Jane Austen was a master at creating characters with distinct motivations. At first glance, some may seem shallow or one-dimensional, but in reality, they perfectly exemplify key motivators found in the Human NEXUS profile system.
Take Mr. Woodhouse from Emma. While Emma herself is a blend of Solutionary and Influencer, her father is a Profound Stabilizer—driven by order, consistency, and risk avoidance.
In the Human NEXUS profiling system, a Profound is someone whose motivator traits in one quadrant are so dominant that they influence nearly every aspect of their thinking and interactions.
According to Chris Behnke’s Nexus Profile Handbook,
“Stabilizers seek balance and are motivated by a need for order and consistency. They are skilled at identifying potential risks and developing strategies to mitigate them, ensuring safer outcomes.”
This describes Mr. Woodhouse perfectly. He constantly worries about illness, advises people on how to avoid it, and reacts poorly to surprises or disruptions in his routine.
How Mr. Woodhouse Shaped Emma’s Strengths (and Weaknesses)
Growing up with a profound Stabilizer like Mr. Woodhouse likely influenced Emma’s over-reliance on her Influencer strengths.
🔹 The Influencer in Emma reads moods, strengthens relationships, and empowers others—skills she had to develop to navigate her father’s rigid mindset.
🔹 Rather than trying to change him, she learned to work around him, reinforcing her ability to manage people’s emotions—but at the cost of letting her Solutionary strengths fade into the background.
At the same time, Mr. Woodhouse’s constant fears and misguided advice may have shaped Emma’s tendency to dismiss the wisdom of others. She catered to his concerns while quietly making her own decisions. Over time, this habit of discounting one person’s advice likely made it easier to dismiss the guidance of others, including those who genuinely wanted to help her grow.
Was Mr. Woodhouse Wrong?
Not at all. His deep Stabilizer nature meant he was simply wired to seek security and avoid change—just as a rock cannot reshape itself to fill a hole.
However, this dynamic sheds light on how character relationships shape behavior, and how a protagonist’s strengths can develop at the cost of other skills. For writers, understanding these motivators can add depth and realism to character interactions.
How to Use This in Your Own Writing
If you want to craft more compelling character relationships, consider how their motivations and personality types interact.
💡 What strengths does your protagonist rely on too much?
💡 What weaknesses stem from their closest relationships?
💡 Could the Human NEXUS framework help you deepen your character arcs?
Take the free Human NEXUS profile test to explore these motivations for yourself and see how they translate into fiction.
🎯 Start Here → your personal Human NEXUS profile test
Want to discuss this further? Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments!
Want to read a simplified and illustrated version of Emma? Pick up a copy here. The price is temporarily reduced while this version is still new, so get your copy before it returns to it’s higher cost.
To learn more about the Human NEXUS, and which type is your strongest, go to Chris Behnke’s website and take the Human NEXUS test. Take the free version for a short synopsis, or enter code ROlson10off for a discount on the paid version for all the information. Tell us if knowing what motivates you reinforces your writing process, or if it helps you to readjust.
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