CONFLICTED DEFINITION:Experiencing opposing emotions PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS: The lips pressing together in a slight grimace Increased swallowing or blinking Wrinkling the nose A smile that wavers A gaze that ping-pongs and avoids direct eye contact Start-and-stop gesturing (reaching then hesitating, changing direction mid-stride, etc.) Broken dialogue and self-interruptions Making apologies for one’s unfocused responses Opening and closing the mouth Struggling to find the right words Soft head shaking Voicing support in a tone that lacks enthusiasm Becoming quieter and less animated Scratching one’s neck or cheek Rubbing or pulling at an ear Asking questions to gain more insight Talking to others about similar experiences or situations Gathering opinions on what others would do A need to sit down and reflect Rubbing or pinching the bottom lip Making aHmmmnoise in the throat Tilting the head in a side-to-side rhythm Pulling in and then slowly releasing a deep breath Apologizing for one’s lackluster reaction, citing mixed feelings Requesting some time to digest everything Tapping one’s index finger against the lip The brows pulling in as one looks downward Rubbing at the middle of one’s forehead while one’s eyes are closed Voicing conflict or surprise:This is a tough decision,orSorry, you caught me off guard. Knees that bend, then straighten A restless stance Pacing Rubbing a hand through the hair Smoothing one’s clothes or touching items to keep the hands busy Cancelling gestures (smiling while shaking the head, nodding and grimacing, etc.) Holding one’s elbow while the opposite hand makes a fist against the mouth Blowing one’s cheeks out, then swallowing the air or releasing it Holding one’s hands out and “weighing” them in the air Forcing enthusiasm because it’s the right thing to do Subdued or delayed reactions INTERNAL SENSATIONS: Headaches A heaviness in the body Tightness in the chest A sinking feeling in the stomach MENTAL RESPONSES: Weighing the pros and cons Researching or seeking information Guilt toward those who may be negatively affected by a final decision PlayingWhat if?to understand the repercussion of a situation A need to verbalize the internal conflict A desire to retreat and go somewhere quiet to think An inability to focus on anything but the internal conflict Drawing on moral beliefs to help one decide ACUTE OR LONG-TERM RESPONSES FOR THIS EMOTION: A disheveled look (hair out of place, clothes rumpled, etc.) Obsessive information gathering; looking for the “key” solution Stomach upset, poor diet, or a loss of appetite leading to weight loss Stress headaches Difficulty sleeping A loss of self-confidence Avoiding making any decisions at all Hair loss SIGNS THAT THIS EMOTION IS BEING SUPPRESSED: Citing that one is not the ideal candidate to make the choice Making excuses to avoid the situation Suggesting that a break is needed in order to regroup Making a joke to alleviate tension or lighten the mood Giving a distracted nod to what’s being said MAY ESCALATE TO:Confusion,Overwhelmed,Frustration,Anxiety MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:Doubt,Reluctance,Regret,Uncertainty ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS: Agonize, backpedal, battle, blur clash, compete, contradict, divide fray, perplex, question, reevaluate second-guess, skew, split, stop straddle, strain, struggle, undo vacillate, waffle, wage, waver weigh, wonder, worry, wrestle WRITER’S TIP:In scenes where information must be shared, characters should still be moving, acting, and revealing emotion to keep the pace flowing smoothly.