EMOTION AMPLIFIER THESAURUS

PRESSURE



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HELPFUL TIP:

Amplifiers are conditions that enhance emotions, causing characters to become more volatile. This often leads to impaired decision-making, hasty actions, relationship friction, and, best of all, mistakes. When utilizing an amplifier to generate conflict, think carefully about setting choices and which environments will naturally escalate emotion. An amplifier can also be perfect for triggering your character’s negative traits; the resulting fallout will draw attention to how his flaws trip him up and hold him back.
DESCRIPTION:
Pressure arises when a character is pushed to act or decide on something before they're ready to do so. This situation is often accompanied by an expectation that their choice will align with what others believe should happen.

PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS:
Signs of nervousness or discomfort: fidgeting, biting a fingernail, rapidly tapping fingers against a leg, scrubbing hands through the hair, rubbing the back of the neck, etc.
Asking questions to gain more information
Glancing down and pressing the lips into a thin line
Wrapping their arms around themselves
Taking slow breaths
Increased swallowing
Adjusting their stance
Pacing
Wetting the lips and biting down on them
Becoming silent
Lines appearing on the forehead, around the mouth, and near the eyes
Increased perspiration
Pulling their shoulders up toward their ears
Focusing on a location, object, person, or symbol tied to the choice or action
Dry-washing the hands
Moving more slowly than usual
Repeatedly rotating a ring, button, or other object
Running a hand up and down their arm
Crossing and uncrossing the legs
Running the palms down their pantlegs to remove sweat
Adjusting clothing as if it isn't comfortable
Undoing their collar or belt
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INTERNAL SENSATIONS:
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MENTAL RESPONSES:
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ACUTE OR LONG-TERM CUES:
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EFFORTS TO HIDE THE PRESSURE:
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ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS:
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EMOTIONS GENERATED BY THIS AMPLIFIER:
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DUTIES OR DESIRES THAT MAY BE MORE DIFFICULT TO FULFILL:
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SCENARIOS FOR BUILDING CONFLICT AND TENSION:
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WRITER’S TIP:
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