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Hostages or abuse victims develop a psychological alliance with their captors during captivity. Novel: 'Room' by Emma Donoghue.

Characters are forced to endure physically or emotionally extreme situations. Novel: 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy.

Characters experience two or more overlapping realities, questioning what is true. Novel: 'Total Recall' by Piers Anthony, based on Philip K. Dick's short story 'We Can Remember It for You Wholesale'.

Characters or situations lack clear ethical or moral boundaries, leading to uncertain motives. Novel: 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn.

Characters are physically or emotionally separated from others, heightening psychological tension. Novel: 'Misery' by Stephen King.

Characters uncover or are involved in secretive, harmful, and unlawful plots, often leading to a feeling of paranoia. Novel: 'The Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown.

Characters are subject to psychological manipulation, often losing control over their own thoughts and actions. Novel: 'The Manchurian Candidate' by Richard Condon.

A character whose credibility has been seriously compromised, leading readers to question the truth of the story. Novel: 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn.

A character is consumed by a persistent idea or feeling, driving the plot forward. Novel: 'The Collector' by John Fowles.

Characters grapple with memory loss, which can reshape their identity and the narrative. Novel: 'Before I Go To Sleep' by S.J. Watson.

Characters struggle with their sense of self, often leading to questions about their true nature. Novel: 'Fight Club' by Chuck Palahniuk.

Characters experience psychological distress caused by a past event, influencing their behavior. Novel: 'Sharp Objects' by Gillian Flynn.

A form of manipulation where the victim is made to question their own reality or sanity. Novel: 'Behind Closed Doors' by B.A. Paris.

Explores the theme that perception can be misleading and that the truth may be different from how it is perceived. Novel: 'Shutter Island' by Dennis Lehane.

Characters exhibit antisocial behavior, lack of empathy, and often violent tendencies. Novel: 'American Psycho' by Bret Easton Ellis.

A character experiences two or more distinct identities or personality states, each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment. Novel: 'Sybil' by Flora Rheta Schreiber.

Characters experience intense, irrational distrust or suspicion, which increases tension. Novel: 'The Girl on the Train' by Paula Hawkins.

A character or situation that exerts control over others, often for nefarious purposes. Novel: 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn.

The mental discomfort experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values. Novel: '1984' by George Orwell.