EMOTION THESAURUS

PRIDE



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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:
Proper self-respect arising from a significant achievement, possession of an item, or involvement in a relationship

PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS:
A high chin
Shoulders back
Chest thrust out
Standing tall with good posture, legs spread wide
A gleam in one's eye
A knowing grin
Perfectionism
Watching others to see their reactions
Verbalizing the ups and downs that led to this point
Calling friends and loved ones to tell them about an accomplishment
Direct or intense eye contact
A booming laugh
Becoming talkative
Lifting the heels and rising up slightly to emphasize words
Steering or dominating the conversation
Becoming extra animated when there's an audience
A grin that conveys secret knowledge
Thrusting oneself into the middle of an event or debate
A satisfied smile
Hooking thumbs into one's belt loops, thrusting the pelvis forward
Pulling in a deep breath
False modesty
Ignoring or overlooking any flaws associated with the pride item
A preoccupation with one's appearance
Standing with hands tucked in one's armpits, thumbs visible and pointing up
Running the hands through the hair, flipping hair back
Assuming a pose that's sexy or draws attention to one's best attributes
Appearing unaffected by what others think
Speaking first, thinking second

INTERNAL SENSATIONS:
The feeling of being taller, bigger, stronger
Lungs expanded to their fullest through deep, satisfied breaths

MENTAL RESPONSES:
Positive self thoughts
Preoccupation with one's achievements or successes
A feeling of being able to conquer the world
Wanting to be surrounded by supportive loved ones
A desire to share achievements with others
A tendency to judge people according to one's personal measuring stick
Over-estimating one's capabilities
Underestimating others
A sense of entitlement
Planning and seeking advantages

CUES OF ACUTE OR LONG TERM PRIDE:
Enjoyment at proving others wrong
Bragging, obsessively talking about an achievement or material object
Praising group accomplishments as a way to remind people of one's own involvement
Reacting with anger or jealousy if one's reputation is impugned
Making radical statements or promises about future goals
Revisiting the source or place of accomplishment to feel empowered

MAY ESCALATE TO:
CONFIDENCE, SMUGNESS, CONTEMPT

CUES OF SUPPRESSED PRIDE:
Waving off a compliment
Passing the credit to someone else
Turning attention away from oneself
Seeking others' opinions as a form of validation

MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:
SATISFACTION, INDIFFERENCE

ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS:
Lift up, puff, expand, strut, swell, swagger, glow, exalt, preen, grin, nod, flush, flex, dash, dart, describe, explain, organize, blush, beam, boast, flatter, invest, relish, credit, appreciate