Moving Beyond the Objective-Obstacle Approach in Acting
Why Reducing Sophie’s Choice to a Simple Objective-Obstacle Fails to Capture True Human Conflict
Acting can not be distilled into simple formulas, like objectives and obstacles. As actors, it’s time to get beyond these overly simplistic methods. At LB Acting Studio, we explore alternative approaches—such as the concept of chemical conflict—a powerful way to produce deeply human and genuine performances.
A chemical conflict within us comes from the interaction between a potential choice and its perceived consequence. This dynamic taps into the brain’s decision-making systems, triggering neurochemical responses that in turn produces feelings. Great actors often use some variation of this technique to great success.
When we’re faced with potential choices, the brain assesses all the possible outcomes. This assessment activates the prefrontal cortex (responsible for reasoning and planning) and the limbic system (associated with emotions and survival instincts). If the potential consequence feels uncertain or carries a level of risk, neurotransmitters such as dopamine (reward anticipation), cortisol (stress response), and serotonin (emotional regulation) release. This internal chemical conflict manifests as human physical and emotional responses.
We see these responses within us every day; in family conflicts, moral dilemmas, career decisions, and even in acting choices, where actors must commit emotionally to a role while managing personal and professional consequences. In essence, the chemical conflict arises from the brain’s attempt to reconcile competing signals of potential reward versus potential loss.
This will produce a more humanly engaged response rather than curating the characters objectives and the obstacles as in traditional acting techniques.
Framing a character’s experience as a chemical conflict, or a tug-of-war between potential choices and consequences, can produce a more humanly engaged response than simply interpreting objectives and obstacles.
How ‘Chemical Conflict’ Works
Embodied Response:
When actors use the ‘chemical conflict’ caused by weighing choices and consequences, they tap into natural neurochemical reactions. Finding that can trigger emotions of anticipation, fear, desire, or regret. By activating the body, actors go beyond simple intellectual analysis to create a real, lived-in performance.
Authentic Conflict:
Traditional methods like “objectives” and “obstacles” become mechanical or externally driven if approached too logically. By focusing on the dynamic interplay of desires and fears, actors can emulate genuine, spontaneous responses to deeply personal and dynamic situations.
Emotional Unpredictability:
Generally, us humans tend to respond irrationally because of subconscious chemical reactions (dopamine surges, cortisol spikes, etc.). When an actor works from this point of view, their performance becomes less about “hitting targets” and more about experiencing natural internal shifts in real-time.
Present-Moment Acting:
With a focus on finding the balance between desires and fears, actors remain present and responsive. Don’t rely on pre-conceived “beats” or tactics that may feel rehearsed or inauthentic — showcase being ‘in the moment.’
Examples of Chemical Conflict in Action
Hamlet: Shakespeare Meets Neuroscience
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet’s paralysis can be reframed from “wanting to kill Claudius but being blocked by fear of divine punishment.” It’s about living in a constant state of chemical conflict between revenge (dopamine-fueled anticipation) and existential terror (cortisol-driven dread).
Contemporary Romance: Love Meets Fear
In a contemporary scene, consider a romantic encounter. An actor thinking, “my objective is to seduce” might play out as mechanical tactics. But reframing it as a surge of dopamine (desire) meeting the fear of rejection (cortisol) invites a rippled and reactive performance with rich emotional texture.
Using Chemical Conflict in Your Acting Practice
Step 1: Understand Your Character’s Inner Conflict
What are the competing desires or fears driving your character? Go beyond goals—explore the chemical competition that is tied to each choice and its consequences.
Step 2: Tap Into Physicality
How does that chemical, emotional, physical conflict actually manifest in the body? Anxiety could cause tightness in the chest; anticipation might feel like ‘butterflies’ in the stomach; stress may manifest as tension in the temples. Show it.
Step 3: Be Irrational
We’re human. Our human characters will make contradictory or irrational choices. Since we often act against their own best interests due to these chemical influences, so will your characters.
Want hands-on guidance? LB Acting Studio’s coaching provides personalized support to help you learn these techniques.
Transforming your Acting Techniques
The chemical conflict approach makes acting feel more real, rooted in the actor’s body, emotions, and subconscious reactions. Acting changes from a simple goal-oriented task into a more human and instinctual experience driven by psychological and physiological forces. The technique of using chemical conflict allows actors to create performances that are both technically sound and profoundly human.
Enroll in LB Acting Studio classes to learn acting techniques like this, specifically created for the film & TV industry from our renown coaches.