Here Is Another Discussion

The dictum that ‘character is plot, plot is character’, attributed to Henry James (in Novakovich, 1995) is a familiar one, similar to Shakespeare’s ‘Character is destiny’ (from King Lear). This is not to say that what happens to characters is inevitable or predetermined. It’s simply that particular characters seek or attract certain events or encounters. If you start by building a strong sense of your main character or characters, then add a dilemma, challenge or conflict, you will automatically be generating your plot. Starting the other way around, with a chain of events into which you then fit characters, can often be more difficult and less convincing.

It may kinda depend on what idea you get that kicks off the novel in the first place.

This premise is the basis of Trans action analysis. My Aunt and Uncle were administrators at Larned State Hospital for the Criminally Insane until Clinton cut funds. Their experience was if you wanted to bring someone back from a psychotic episode before they hurt themselves or someone else-TA was what worked. Fuck Freud's couch. 'Games People Play' can pretty accurately predict your epitaph.
Your characters have the same need to be true to their identity as anyone. Why do you thiunk it's called character. "All the world's stage...."

Larned State Hospital for the Criminally Insane...
A title, a book, a pitch, a concept, a hit! All in one...

A musical! I've always wanted to see my name on Broadway.