EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS

WITNESSING VIOLENCE AT A YOUNG AGE



Never struggle with Show-and-Tell again. Activate your free trial or subscribe to view the Emotional Wound Thesaurus in its entirety, or visit the Table of Contents to explore unlocked entries.

CHOOSE MY PLAN

HELPFUL TIP:

Emotional wounds will steer a character's behavior, corrupt his worldview, and cause negative traits to form. To understand exactly how this occurs, please read our tutorial for the Wound Thesaurus.

NOTE: We realize that sometimes a wound we profile may have personal meaning, stirring up the past for some of our readers. It is not our intent to create emotional turmoil. Please know that we research each wounding topic carefully to treat it with the utmost respect.
EXAMPLES:
Seeing domestic violence
Witnessing a crime, such as a mugging, a brutal fight, or a murder
Being present during a home invasion
Discovering a suicide
Witnessing a friend being assaulted by a parent, sibling, or person in authority
Being present during a terrorist attack (and the aftermath)
Witnessing the sexual assault of a sibling or friend, a parent, etc.
Watching a peer or adult torture an animal
Being taken hostage and having to watch captors abuse other victims
Seeing atrocities committed against people of a religion, race, or group
Being forced to attend violent rituals as part of a cult
Being present during a horrific traffic accident, including the aftermath
Being present during a firearm mishandling that results in grave injury or death
Being taken from one's family and forced into slavery
Being a child soldier
Witnessing police brutality

WOUND CATEGORY:
Crime and Victimization, Specific Childhood Wounds, Traumatic Events

BASIC NEEDS OFTEN COMPROMISED BY THIS WOUND:
physiological needs, safety and security, love and belonging, esteem and recognition, self-actualization

LIES THAT MAY DEVELOP FOR CHARACTERS WITH THIS WOUND:
They can't protect anyone because they're weak
The system is broken and can't protect anyone
If you don't want to be a victim, you have to hit first
Love can be used against you
People only respect strength
The world is a cruel place filled with people who are inherently evil

THE CHARACTER MAY FEAR:
...

POSSIBLE RESPONSES AND RESULTS:
...

POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES THAT MAY RESULT:
...

NEGATIVE TRAITS THAT MAY RESULT:
...

TRIGGERS THAT MIGHT AGGRAVATE THIS WOUND:
...

STEPS TOWARD HEALING:
...

OPPORTUNITIES TO FACE OR OVERCOME THIS WOUND:
...