What is the difference between internal and external conflict?

Internal and external conflict are two types of struggles that characters may face in literature, stories, or in real life.

Internal conflict occurs within a character's mind or emotions. It's a psychological struggle that takes place inside the character, often involving an emotional dilemma or moral decision-making. The character has to overcome personal doubts, fears, conflicting desires, or flaws to reach a resolution. Common examples of internal conflict include:

- A character debating whether to lie to protect a friend or to tell the truth. - A person struggling with addiction trying to decide whether or not to give in to their craving. - A hero feeling torn between a sense of duty and the desire for happiness or love.

External conflict, on the other hand, is a struggle between a character and an outside force. This can be another character, society, nature, technology, or any other force that presents an obstacle or challenge outside the individual. External conflicts can be categorized into four main types:

1. Character vs. Character: This is a conflict between two characters, typically the protagonist and the antagonist. 2. Character vs. Society: In this conflict, a character stands against a societal norm, law, or cultural expectation. 3. Character vs. Nature: This occurs when a character, or group of characters, faces forces of nature. 4. Character vs. Supernatural or Technology: A character struggles with elements beyond the natural world, such as ghosts, monsters, or advanced technology.

A story can contain both internal and external conflicts, and these often interact to drive the narrative forward.