DEFENSIVENESS DEFINITION:Resisting attack; defending against a perceived danger or threat PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS: Stepping back to increase the distance between oneself and the perceived danger Leaning away Crossing the arms over one’s chest Rigid body posture Squinting, the brow lowering Sucking the cheeks in Shaking the head as if to remove any mental fogginess Sputtering, gaping, or shouting Holding an object as a shield (a book, a folded jacket, etc.) A darting gaze (gauging the distance to an exit, looking for a weapon, etc.) Licking one’s lips Rapid blinking that leads to a wide-eyed look Hands up, palms toward the aggressor Fixedly staring at the person while talking in a low, firm voice False bravado (flipping one’s hair, a snort of dismissive laughter, etc.) Raising one’s voice to encourage the other to back down Crossing the legs (if one is seated and feeling vulnerable) Body shielding (turning at an angle) Interrupting or talking over a rival to gain the upper hand Looking to others for backup Blowing out a noisy breath Going on the offensive and verbally attacking the accuser Deflecting blame Flinching or jerking back Speaking quickly while struggling to be articulate A hand splaying across one’s upper chest in a sign of innocence A stiff neck, cords standing out, and a bobbing Adam’s apple The chin lowering and pulling back against the neck Wagging a finger or berating another for their accusations Rising color in one’s cheeks Visible sweating Dragging others into the situation for support Verbalizing disappointment or denial A voice that hardens over the course of an argument Jerky movements; a loss of fluidity to one’s actions Excessive swallowing INTERNAL SENSATIONS: Feeling the thrum of one’s own pulse due to raised blood pressure Dry mouth and an intense thirst A body that feels hot The stomach tightening and hardening MENTAL RESPONSES: Scrambling thoughts as one tries to diffuse the situation Anger, shock, and feelings of betrayal Sifting memories for evidence (to support innocence or challenge accusations) ACUTE OR LONG-TERM RESPONSES FOR THIS EMOTION: Eyes darting for an exit or escape (flight response) Shouting Bringing up past examples when one supported the accuser or saved the day Citing an opponent’s shortcomings Increasing one’s personal space Storming away SIGNS THAT THIS EMOTION IS BEING SUPPRESSED: Maintaining an even tone Offering a fake smile A forcibly calm demeanor Changing the subject Denial (shrugging, forcing a laugh, etc.) Calmly stating that one doesn’t need to prove anything Not leaving or walking away, despite discomfort Attempting to reason through facts, not emotion MAY ESCALATE TO:Resentment,Suspicion,Anger,Fear,Vulnerability,Self-Pity MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:Unappreciated,Confusion,Skepticism,Relief ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS: Avoid, balk, bristle, confront counter, cover, criticize, deflect deny, disagree, dismiss, dispute dodge, downplay, guard, insist lie, oppose, plead, proclaim push, react, reject, resist screen, shield, sidestep, stall stammer, threaten, yell WRITER’S TIP:When writing a character’s emotional response, consider their comfort level. Characters are more themselves in the company of people they feel safe with. But if they feel vulnerable or uncertain, their reactions will change.