they are doing", or, "I NEED to do what they did to BECOME what they ARE".

* Something occurs (or is) that threatens to worsen their situation and/or condition if they proceed on the course of action.

POTENTIAL DILEMMA

* If risk to situation and/or condition is perceived to be minimal they may decide to go for it and actual dilemma is averted.

* If risk to situation and/or condition is perceived to be greater than the potential of achieving the goal, they will find a way to try and have both by trying to NEGOTIATE their situation. "I'll give you fifty cents on Tuesday for a hamburger today".

"I will DO something that will eventually let me DO what I NEED TO DO so that I CAN BECOME what I NEED TO BECOME to BE HAPPY without worsening my current situation and/or condition".

* The "I will DO something" is a limited term OBLIGATION. The first justification is their belief in the NEED to do it before proceeding with their own goal. It can be argued that they subconsciously know that it is actually buying them time to better understand their own goal. The second justification is their perception that they are UNIQUELY ABLE to fulfill the OBLIGATION.