The Bone Structure

To build a character, Lajos Egri suggests using The Bone Structure:

Physiology

1. Sex
2. Age
3. Height & Weight
4. Color of hair, eyes, skin
5. Posture
6. Appearance: good looking, over- or underweight, clean, neat, pleasant, untidy. Shape of head, face limbs
7. Defects: deformities, abnormalities, birthmarks, diseases
8. Heredity

Sociology

1. Class: working, ruling, middle
2. Occupation: type of work, hours of work, income, condition of work, attitude toward organization, suitability for work
3. Education: amount, kind of schools, grades, favorite subjects, poorest subjects, aptitudes
4. Home Life: parents living, earning power, orphan, parents separated or divorced, parents' habits, parents' mental development, parents' vices, neglect, Character's marital status
5. Religion
6. Race, nationality
7. Place in community: leader among friends, clubs, sports
8. Political affiliations
9. Amusements, hobbies: books, newspapers, magazines, sports played

Psychology

1. Sex life, moral standards
2. Personal premise, ambition
3. Frustrations, chief disappointments
4. Temperament: easygoing, pessimistic, optmistic
5. Attitude toward life: resigned, militant, defeatist
6. Complexes: obsessions, inhibitions, superstitions, manias, phobias
7. Extrovert, introvert, ambivert
8. Abilities: languages, talents
9. Qualities: imagination, judgment, taste, poise
10. I.Q.