Fo

ur Types of Conflict

Person vs. Person

This is the most traditional type of conflict. involves two or more characters that oppose each
other. That could mean they physically fight each other, argue, or indirectly try to sabotage the other
in some way. The conflict is derived from the actions of characters, and typically (though not always)
involves a distinct protagonist and antagonist.
For example :
Two siblings fistfighting over the TV remote.
Two parents battling over custody of their child.

Person vs. Society

Sometimes, your hero needs to feel like the whole world is against them. That’s where “person
vs. society” conflict comes into play. Rather than having a single foe to contend with, your character
would be facing off against oppressive governments, the general public, or cultural norms. The
character would need to defy all odds to win a war, change the public’s perception, or dismantle a
government. Many times, stories that revolve around this type of conflict adopt a dystopian sort of
setting, but not always.
For example:
A group of protesters rallying support for a political candidate
A young child disobeying their parents and resisting unfair rules
Unfair cultural practices being challenged by the youth in society

Person vs. Nature

“Person vs. nature” is a type of conflict that pits the characters against the forces of nature,
and to some extent, the unknown. Rather than facing off against each other or themselves, characters
instead have to contend with the elements, wildlife, and natural disasters. Often, characters conflicting
with nature have very little control over the situation, and resort to whatever tactics are necessary to
simply survive. Victory over nature is not usually an option.

For example:

Survivors on a deserted island struggling to survive in the hot, tropical climate.

A deadly virus spreading throughout the world.

Person vs. Self
“Person vs. self” conflict (also called internal conflict) is a type of conflict that involves
introspection, and a character’s struggles with their own morality, vices, sense of self, and goals.
Generally, it involves a difficult decision that the character must make, and signals the direction of
growth for that character as the story progresses. If the hero of the story struggles to do the right
thing out of fear, greed, or some other personal obstacle, that will likely make them a more
interesting and relatable character for readers to root for.

For example:
A religious person encountering information that disproves their beliefs
A young character struggling with their identity and self-image