EMOTION THESAURUS

BETRAYED



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

CHOOSE MY PLAN

HELPFUL TIP:

The inner landscape of your characters (especially your protagonist) is the lifeblood that runs through your story. Emotions, and how they're expressed, are tied deeply to a character’s personality and which positive traits and negative traits will manifest. To bring your readers in deeper through shared experience, consider filtering the setting descriptions through your character’s emotions while also exploring important colors, textures, and shapes through his or her senses.
DEFINITION:
A state of wounded outrage at being dehumanized and disrespected by someone of value


SIMILAR EMOTIONS:
HURT

NOTES:
When a character feels betrayed, reactions will vary depending on how personal the relationship was. This state often embraces a progression of complicated emotions: shock, disbelief, and denial that eventually turn to acceptance, hurt, or outrage.


PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS:
One's posture stiffening suddenly
Flinching (especially if the betrayal is revealed through something said)
A shocked, deeply pained look (the eyebrows drawing together, an inward stare, etc.)
Closing the eyes while lowering one's head
Poking a tongue against a cheek while exhaling
A deliberate, angry shaking of the head, with the mouth forming a round “O”
Letting out a forceful breath
Difficulty forming words immediately
...

INTERNAL SENSATIONS:
...

MENTAL RESPONSES:
...

CUES OF ACUTE OR LONG TERM BETRAYED:
...

MAY ESCALATE TO:
...

CUES OF SUPPRESSED BETRAYED:
...

MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:
...

ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS:
...