To engage your reader, it's important to always show not tell the traits of your characters. Disingenuous is a character trait that refers to someone who is insincere or deceptive in their behavior or speech. It describes a person who pretends to be honest or sincere but actually has hidden motives or ulterior motives. A disingenuous person may use flattery or false praise to manipulate others, or they may conceal their true feelings or intentions behind a facade of politeness. Essentially, a disingenuous person is someone who cannot be trusted to be truthful or straightforward.

Possible causes of being disingenuous

You might want to weave these into your character's back story to build a more believable character.

• Habitual lying or deception
• Social conditioning or cultural norms that prioritize image or status over authenticity
• Desire for power or control
• Insecurity or low self-esteem
• Lack of empathy or understanding of others' perspectives
• Fear of rejection or criticism
• Trauma or past experiences that have led to a lack of trust in others

Behaviors associated with being disingenuous

You may be able to show your character's trait of disingenuous by using these.

• Manipulating others for personal gain
• Using sarcasm or irony to mask true feelings
• Making promises that cannot be kept
• Pretending to be someone you're not
• Acting friendly or helpful for ulterior motives
• Lying or withholding information
• Feigning interest or concern in a situation or person
• Disguising negative emotions with a smile or positive attitude
• Giving insincere compliments or praise

Attitudes associated with being disingenuous

You may be able to show disingenuous through their attitudes.

• Concealing one's true intentions or feelings
• Presenting a false persona or facade
• Being insincere or hypocritical
• Manipulating or misleading others
• Avoiding accountability or responsibility for one's actions
• Focusing on personal gain rather than honesty or authenticity
• Lacking transparency or openness

Thoughts and struggles associated with being disingenuous

Here are some ideas for things your disingenuous character may think or struggle with.

• May experience inner conflict between their desire to be authentic and their need for external validation
• Constantly lies or exaggerates the truth to impress others or manipulate situations
• May feel guilty about their behavior but continue to act disingenuous due to a lack of self-confidence or to gain approval from others
• Struggles with maintaining close relationships as they fear being seen as insincere or untrustworthy
• May struggle with their own identity and sense of self-worth, leading to a reliance on deception as a coping mechanism
• May experience a sense of loneliness or isolation as their relationships are based on falsehoods rather than genuine connections
• Has a fear of being exposed as a fraud or a fake

Emotions associated with being disingenuous

Here are some ideas for emotions your disingenuous character may experience.

• Insincerity
• Pretense
• Deception
• Dishonesty
• Dissembling
• Fakeness
• Two-facedness
• Hypocrisy
• Falsehood

Facial expressions associated with being disingenuous

Here are some facial expressions your disingenuous character may exhibit.

• Insincere tone of voice
• Using overly formal or rehearsed language
• Overly dramatic gestures or expressions
• Hiding the mouth with a hand or object
• Fidgeting or shifting body language
• Avoiding eye contact
• Pretending to listen while actually distracted
• Exaggerated nodding or head shaking
• Forced smile

Body language associated with being disingenuous

Here is some body language your disingenuous character may exhibit.

• Fidgeting or shuffling feet
• Avoiding eye contact or giving fleeting glances
• Making exaggerated or overly dramatic gestures
• Forcing a smile or a laugh that doesn't seem genuine
• Speaking in a monotone voice or overly rehearsed tone
• Crossing their arms or placing objects in front of them as a barrier
• Using language that deflects or avoids addressing the issue at hand
• Displaying a lack of congruence between their words and actions
• Leaning away from the person they're speaking to

Behaviors associated with being disingenuous

Here are some behaviors your disingenuous character may exhibit.

• Manipulating others for personal gain
• Making promises that cannot be kept
• Lying or withholding information
• Giving insincere compliments or praise
• Acting friendly or helpful for ulterior motives
• Pretending to be someone you're not
• Feigning interest or concern in a situation or person
• Disguising negative emotions with a smile or positive attitude
• Using sarcasm or irony to mask true feelings

Growth and evolution of disingenuous characters

Here are some ways that your disingenuous character may grow and evolve over time.

• Acknowledging their disingenuous behavior: The character may come to the realization that their actions are not genuine and have been causing harm to themselves and others.
• Facing consequences: The character may face negative consequences for their disingenuous behavior, which can lead to self-reflection and growth.
• Making amends: The character may seek to make amends for their past disingenuous behavior and work towards building trust with those they have hurt.
• Learning to be vulnerable: The character may learn to be more open and honest about their thoughts and emotions, which can help them form deeper connections with others.
• Developing empathy: The character may start to understand and empathize with the feelings and perspectives of others, which can lead to more genuine interactions and relationships.

Stereotypes of disingenuous characters to avoid

Try to avoid writing stereotypical disingenuous character like these examples.

• Avoid making the character too obvious or one-dimensional in their deceitfulness. Make them more complex and multi-layered.
• Don't make the character completely heartless or lacking in empathy. Give them moments of vulnerability or compassion.
• Don't make the character too charismatic or charming, as this can make them more likable and sympathetic than intended.
• Avoid making the character's dishonesty their only defining trait. Give them other qualities and interests that make them a well-rounded character.
• Avoid making the character's lies too unbelievable or implausible. Make them believable and grounded in reality.

Negatives of being disingenuous

Here are some potential negatives of being disingenuous. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as positives depending on the context.

• Distrust: Disingenuous behavior can cause others to lose trust in you, as they may feel that you are being deceptive or insincere.
• Damaged relationships: Disingenuous behavior can damage relationships, as others may feel that they cannot rely on you or that you are not being authentic.
• Guilt: If you are not being honest with others, you may experience feelings of guilt or shame.
• Missed opportunities: If you are not honest about your intentions or abilities, you may miss out on opportunities that could have been available to you if you had been upfront.

Positives of being disingenuous

Here are some potential positives of being disingenuous. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as negatives depending on the context.

• They can be very creative in their storytelling and able to come up with inventive excuses or explanations for their actions.
• Disingenuous characters can be very good at reading people and understanding what makes them tick, which can help them manipulate situations to their advantage.
• They often have a strong sense of self-preservation and can be very good at protecting themselves from harm or danger.
• Disingenuous characters can be very charismatic and persuasive, often able to talk their way out of difficult situations.

Verbal expressions of disingenuous characters

Here are some potential expressions used by disingenuous characters.

• "I don't mean to offend you, but..."
• "I didn't mean it like that."
• "I'm sorry, but I had no choice."
• "I'm not trying to be rude, but..."
• "I'm just being honest..."
• "I can't believe you would think that about me."
• "I was just joking."
• "I'm sorry if you took it that way."
• "I didn't say that, you must have misunderstood me."

Relationships of disingenuous characters

Here are some ways that being disingenuous could affect your character's relationships.

• Disingenuous people may have surface-level relationships with others.
• They may be seen as untrustworthy and unreliable by others.
• Disingenuous people may have a difficult time maintaining long-term relationships due to their lack of authenticity.
• They may constantly shift their personality and behavior to fit in with different groups or individuals.
• Disingenuous people may be prone to gossip and spreading rumors in order to gain social status or control over others.
• They may use flattery and insincere compliments to manipulate others.
• They may avoid conflict or difficult conversations by pretending to agree with others.
• Disingenuous people may struggle with intimacy and vulnerability in relationships.

Examples from books of characters who are disingenuous

• Lady Macbeth from "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare
• Hannibal Lecter from "The Silence of the Lambs" by Thomas Harris
• Iago from "Othello" by William Shakespeare
• Humbert Humbert from "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov
• Dolores Umbridge from "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling
• Amy Dunne from "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn
• Cathy Ames from "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
• Tom Buchanan from "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Holden Caulfield from "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger

Writing exercises for writing disingenuous characters

Here are some writing exercises you might try for learning to write disingenuous characters.

• Develop a backstory for your character that explains why they have a tendency to be disingenuous, perhaps due to past trauma or a need for self-preservation.
• Write a scene where your character is confronted by someone they have deceived in the past, and they must face the consequences of their actions.
• Write a scene where your character is faced with a moral dilemma that challenges their usual tendency towards dishonesty. Do they choose to be truthful or continue to manipulate the situation?
• Write a scene where your character is pretending to be happy or excited, but their internal thoughts reveal their true emotions.
• Develop a character arc where your disingenuous character learns the value of honesty and begins to make amends for their past deceitful behavior.
• Set up a scenario where your character is trying to manipulate someone into doing something, but they struggle with feeling conflicted about their actions.
• Write a journal entry from your character's point of view where they reflect on a time when they were dishonest and the consequences of their actions.
• Create a conversation where your character is caught in a lie and must decide whether to continue the charade or come clean.
• Create a dialogue where your character is lying to someone they care about to protect them, but their body language gives away their discomfort and guilt.