How to Write a Holistic Character

Question: Matching a linear-thinking main character with a holistic-thinking impact characterC (or vice versa) sounds like a great idea. Problem is, it appears I have a linear brain and can't figure out how to write someone who takes the holistic approach. How do you write a holistic character if you are a linear thinker? Could you offer any tips or examples of such characters?

Answer: As a primarily linear thinker myself, I have also struggled to understand how holistic minds think.

The differences are so profound that whatever type of brain you have, there is a tendency to dismiss the other type as defective. For instance, before feminism it used to be acceptable for male chauvinists (who are mostly linear types) to make derogatory statements to the effect that all women were irrational or suffered from cloudy thinking. Similarly, one occasionally hears women (the majority of whom are holistic thinkers) put down men for being overly simplistic, if not simple-minded, in their approach, and lacking emotional sensitivity.

Here are a couple of things to consider.

When faced with a bevy of concerns or problems...

1. A linear thinker will immediately identify the biggest concern or problem and focus on solving that, labelling other concerns as irrelevant or insignificant by comparison. His plan is to deal with the big issue first and then tackle the next biggest, and so on.

2. A holistic thinker will tend to see all the concerns as equal. To her, excluding any of them is to invite unintended consequences of your actions. She will look for a way to bring all the concerns into balance simultaneously.

When trying to solve a puzzle or analyze a situation...

1. A linear thinker will look for the biggest causal factor and conclude that is the key to what's going on.

2. A holistic thinker will look at all kinds of little clues that by themselves seem trivial, but together form a pattern that explains what's going on. In this way, many little factors can outweigh one big one.

Typical problems are...

1. For a linear thinker, accomplishing a goal in time is the challenge. (Knowing what needs to be done is the easy part.)

3. For a holistic thinker, making the right solution that balances all the concerns is the challenge. (Time is not a real problem.)

When trying to understand other people...

1. Linear thinkers will try to speak clearly and directly, take other people's words more literally, and believe people have a responsibility to clearly say what they think and feel. Making assumptions about what people feel, or trusting body language can lead to misunderstandings.

2. Holistic thinkers will rely on reading people's body language or subtle clues in their voice and behaviour (as well as their words) to intuit what other people are feeling and thinking. They feel that direct statements are overly aggressive and confrontational. Other people have a responsibility to intuit what they are feeling.

I think I can best explain the difference with reference to murder mystery stories.

A linear thinking detective might ask, "Who had the means, motive, and opportunity?" and then automatically rank all the suspects in order of who seems most likely to be guilty. He will investigate the prime suspect until he finds evidence that person could not have done it. Then he will go to the next likely person. He will work down the list until he finds someone who he can't prove didn't do it.

A holistic thinking detective, on the other hand, will spend a lot of time just collecting bits of information, many of which seem irrelevant or trivial. But gradually, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, they will start to form a picture. There may be a flash of insight when all the pieces fall into place revealing who is guilty.

Another example...

Often in crime dramas, you will have a linear-thinking police chief who wants the murder solved quickly in order to reassure the public faith in the police. He just wants the detective to get a conviction ASAP and may focus on the most obvious suspect. However, the detective may be more of a holistic thinker whose main concern is to make sure the right person is convicted, no matter how long it takes. He may focus on seemingly small anomalies in the evidence that suggest someone else may have committed the crime -- someone who seems highly unlikely at first.

A few other examples that come to mind...

In Star Wars, Obi wan Kenobi and other Jedi knights will often look for a subtle approach to dealing with problems than, for instance, Luke Skywalker who tends to be more direct.

In fact, many mentors in popular stories are holistic thinkers who try to get the hero to balance the issues. Think of the stereotypical Taoist or Buddist master or Indian guru figure. The Oracle in The Matrix is another example.

Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice weighs up all the possible sides of issues such as the reasons behind the behavior of her and her sister's suitors (Darcy and Bingley).

In Amadeus, Salieri is the linear thinker who follows a step-by-step plan to get his goals, but is confounded by the holistic Mozart whose intuition makes him a far better composer and who enjoys many successes resulting from coincidences rather than planning.

In The X-Files, Mulder is the intuitive thinker and Sculley is the linear thinker (a reversal of the stereotype gender roles).

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