EMOTION THESAURUS

SHAME



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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:
The feeling that arises from a dishonorable or improper act; disgrace

PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS:
Cheeks that burn
Crumpling onto a chair or sofa
Pulling arms and legs in toward the core
Muttering "What have I done?" or "How could I let this happen?"
Using the hair to hide the face
Pulling a ball cap low
Pressing hands against one's cheeks
Dropping the chin to the chest
Wet eyes
A blank look
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INTERNAL SENSATIONS:
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MENTAL RESPONSES:
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CUES OF ACUTE OR LONG TERM SHAME:
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MAY ESCALATE TO:
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CUES OF SUPPRESSED SHAME:
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MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:
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ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS:
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