soul-frame/concepts/character.md

# Character

**Status:** revised (Phase III, 2026-08-12)  
**See also:** RQ7, H8, RN-004, `research/character-persona/character-persona-performance-map.md`

## Working definition

**Character** is a relatively persistent structure of dispositions from which
context-dependent behavior tends to emerge.

## Distinctions

| Term | Role |
|---|---|
| State | Fast-changing conditions |
| Behavior | Contextual expression |
| Character | Slower dispositional structure |
| Persona | Situated projection / mask |
| Identity | Sameness of the Being over time |

## Hard constraints (Phase I identity research)

- Character similarity ⇏ identity  
- Character change ⇏ identity loss  

Character is identity-*relevant*, not identity-defining.

## Artificial quality bar

Recognizable patterns across **novel** situations — not mere style mimicry.

## Sources

Personality psychology (traits; situation×disposition); narrative characterization
(Schechtman; Ricoeur); Introduction §7; RN-004 §19.