Previously I wrote about learning how to reward myself for my accomplishments by inducing a feeling of pride and happiness when it doesn’t come automatically. I wrote about how I believe that this new ability is changing my life for the better, because it’s a tool for improving my executive function. But I bet you want to hear more about the fictional people in this happy place of mine: Steve…

the skilled loser: this one looks a lot like the load, at first. They're a bit lot and they don't know how to survive, they often rely on the more competent characters. But unlike the load, this character will turn out to be useful in some way: often, the skilled loser has one skill that can either save the day or at least vastly improve the situation.

Examples: Aaron in Revolution, is one of the few who may understand enough about electronics to get something out of the pendant; Gordon Silberman, the stepfather in 2012, saves the others because he can fly a plane.

the driven crazy: this character may have been quite sane before the end of the world, perhaps even a solid pillar of the community. But seeing their world destroyed, watching their family die, being alone and/or losing all their bearings slowly drives them crazy. This madness can take two form: depression or hostility. If they verge towards depression, they won't see any reason to live anymore and might take more and more risks, or be downright suicidal. If they verge towards hostility, they might become paranoid and start threatening those around them.

the new world leader: this character wants to help rebuild the future by setting up a new political system. He gathers people round him, sets a new political structures and is strict in applying them. He's often a well-intentioned extremist, persuaded that the old system is what brought the world down. Of course, as a political figure, he may encounter opponents, and it is not unknown for two or more new world leader to arise and clash after the end, especially since their power is often local at first. May have had previous political or military experience.

Examples: President John Henry Eden of the Enclave, in FallOut 3; Bass Monroe of the Monroe Republic in Revolution; the Right Honourable Samantha Willis, MP in Survivors, and too many to list.

  the load: this character can't do anything by themselves. They have no skill, and if they survived until they met other survivors, it's only because they were very lucky. When they meet other survivors, they hang on to them and become the load. They slow the group. They get themselves in impossible situations, they get lost, bring the enemies in, whatever. From a plot point of view, they're here to bring in some action. They also make the other characters seem caring and patient... if they bear with them. The load is often a woman or a child. The load may get killed off early, may remain a perpetual load, or may 'level up' and become actually useful.

Examples: Rachel in War of the Worlds, Sarah Bowyer and Al in Survivors (Al to a lesser extent), Sophia, Carl and Lori in the live action Walking Dead.

  the scavenger:  this is not so much an archetype as a character trait. A character can be a loner and a scavenger, or a family man and a scavenger. But sometimes this trait can define a character. The scavenger more or less thrives in the postapocalyptic world by 'scavenging' or 'foraging' through the ruins of the old world. He has a knack for finding useful objects, or to use found objects in a useful manner. He may become a trader, and is often seen carrying plenty of stuff in packs or hanging from a belt.

Common types of characters in survival fiction:

the survival tycoon: this character sees in the apocalypse an opportunity to become rich and/or powerful. He may hoard precious goods (pure water, medicine, petrol), trade for precious services or use slaves to exploit precious resources. He's often ruthless, a shark in postapocalyptic business. He sees it as a fair chance at success. He often maintains a semblance of luxury and civilisation.    

Examples: Mr House in FallOut: New Vegas (offers casinos and entertainment), Mr Tenpenny in FallOut 3 (offers safe lodgings to his renters), the gang boss in episode 1 of season 2 of Survivors (offers essential tools to the heroes in exchange for sex from one of them),the slaver in the same show.

  the pirate/raider:this character is also violent and ruthless, but often he's not willing to work to get what he needs, unless he considers raiding as work. Rather than produce anything, raiders will attack better-prepared or luckier groups and settlements to get what they need. They may kill, kidnap or rape, and will sometimes destoy what they don't need.The raiders often have a tribal appearance with tattoos, war tokens, piercings and possibly missing body parts.

Examples: the raiders in FallOut games, the raiders in One Second After, the Smokers in Waterworld. 

  the family man: this man (who can be a woman, “family person” didn't sound good) is motivated by, you guessed it, his family. Not necessarily his biological family. This person has gathered a group of survivors that include relatives or strangers with whom they hit up. For them, the most important thing is to protect the group, find a safe place to live together. The family man has no ambition of conquest or power. The family man is not aggressive unless to protect the family. 

Exemples: Abby Grant in Survivors, Charlie Matheson in Revolution, the protagonist in Apocalypse Law, the man in The Road, Rick Grimes in the Walking Dead.

the loner: this character is often hyper competent and was somehow prepared for the end of the world. Might have been a crazy survivalist, a conspirationist or simply military. This person rarely stays alone in works of fiction, because few people want to read about/watch a single character. But even when he's part of a group, the loner will complain that others slow him down, take bad decisions, and will express his will to leave the group. Will often be convinced that strength lies in numbers by the family man. If alone, may be victim of a stupid accident that will show him the error of his ways, or go crazy from loneliness. 

Exemples: the Mariner in Waterworld, Greg in Survivors, the Lone Wanderer in FallOut 3 if the player so chooses, Neville in I Am Legend. Several characters show tendencies of this in the Walking Dead: Shane, Andrea and Daryl. Michonne was this too.