Grey's+Anatomy+Conflict

Essentially, external conflict is what happens to the character and internal conflict is the tension created by character’s desires versus her insecurities, vulnerabilities and fears.
 * __ Conflict is the essence of Drama __**

Internal conflict is the dilemma facing the character inside and its impact on that character. Writers typically choose internal conflicts that arouse a universal emotion in people, whether it's inner need, desire, belief, or turmoil. Like us, characters have little holes in their lives, bits of their tapestry somehow torn, experiences that scarred them. This is their vulnerability, and what they must confront as a direct result of what happens to them in each Episode. The resolution of this confrontation, whether it's constructive, destructive, successful or not, allows us to see how a character has grown. Internal conflict is what drives character growth. Start with a weakness, find the one potential character who will irritate that weakness (in a positive, growth-inspiring way) and force them together. Internal conflict adds meaning and complexity to the external conflict, but it's the external conflict that forces a character to make internal choices and changes. And the key to a story’s tension is that a character //has choices to mak//e. Which will it be? What will be the fallout? For viewers to care about a story the choices and the resolution must have consequences for the main character. In the broad perspective, a television dramas need of an antagonist is really the main character's need of something to //force// him or her to make choices. Characters, like ourselves, don't easily take difficult paths. No thank you. If we're not forced to, we simply don't. One of the best ways to force a character into choices is to develop an antagonist who will naturally jab into the root of a character's internal conflict and whose goal is opposite that of your hero. The 'antagonist' doesn't have to be an evil outlaw with a sweaty hat, it can be a storm or society or a new job or a colleague.
 * __ Conflict— //Internal// (Character Growth) __**
 * __ Conflict— //External// (Role of the Antagonist) __**

__**INTERNAL CONFLICT – MEREDITH GREY**__

Conflict, both internal and external is a narrative convention used by the creators of “Grey’s Anatomy”. Conflict is used to drive character growth. The internal conflict or a character is the dilemma facing the character inside and its impact on that character. For Meredith Grey this is her constant need to live up to her famous surgeon mother’s reputation. Meredith constantly questions her abilities as a doctor despite having both the intelligence and obvious skill to be great. Her mother’s lack of belief and emotional detachment has left Meredith insecure and reluctant to let anyone into her life. Meredith fears not only failure in terms of her work but also the possibility of rejection and abandonment. This leads her to alienate and push away anyone who gets too close. Despite this lack of confidence Meredith constantly steps up to the challenges presented her at work.
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__**EXTERNAL CONFLICT - MEREDITH GREY**__

Meredith also suffers from numerous e xternal conflicts that force her character to make internal choices and changes. This largely involves her relationship with the other interns at Seattle Grace Hospital and an attending, Doctor Derek Shepherd. These characters challenge Meredith and force her to begin to let people into her life. Meredith has caredfully pushed people out of her life for so long it is hard for her to let them back in. 
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This combination of internal and external conflict is an effective technique used to drive the narrative of ‘Grey’s Anatomy”. Meredith’s constant conflict keeps viewers interested and creates tension which maintains audience attention and interest.