1 of 38

Now You're Thinking With Parts

Using Internal Family Systems in Narrative Design

Anna C. Webster - Writer and Narrative Designer

2 of 38

Disclaimer and Content Warnings

I am neither certified in Internal Family Systems Therapy, nor am I a licensed mental health professional.
My expertise is that of a game writer and narrative designer. Nothing within this talk should be considered mental health advice.
If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out for help from a qualified practitioner.

2

While this talk deals with clinical aspects of psychology, I want to come right out of the gate by saying that I am not a mental health professional. I'm not certified in Internal Family Systems although I have studied it extensively and undergone the therapeutic model myself for many years.

My real area of expertise here is that of a writing and narrative design capacity, so my intent is to teach IFS as a framework or tool that you can use to design characters and narratives, but nothing that's in this talk today should be considered mental health advice.

And as always, if you're struggling with your mental health - like many of us are in year three of a global pandemic - please reach out to a qualified professional if you can to seek help. Things are tough out there, but we need you.

3 of 38

Disclaimer and Content Warnings

IFS was developed as a therapeutic modality for individuals who have experienced trauma. As such, CWs:

High level, deliberately vague discussions of trauma.
High level, deliberately vague discussions of maladaptive behaviors and coping skills.

This talk also contains spoilers for Portal 2 (2011).

3

4 of 38

Covered Topics In Order

Introduction to Internal Family Systems
Introduction to Parts Mapping

Parts Map: GLaDOS
Parts Map: Wheatley
Parts Map: Portal

Further Implications and Pitfalls

4

5 of 38

What is IFS?

1

6 of 38

IFS 101

A New Way of Speaking About Emotions

For example, in IFS, you wouldn't say:

"I am sad today."

You would say:

"I have a sad part up today."

This shift in language allows for compartmentalization and objectivity around potentially difficult feelings.
Linguistic determinism is real, people!!!

A System of Understanding the Mind

IFS is an an evidence-based psychological model and therapeutic modality.
Invented by psychologist Richard Schwartz in the 1980s.
IFS believes that the mind contains many "parts" of its whole. These parts each have their own needs, wants, and relationships with other parts.

Ex: you may feel irritated that you're feeling sad about something.

6

IFS is an evidence-based model that was developed in the 1980s by psychologist Richard Schwartz. It is primarily a model of two things: understanding the mind, and talking about the mind.

The model is esteemed for its unique compartmentalization and systemization of emotions and experiences into what it calls "parts." The language surrounding these parts further impacts our cognition of them. For example, rather than saying "I am sad today," IFS would say "I have a sad part today." For not all of you is sad, you are not sadness, and you can feel multiple emotions at once, such as the sensation of "bittersweet." This illustrates IFS' belief that a part within a character/person does not exist in a vacuum - parts can have relations to other parts. For example: you can be irritated at yourself for feeling sad about something. The model gets its name from Schwartz's background as a family therapist and his understanding of the dynamics therein, however understanding the mind as a network of "parts" takes that understanding within a single individual: hence internal family systems.

As a bonus, this method of talking about potentially very intense emotions and experiences by personifying them into "parts" creates a sense of objectivity, as they otherwise might be overwhelming to the individual. This makes IFS very helpful for those struggling with mental health concerns surrounding trauma or post-traumatic stress - this also makes it an excellent tool for writing and narrative design, where emotionally-charged narrative beats can be discussed in a design sense as much as an emotional one.

7 of 38

In IFS, a part is considered not just a passing emotional state... but a distinct mental system with its own history, abilities, needs, and worldview."

Richard Schwartz as Quoted by Bessel Van Der Kolk

7

“

8 of 38

Sound Familiar?

Multiplicity of the mind is not new.
Humans are very complex, emotional creatures with rich "inner lives."

BUT

IFS endeavors to focus on the roles and relationships these parts have to each other, rather than the fact there is multiplicity of feeling.

8

9 of 38

There are "no bad parts."

Though parts may appear harmful, destructive, or cause pain:�

They all have a "good reason" for being there/having formed.
They are all trying to help.

9

The "Golden Rule" of IFS:

10 of 38

Types of Parts

IFS classifies parts into four varieties:

Exiles
Managers
Firefighters
The "Self" - there is only one of these

10

11 of 38

Part Profile:

Exiles

Exiles
Managers
Firefighters
Self

TLDR: Exiles are parts which hold painful thoughts or memories that we'd rather not think about.

Examples of Exiles:

Shame
Grief/Loss
Traumatic memories
Fear/Terror
Loneliness
Abandonment
Inadequacy

Parts formed from painful or traumatic memories or self-beliefs. Often, but not always, in childhood.
Shunned from the rest of the system - similar to "bottling up" emotions.
Just want to be heard and validated.

11

First up: the ever-misunderstood Exiles.

Exiles are painful beliefs, memories, or emotions that people would rather not think about in day-to-day life. Many characters in games have an experience or sensation that is an exile: the death of a loved one, for example, might result in a grief exile. These parts are named as such because we shun them out of self-preservation - we exile them from our very consciousness. Because how is someone supposed to go to work or take care of their family if this painful or traumatic memory or belief is constantly buzzing in their ear? We can't. Humans have an impeccable knack for resilience, but we're also imperfect by nature. Shunning these painful parts to the far corners of our mind is a natural function that can happen subconsciously.

As a result, these parts may be seen to the individual or to other parts in the system as bothersome, destructive - sometimes even dangerous. Like they may fear if this exile were free to roam about the mind, they might overwhelm the person or character entirely. But the work involved in listening to what they have to say and allowing them to be healed is the key for dramatic character growth. But before we can get to that point, exiles remain shunned from the rest of the group so they don't "upset" anything. And there are parts whose entire jobs is to see to it that it stays that way.

12 of 38

Part Profile:

Managers

Exiles
Managers
Firefighters
Self

TLDR: Managers are parts which protect the system by maintaining control and keeping Exiles at bay.

Examples of Managers:

Perfectionism
Workaholism
People-pleasing
Self-criticism
Self-sabotage
Procrastination
Controllingness

Think of managers as protectors of the system: making sure the person never is put in painful situations (especially those that formed exiles) again.
Tries to keep Exiles quiet.
Can be very maladaptive.

12

Enter our second variety of part: the Managers.

The job of the manager is to make sure that the character feels in control of every situation and relationship to prevent future harm and to allow them to function in everyday life. They keep a person distracted from painful exiles and their associated feelings to prevent emotional meltdown - often by adopting some of the techniques mentioned here. Perhaps to avoid thinking about an exile or putting themselves in a similar situation in the future, a character resorts to perfectionism, excessive planning, becoming paranoid or overly-pessimistic - these are all attempts at keeping the character/person firmly in control of their future and emotions.

Remember what we said earlier about "No Bad Parts." Managers do their jobs not out of contempt, but out of a sense of protection for the character/person in which they exist. Managers can sometimes be maladaptive in this way, but they're simply trying to prevent things from getting out of hand. But there comes a point where managers can't do it all.

You see, the problem with feelings is that they often just want to be felt, validated, and addressed. And you can only banish an exile for so long before it either demands to be heard or is otherwise "activated" by an external trigger. Upsetting an exile can send a character into a rage or fit of despair, a phenomenon known as "flooding." For example, a character is put in a similar situation to the one that formed the exile in the first place, the flood gates open... and someone needs to step in and get things back on track to make the pain stop.

13 of 38

Part Profile:

Firefighters

Exiles
Managers
Firefighters
Self

TLDR: When all else fails, firefighters protect and soothe the system - often when Exiles are upset.

Examples of Firefighters:

Substance abuse
Compulsive shopping
Angry outbursts
Gambling
Disordered eating
Oversleeping
Excessive exercise

Think of Exiles as the "emergency break."
When Exiles get activated, firefighters step in to soothe.
Because they soothe without healing the core issue, can create a destructive cycle.

13

Enter our third and final class of parts: the firefighters.

Firefighters are parts that purely exist to quell any exiles on a rampage. They are emergency responders that often come in the form of maladaptive behaviors that shield from pain, such as those listed here. When a firefighter steps in, it's usually serious business - but their behaviors soothe or otherwise distract the upset exile to allow the "system" of parts to calm down again. That is, until the exile inevitably gets upset in the future.

You can really see how this type of pattern unfolds. Painful emotion or memory gets exiled. Manager tries to keep it at bay. When that doesn't work anymore or the exile is triggered, the firefighter comes to the rescue. Rinse, and repeat. However, there's one thing that can disrupt this cycle and allow for a character to break free from previously established patterns in their story and characterization. And that's our good old friend: The Self.

14 of 38

Part Profile:

Self

Exiles
Managers
Firefighters
Self

The Self is the core of the person - and an active, compassionate leader.
It is innate, divine, and cannot be destroyed, damaged, or taken away.
Finding and nurturing "Self energy" is the key to healing
Fosters "curiosity" - the state of being willing to interact with/ask questions of parts.

14

IFS is similar to other Jungian schools of thought, wherein each individual possesses an entity known as the "self." Unlike Jung, however, IFS says that there is no such thing as a "false self." The Self is the core center of an individual person/character - it is divine, innate, and cannot be taken away, damaged, or destroyed. The Self is calm, collected, warm, kind, and leads via intuition. The Self is seen as the agent for positive change within characters because it is innately "curious" and non-judgmental: it is not afraid of the Exile and its powerful feelings, it is not swayed by the Manager's persuasion, and it does not scold the firefighter for its methods - and by looking at the system of a character with that in mind, you can figure out how a character might progress into having a satisfying narrative arc.

Traditional narratology structures such as the Story Circle or the Hero's Journey (yes, I said it, sue me) often depict growth and change as coming from an additional, outside helper. IFS instead acknowledges that while outside presences may be helpful and supportive, the true healing comes from within the individual because of a concept known as Self Energy - wherein an individual acts authentically and compassionately as an agent of their own thoughts, dreams, desires, and feelings.

15 of 38

Ya got all that?

(Don't worry, it'll make sense when you see it in action.)

15

16 of 38

Parts Mapping

Or: Anna, you've been gabbing for a while - how do I use this? And what's this got to do with Portal 2?

2

17 of 38

What is parts mapping?

A drawn, visual representation of parts within a person/character's system and how they relate to other parts.
A way to get a single snapshot of the intricacies of a system (or in our case, a character or overall narrative).
A super quick and inexpensive tool for evaluation of a character or narrative's arc.

17

18 of 38

Example of a Parts Map

There is no right or wrong way to draw a parts map - whatever makes sense to you!��Notice:

Groupings of parts
Relationships to other parts
Parts' names may be self explanatory, or more creative. Whatever feels right!

18

Here's an example of a parts map I found online. There's SO many ways of drawing out a map, and there's no real standardized process to it - whatever makes sense in your own cognition is good enough! A few things to note within this example, however: parts tend to be grouped or placed based on category and their relationship. Down in the bottom right, we can infer is likely an Exile part based on how it is set apart from the rest of the system. This map also indicates which parts are in relationships with another by indicating their names in little lines off of them, which isn't typically how I would do this process, but if it works, it works! Finally, also consider that parts can be named. These are sometimes self-explanatory, such as "anger part," or "trauma response part," however sometimes people get creative. There's one part on this map just named Judy. I don't know who Judy is or what she does, but as long as the names for parts that you choose make sense to you and your dev team, that's gucci!

So at this point in the talk, I was planning on drawing out some maps for characters of my own. You know, from the games I've written for.

19 of 38

19

20 of 38

...I needed to use another game as an example.

I needed a game with:

The reputation of a classic. A game that (most) people watching my talk would know/have a frame of reference for.
A relatively small cast for efficiency.
Characters that exhibit dynamic growth.

21 of 38

Portal 2 (2011) by Valve Software

Has a main cast of four characters: Chell, GLaDOS, Wheatley, and Cave Johnson (Posthumously).

Of these four, two have VERY dynamic change

Fits the bill of "modern classic."

21

22 of 38

Let's Parts Map:�GLaDOS

22

23 of 38

Parts Map: GLaDOS

Determine the three types of parts:

Exile(s)
Manager(s)
Firefighter(s)

Identify catalyst for change
Introduce Self Energy

23

24 of 38

Parts Map: GLaDOS

Determine the three types of parts:

Exile(s): lack of agency
Manager(s)
Firefighter(s)

Identify catalyst for change
Introduce Self Energy

24

25 of 38

Parts Map: GLaDOS

Determine the three types of parts:

Exile(s): lack of agency
Manager(s): control
Firefighter(s)

Identify catalyst for change
Introduce Self Energy

25

26 of 38

Parts Map: GLaDOS

Determine the three types of parts:

Exile(s): lack of agency
Manager(s): control
Firefighter(s): violence

Identify catalyst for change
Introduce Self Energy

26

27 of 38

Parts Map: GLaDOS

Determine the three types of parts:

Exile(s): lack of agency
Manager(s): control
Firefighter(s): violence

Identify catalyst for change
Introduce Self Energy

27

Here's the thing.

Potatoes aren't usually a plot device.

But in this case? They are. Change comes in many forms. Some of them... tuber. And in this case, the catalyst for change... is a potato.

All jokes aside, when GLaDOS' throne is usurped by Wheatley, she loses her interfaced connections with the Enrichment Center around her, effectively cutting off her primary manager and firefighter. You can only imagine how terrifying this must have been for her little delicious form in that moment. Her exile has just experienced its greatest fear - the same lack of agency that created it. Only now, she's bereft of her usual fixes. Her behavior begins to change because it has to. In real-world, non-potato humans sometimes this can happen as well. The catalyst for change can be a dramatic life shakeup, a change from a previously established course, or even another traumatic event. Whatever the catalyst for change looks like your character, it must be convincing and natural - and we as writers and narrative designers must be there to help boost them into a better, more Self-led way of life.

28 of 38

Parts Map: GLaDOS

Determine the three types of parts:

Exile(s): lack of agency
Manager(s): control
Firefighter(s): violence

Identify catalyst for change
Introduce Self Energy

28

So let's talk about the application of Self Energy. The most important thing that Self can do is "holding space." And yeah, that definitely sounds a little Live, Laugh, Love, but it's an important concept. Holding space essentially means being present with something in a non-judgmental way. Self Energy is able to do this for Exiles. We see this happen when Chell and GLaDOS descend into the long-forgotten depths of Aperture Science, and learn about GLaDOS' synthesis and development. By having Chell and the player be present as GLaDOS re-opens those wounds, we have all as an audience held space for her, acting in the stead of her Self Energy. And you know what? Because that Exile feels heard and understood... it doesn't freak out. It doesn't rage. It doesn't threaten the balance of the rest of the system. Weird, right?

And then, as a result of that... the firefighter has no reason to step in. Because the exile has effectively learned to express and soothe itself, we have completely eliminated the need to violence.

And because the Exile no longer needs to stop its feet and yell, the manager has nothing to keep at bay. The manager can take a step back, and the Exile can become welcomed as just one of the chorus of parts within a system. This is all explicitly shown in the final boss sequence, where GLaDOS is reinstated upon her throne... and no longer feels the need for violence towards Chell. She no longer feels the need to be in control of her either, effectively kicking her to the curb at the end of the game. GLaDOS has been restored to homeostasis - whatever that looks like for a robot. Her Exile has been healed, her Self-Energy restored, and the system brought back into balance. That's why her arc feels so good. So satisfying! It explains her previous characterization and we witness her growth alongside her. That is what makes a good character arc.

29 of 38

can IFS work for antiheroes or villains?

Sure, that's great for a character with a complete arc, but...

(Spoilers: yeah.)

29

30 of 38

Let's Parts Map:�Wheatley

30

31 of 38

31

32 of 38

Incomplete and Nebulous Maps for Villains and Antiheroes

Villains:

Incomplete arcs may still feel fulfilling

Villains can be seen as forfeiting" the rest of their arc through their actions.

Redemption arcs are fulfilling too, but must be chosen and handled with utmost care.

Antiheroes:

Map may be partially obscured or unknown to audience

Example: Doug Ratmann

Mystique builds intrigue - but behavior should remain solid and consistent.

32

Let's expand on this.

For villains, a lack of application of Self-energy may still be fulfilling, as they have effectively forfeited the rest of their arc, and potentially even a redemption arc. Redemption arcs occur when a former antagonist is given access to Self Energy, and is able to hold space for their exiles and soothe any managers. A well-done redemption arc (such as Zuko from Avatar: the Last Airbender, or even our lovely GLaDOS) can completely change the reception of a character, and in my anecdotal experience, often makes them a fan favorite. However, not all characters are good candidates for this, so consider redemption arcs with care.

Antiheroes, on the other hand, are even more complex. Their parts map might be partially or completely nebulous as they often feature a "dark side>". For example, the character of Doug Ratman from Portal 2 could be considered an antihero: he's the antithesis of Chell, who is tenacious and bold. He prefers to hide and exhibits paranoia. Because of his furtive nature, it would be very difficult to have a complete parts map for him. But this can create a sense of mystique that a player might desperately want to know more about. However, for good characterization, their behaviors should be consistent even if we don't know entirely what their motivators may be.

33 of 38

Further Implications and Pitfalls

Because no system is perfect.

3

34 of 38

Parts Mapping an Entire Narrative

IFS can be used to parts map entire narratives.
Can be done in tandem with first beatmap pass, or used as a review tool.

Can be done with pre-established narrative pillars, or to help define narrative pillars/goals along the way.

34

35 of 38

35

36 of 38

Pitfalls

Problematic implications:

Not all growth has to be traumagenic

This goes doubly so when a character is of an underrepresented group.
Watch out for tropes, people!!!

IFS is evidence-based, but not for everyone.

Psychologists find fault in the model with those who may not be able to access parts/self-energy due to additional factors (illness).

36

IFS is not a perfect system. The potential implications that trauma or something sad or upsetting has to be the core of a character and their motivations is inherently problematic, as trauma is not some beautiful thing which spurs wonderful growth. Trauma is objectively awful, but unfortunately common. We should always question the idea that character development only occurs when something awful happens to them, which has many implications when the character in question is a woman, LGBT, or a person of color, who often are killed or experience abuse in stories. Sometimes good things can bring character development too!

Additionally, while IFS is evidence-based and has been clinically tested, it still has those who criticize its functions - mainly in the case that it may not be an appropriate fit for everyone, and this can extend to characters. The primary body of individuals that this applies to are those who experience various forms of psychosis, as they may not be able to access parts if they are actively in a break with reality. While this is rather rare in terms of game writing and narrative design, it's worth noting.

37 of 38

In Summary:

Internal Family Systems as a model can be applied to/utilized in game writing and narrative design

It works for characters!
It works for entire narratives!
It's resource-light, realistic, and easy to understand!

There's lots to take into consideration

It's not perfect, but nothing is: your mileage may vary!

37

38 of 38

Thank You!

Got further questions for me?

Find me on twitter @annacwebs

Want to learn more?

Check out The IFS Institute (ifs-institute.com)

38