INTIMIDATED DEFINITION:Feeling afraid or timid due to a real or perceived threat NOTES: When someone is feeling intimidated, their responses will vary depending on whether they lean toward a fight-flight-or-freeze-type response to threats. This entry contains some of each of these reactions. PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS: The body shrinking in on itself Shoulders slumping The posture sagging Stepping back from the perceived threat A darting gaze; not looking people in the eye A brittle laugh Hands jammed in the pockets Arms crossed, hands clenching the upper arms Hiding behind one’s hair, a hoodie, another person, etc. Shuffling one’s feet Crossing and re-crossing the legs Fidgeting with a pen, one’s hair, papers on the desk, etc. Becoming very still (to avoid attention) A furrowed brow as one tries to figure out what to do or say Biting the lips or nails Standing back from the group Not engaging in conversation The skin flushing or sweating Stuttering or stammering as one tries to respond The voice dropping to a mutter or murmur Fast-blinking eyes Hands up, in a placating or surrendering gesture Backpedaling:Oh, I was just kidding, orI didn’t mean anything by it. Passing a job or responsibility to someone else instead of taking it on oneself Taking deep breaths to try and settle one’s nerves Making a quick escape; physically leaving the area Speaking to others privately afterward to get their take on what happened Getting in the other person’s space Becoming argumentative Making passive-aggressive comments Making oneself look larger: squaring the shoulders, standing as tall as possible, etc. False bravado (getting louder, making empty threats, etc.) Hands tightening into fists Flinching but holding one’s ground Publicly blowing off the threat A muscle tic developing along the jawline A flinty or hard gaze INTERNAL SENSATIONS: The mouth going dry Weakness in the muscles A tightness in the chest An increased heartrate A spike of adrenaline One’s focus narrowing in on the threat The senses becoming more acute MENTAL RESPONSES: A desire to either escape or go on the defensive Thoughts racing as one tries to make sense of what’s happening The mind cycling through possible responses Frantically trying to think of something to say to prove one’s credibility or capability Cataloguing possible escape routes or plans ACUTE OR LONG-TERM RESPONSES FOR THIS EMOTION: Sucking up to the threat Not taking risks; sticking with what’s safe Keeping one’s opinions or ideas to oneself Not speaking when the threat is near Agreeing with the threat on everything; losing one’s sense of self Self-loathing Co-dependency SIGNS THAT THIS EMOTION IS BEING SUPPRESSED: Becoming defensive when the threat is present or mentioned Overcompensating Regaining a sense of power by belittling someone else Avoiding the threat Surrounding oneself with “yes” men or people who will provide affirmation A marked change in behavior when one is around the threat MAY ESCALATE TO:Insecurity,Emasculated,Fear,Humiliation,Resignation,Anxiety,Bitterness,Contempt,Defensiveness,Denial,Anger,Paranoia,Powerlessness,Self-Loathing MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:Indifference,Hurt,Regret ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS: Abandon, abase, avoid, backpedal brownnose, bumble, challenge, cower doubt, evade, faze, flee fluster, grovel, hem and haw, hesitate kowtow, pressure, quail, repress retreat, shrink, stammer, stumble surrender, withdraw WRITER’S TIP:If you need to show a wide personality divide between clashing characters, try to show them responding with vastly different emotions to the same situation or event.