One falls into predicaments because: 1. one insists on doing the right thing with little to no regard for one's own self interest, 2. bad luck, 3. making bad choices. 4. Wrongfully judged/misunderstood.

Predicaments consist of a. being attacked by others, b. being captured/trapped, d. being isolated/lonely, e. being forced to do things one doesn't want to do (trying to survive from day to day, make money, get food and shelter).  f. falling in love.

One escapes a predicament by A. exceptional athletic abilities, B. the help of friends, C. intelligence/ creativity, D. special powers, E. luck.

This is all in terms of negative reinforcement. They are only acting to avoid pain/death. What of "positive 'predicaments"? I will say that anything that necessitates action is a "predicament".

3eE: One makes a bad choice and is thus forced to do something they don't want to do but escapes by luck.

2dD: Through bad luck one becomes isolated but overcomes through special powers.

1bA: One helps another and thus is captured but escapes by exceptional athletic abilities.

1aE: One tells the truth instead of being a yesman and thus is disliked by others who are yesmen but survives due to luck.

Adam Reith gets stuck on earth due to bad luck (spaceship gets shot down) 2. He is thus "stuck" on Tschai or trapped and must find a way to escape b. He escapes due both to his exceptional fighting abilities and his intelligence/creativity and the help of the friends he makes. ABC and some D.

One is trapped/stuck/captured. One is attacked (beaten or attemptedly murdered) or tortured. One is forced into slavery, etc. One is wrongfully judged and thus attacked, etc.