HUMILIATION DEFINITION:Feeling degraded or mortified, worthless or cheap PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS: The body collapsing in on itself A bowed head Shoulders curling over the chest Angling one’s torso away from others Uncontrollable shuddering or shivering Hair hanging in the face, hiding the eyes A downward gaze A flushed face A hitching chest Dull and lifeless eyes Pulling down a shirt hem (covering gesture) Body shielding (if one is holding onto an object) Hands clutching at the stomach Covering the face with the hands The bottom lip or chin trembling Whimpering A bobbing Adam’s apple Arms falling to the sides, lifeless Uncontrolled tears Flinching at noises or from being touched Huddling or crouching Trying to cover one’s body with one’s hands The neck bending forward Slow and jerky movements; walking stiffly Knees that are locked tightly together A loss of coordination Cold sweat Stumbling and staggering Backing up against a wall, sliding into a corner, or hiding Visible tremors coursing through the body Hands gripping the elbows Pigeon toes (standing with the toes tilted inward) Sobs trapped in the throat Drawing the knees up to the body’s core Wrapping one’s arms around oneself A runny nose INTERNAL SENSATIONS: Weakness in the legs A sluggish heartbeat Pain in the chest and throat Rapid swallowing Dizziness; a sense of vertigo A squeezing sensation in the ribs Loose muscles, the body feeling broken The skin tightening (a “crawling” sensation) Hot eyes and cheeks Nausea MENTAL RESPONSES: Self-loathing Shattered thoughts; feeling disillusioned by a lack of human decency A feeling of nakedness, of being on display A need to hide or flee that supersedes all else Thoughts desperately racing for a way to end the experience ACUTE OR LONG-TERM RESPONSES FOR THIS EMOTION: Curling up on the floor Hiding behind or against something Crying, blubbering, hitching sobs Wanting to escape by any means A desire to die, for the emotional pain to end SIGNS THAT THIS EMOTION IS BEING SUPPRESSED: Numbness in the mind and body Becoming passive and disengaged Closing off all thoughts of what is happening Not speaking or making any sound Sending the mind “somewhere else” MAY ESCALATE TO:Depressed,Regret,Shame,Rage,Hatred,Vengeful MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:Apprehension,Nervousness,Confusion,Embarrassment ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS: Cower, cringe, dissemble, escape flee, flinch, hide, lurch retreat, shake, shrink, stammer stoop, stumble, stutter, topple wince, wither WRITER’S TIP:Add conflicting emotions for a richer experience. A character might feel excitement and pride at purchasing their first car, yet worry that they might be extending themselves too far financially. This inner conflict helps to humanize a character to the reader.