EMOTION THESAURUS

VULNERABILITY



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:
Having one's guard lowered; feeling exposed, often emotionally

NOTES:
Vulnerability can be a positive, negative, or mixed experience. A vulnerable person who feels fear may display protective gestures while a hopeful person purposefully making himself vulnerable may express more optimistic or open actions. It is also common for a character to progress from protective to open movements if he feels safe.

PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS:
Ducking one's chin to hide the neck
Avoiding eye contact or struggling to maintain it
Clasping one's arms in a self-soothing gesture
Shallow breaths
A quiet voice
Hesitations in speech
Holding the elbows tight at one's sides
Using small movements
Eyes that widen slightly
...

INTERNAL SENSATIONS:
...

MENTAL RESPONSES:
...

CUES OF ACUTE OR LONG TERM VULNERABILITY:
...

MAY ESCALATE TO:
...

CUES OF SUPPRESSED VULNERABILITY:
...

MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:
...

ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS:
...