EMOTION THESAURUS

DEFENSIVENESS



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HELPFUL TIP:

The inner landscape of your characters (especially your protagonist) is the lifeblood that runs through your story. Emotions, and how they're expressed, are tied deeply to a character’s personality and which positive traits and negative traits will manifest. To bring your readers in deeper through shared experience, consider filtering the setting descriptions through your character’s emotions while also exploring important colors, textures, and shapes through his or her senses.
DEFINITION:
Resisting attack; defending against a perceived danger or threat

PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS:
Stepping back
Leaning away
Crossing the arms over one's chest
Rigid body posture
Squinting eyes
A lowering brow
Sucking the cheeks in
Shaking the head
Sputtering, gaping
Holding an object as a shield (a book, a folded jacket)
A darting gaze
Licking one's lips
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INTERNAL SENSATIONS:
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MENTAL RESPONSES:
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CUES OF ACUTE OR LONG TERM DEFENSIVENESS:
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MAY ESCALATE TO:
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CUES OF SUPPRESSED DEFENSIVENESS:
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MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:
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ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS:
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