The psychology behind recreating a character

[veritasseeker90]

So I'm having a bit of problems with the psychology needed in recreating my character from The Keeper: Darmesha.

Right now, he's your typical flat villain, not a redeeming quality in him. I'm working on changing that, but the one idea I have is posing some perplexing problems to me.

Right now, he has a direct hand in all of December's torture. Logically, she's terrified of him, but I'm thinking about giving him a less direct part in it.

My plan is that he directs it and when you're in his POV you will see all of it. December will know that he's behind it as well, but when she is actually around him, I'm going to make him seem rather nice. Whereas, his son, Artemis, would be the one carrying out his orders.

My question is, psychologically--despite that she knows Darmesha's orders are behind it-- would she be a bit less afraid of Darmesha? I realize that she would be terrified of both of them, but from what I know of how the mind reacts to fear and how ones mind can be conditioned, my thoughts would be she would be a bit less afraid of him than she would be of Artemis. Which I am in no way proficient in this area, short of taking college Intro level. (I love psychology)

What do you guys think? Any thoughts otherwise?

[metalikhan]

It sounds like December would not necessarily be less fearful of Darmesha than of Artemis. Rather, her fear of Artemis may be a different type than her fear of Darmesha.

You may fear the guard dog's teeth (and rightly so); but you know it's the handler that slips the leash and gives the command to attack.

[Kristen]

Good cop/bad cop? If Artemis is the one doing the torturing, then Darmesha could be the one who comes in with food, water, bandages, etc. Maybe he brings her some scrap of hope, like a letter from home (real or falsified) or something else that would be meaningful to her. If she "relies" on Darmesha for sustenance, especially if he convinces her that he cares about her ultimate well-being (e.g. "we're only doing this for your own good), then she could have a Stockholm Syndrome kind of thing. Not that you can call it that. I love psychology, too. I think all writers must, to some degree.

[veritasseeker90]

True. Thanks!