NOTE: Most of the thesaurus content herein comes from various sources, but i have added my share based on experience as a writer. The facial expressions, in part, are from “Entusiasti Blog” (march 19, 2014). Facial expressions and other physical behavior are largely from “The Blog Muse”, emotion thesaurus posted by Angela Ackerman before she and Becca Puglisi published their books. The full list of sources is at the end.
EMOTION THESAURUS – PART 3
CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING
Take all things into account when describing a scene so that the facial expressions, body language, and context all match the situation and the reactions that you, as the author, intend it to mean. Never assume readers know what you mean. They don't know what the author is thinking.
Take all things into account when describing a scene so that the facial expressions, body language, and context all match the situation and the reactions that you, as the author, intend it to mean. Never assume readers know what you mean. They don't know what the author is thinking.
FEAR
| Fear is an emotion induced by perceived danger or threat, which causes physio-logical changes and ultimately behavioral changes, such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the threat.  Facial Expression ● Wide eyes or eyes squeezed closed ● Eyes staring but not seeing; glazed ● Jaw dropped slightly ● Eyebrows arched, or flattened and frowning ● Face ashen, white, or pallid ● Lips trembling ● Beads of sweat on upper lip, forehead, trickling down side of face
| Other Physical Behavior ● Paralyzed; frozen in place ● Dizzy, weak, shaking, trying not to shake ● Clenched fists ● Loosening of the bladder; limbs going weak; fainting ● Nausea ●Dry mouth ● Crying ● Gasping for air, holding breath, rapid breathing ● Hands gripping something, white knuckles hands twisting together ● Leg muscles tightening, ready to run ● Urge to flee; fight or flight reactions ● Stiff legs, stiff walking, knees locking ● Heart racing, near-exploding, dropping, skipping a beat; sound of heartbeat in ears ● Pulse hammering, in various body parts ● Shivery skin, flesh crawling ● Stomach dropping, shallow breaths shaking head in denial ● Voice going shrill, stuttering, mispronouncing words ● Inability to speak ● Screaming or other vocalization of fear ● Hiding/denying fear through diversion, topic change ● Things moving in slow motion ● Body tension ● Uncontrollable whimpering, crying |
FRUSTRATION
| Frustration is a common emotional response to opposition, related to anger, annoyance and disappointment. It arises from the perceived resistance to the fulfillment of an individual's will or goal and is likely to increase when a will or goal is denied or blocked. Facial Expression ● Mouth open, with or without sound ● Flushed cheeks |   |   |
| ● Biting lips or pinched lips ● A clenched jaw ● Gritting teeth ● Tight eyes, a squint ● Facial tension, contortion, scrunching face Other Physical Behavior ● Storming out of a room ● Clenching fists, waving arms ● Wringing hands ● Shaking head ● A heavy sigh, s strained voice ● Running hands through hair ● Angry tears ● Cursing, swearing, verbal outbursts ● A scathing tone ● Shaking, rage-filled voice ● Shaking fists ● Hot, fevered stare ● Forearm muscles appearing cut from stone ● Thoughts of violence, playing out fantasies of violence or humiliation for another ● Rash decisions, impaired judgment ● Reaching for someone in an attempt to throttle, cause pain, hit ● An inability to enjoy positive things or happiness ● Difficulty seating, sleeping, being near others | Other Physical Behavior ● Actively wishing or hoping for harm or misfortune to happen to another ● Bitter, seething words meant to provoke ● A black mood that no one can dispel or reach through ● Tense muscles, stiff posture, rigid shoulders, a lurching walk ● A fight (fists flying, punching manically with a desire to destroy) ● Flight response (to spin away from another person, leave with a quick, decisive stride; driving off in a car ● Rushing loud breaths; heaving chest ● A shoving match ● Spitting in someone’s face, at their feet or in their direction ● Explosive bursts: screaming, yelling, shouting without regard for other people or environment ● Acting on violent urges ● Irrational thoughts, taking risks or other violence to get even, a vendetta ● Single-minded focus on how to destroy another emotionally ● Starting hateful gossip, setting person up, rumors |
GUILT
 |   | Other Physical Behavior The behaviors listed herein, which come from many sources, are more realistic for some who is guilty of something, but isn’t really sorry. Or someone who is guilty who doesn’t want to be caught. ● Angry tears ● Cursing, swearing, verbal outbursts ● A scathing tone ● Shaking, rage-filled voice ● Shaking fists ● A scathing tone |
| Guilt is occurs when a person believes or realizes ‒ accurately or not ‒ that they have compromised their own standards of conduct or have violated universal moral standards and bear significant responsibility for that violation. Guilt is closely related to the concept of remorse, regret, as well as shame. For the writer, this can a tricky emotion. The expression depends on whether or not the person believes what he did was wrong or he just don’t care. If the person doesn’t, he will look defensive or angry /resentful, or threatening, but not guilty. Or, as the child depicts, “I know it was wrong, but what’s the big deal?” Facial Expression ● Clenched jaw, grinding teeth ● A pinched face, frigid features, mouth twisted into a snarl or sneer ● Biting lip or finger nail ● Set, slightly pinched, lips ● Lowered lids ● Hot, fevered stare | ● Wishing harm or misfortune to happen to another ● Bitter, seething words to provoke ● A black mood no one can dispel ● Tense muscles, stiff posture, rigid shoulders, a lurching walk ● Fists flying, punching manically with a desire to destroy) ● Fight response; to spin away. leave ● Shaking, rage-filled voice ● Shaking fists ● Thoughts/ fantasies/ acts of violence, ● Rushing loud breaths; heaving chest ● A shoving match ● Spitting in someone’s face, at their feet or in their direction ● Explosive bursts: screaming, yelling ● Rash decisions, impaired judgment ● Irrational thoughts, taking risks ● Single-minded focus on destroying ● Starting hateful gossip, setting person up, rumors ● An inability to enjoy positive things or happiness ● Difficulty seating, sleeping, being near others |
| HAPPINESS / JOY Happiness refers to a state of being happy or feeling pleasure and is usually short term.The major indicator is the genuine smile called a Duchenne smile which signals happiness. It results from two muscle movements. Common to all smiles, the zygomatic muscle pulls the lips up at the corners. What makes a genuine smile is the muscles around the eyes which tighten, making wrinkles at the sides of the eyes and creates pouching of the lower eyelid. This is the smile of genuine happiness. . entusiastiq.blogspot.com/facial-expressions |   |   |
 Facial Expression ● A genuine, relaxed smile ● Wrinkles around eyes, pouching of the lower lid ● Crinkling of the face with a genine smile ● Laughing ● Eye contact ● Eyes sparkle and are alert Other Physical Behavior Remember, hate involves an appraisal that a person or group is evil. While hate relates to other negative emotions, it also has unique features, such as the motivation to eliminate the object of your hate. It’s a long term emotion rather than a short-term emotion. Revenge is often a part of hate. ● A light step, floating walk, skipping ● Humming/whistling/singing ● Relaxed appearance, posture straighter ● A need to share the happiness with others | Other Physical Behavior ● Seemingly at ease with the world ● Taps foot to music, or lightly taps on something without music ● Laughs and smiles frequently ● Interacts with others ● Bright, half-full attitude ● Shares with others, talkative ● Courteous with strangers ● Shows patience ● Shows interest /notices small things around them (smelling the roses, so to speak) ● Affectionate ● More likely to be helpful ● Shows enjoyment of stimulus (sways to music, closes eyes to savor food, etc) nods as others speak or leans in to show interest ● Bubbling laughter, happy bursts of screaming, shouting, laughter, squeals, giggles ● rapid speaking ● A feeling of breathlessness ● Happy tears ● Clasping hands before chest ● Shaking with excitement ● Big movements (leaping, fist pumping, running) ● Pounding heart ● Tingling hands |
HATRED
| Hatred as an emotion is often misused and misunderstood. It is one that has many gradations. When most people say they hate something, they are exaggerating or merely mean dislike or annoying. Kids use it to mean things that are unfamiliar, foreign, formidable, or for-bidden. As teenagers it is primarily a verbal sign growing up (of “hormone fueled adolescence”) and usually means dislike or annoying. Facial Expression In social situations, facial expressions of hatred are most likely covered up and come across as less intense, such as disgust, anger, distrust. When hate is expressed sincerely, different facial expressions may predominate. |    |   |
| ● Narrowed eyes ● Direct piercing stare, hard and cold ● Deep Frown ● A pinched face, frigid features ● Mouth twisted into a snarl or sneer ● Lips tighten and compress or lift up on one side to show teeth ● Partially raised lids ● Jaw clenches; teeth clench ● Face may redden ● Nostrils flare ● Eyes narrow, making them appear cold, hard; glaring ● Clenched jaw, grinding teeth Other Physical Behavior ● Angry tears ● Cursing, swearing ● Overt expressions of anger, contempt, rudeness ● Shaking fists ● Hot, fevered stare | Other Physical Behavior ● A scathing tone ● Shaking, rage-filled voice ● Hard forearm muscles ● Thoughts of violence, playing out fantasies of violence or humiliation for another ● Actively wishing or hoping for harm or misfortune to happen to another ● Bitter, seething words meant to provoke ● A black mood ● Irrational thoughts or actions for revenge ● Tense muscles, stiff posture, rigid shoulders, a lurching walk ● Gripping at own hair and pulling as if to release some internal pressure ● A fight response such as fists flying, punching manically with a desire to destroy) ● Flight reflex such as spinning away from the person, leave with a quick, decisive stride; driving off in a car, peeling rubber) ● Rushing loud breaths; heaving chest ● A shoving match |
HAUGHTINESS/ SMUGNESS/ SUPERIORITY
| Smugness shares with arrogance a high degree of self-satisfaction and a sense of some kind of superiority over others, but it typically manifests itself quietly and indirectly, without brashness. Facial Expression ● Lifting one’s chin ●·Head back and literally looking down the nose at someone ● Deliberately raised brows and half-lidded eyes ● Quirked lips or self-satisfied smile; a sneer ● Tilted head ● Wrinkle of nose like distaste ● Rolling eyes |
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| Other Physical Behavior ● Crossing arms ● If sitting, leaning back, particularly with arms raise behind head ● Dismissive nod or glance (gazes settles briefly then flicks away as if the other is unworthy ● Annoyed huffing sigh ● Waving a hand in dismissal ● Leaning in aggressively as if to challenge ● Using words to agree with opposite tone. ● A challenging look radiating superiority ● Perfect posture, shoulders back, exposed neck ● A determined walk, strut or swagger ● A loud voice, bragging, full of bluster ● Conversation that belittles opposing others' ideas /beliefs; one’s own ideals ● Talking over people, controlling discussion ● Domineering others (invading another’s personal space) | Other Physical Behavior ● Tossing one’s hair back, a shake of the head ● Adopting a sudden ‘pondering’ pose (hand clasping chin, an inward gaze as if struck by deep thoughts) ● Settling back in a chair with exaggerated casualness ● Actions that direct all attention to themselves and away from anyone else ● Extreme pride in appearance and objects one owns ● Careful consideration in friendships, purchases, places where one is seen ● A deliberate crossing of the legs or clasping of the hands ● Fidgeting with jewelry in order to draw attention to it ● Overplaying closeness or friendship ● Reminding someone of a past mistake to ‘rub it in’ ●·Uses sarcasm to cut others down |
HOPEFULNESS
| Hope is like a snap-shot of a person’s current goal-directed thinking, highlighting the motivated pursuit of goals and the expectation that those goals can be achieved. Facial Expression ● Head tilted upward ● Eyes closed ● Eyes open, shiny, and looking upward ● A serious sincere smile or half-smile Other Physical Behavior ●Hands clasped in prayer, pressed to lips, eyes closed or looking upward ● Fingers crossed, sometimes behind back ● Actual Prayer/plea to God "Please let this work!" ● Covering the mouth with a hand ● Holding of breath ● Steepled fingers covering mouth, held under or against nose ● Flutter in the belly ● Lighthearted feeling ● A gasp or shriek (more likely a reaction to first hearing or actually happening) ●Clutching at the chest or belly ●Floaty feeling ● Tingling limbs ● Rapid swallowing & nodding ● Movement; keeping busy ● Nervous energy ● Quiet prayer ● Gaze darting to a person or object that symbolizes hope |
Other Physical Behavior ● Brightened countenance ● Deep breaths ● Straighter posture/higher carriage ● A jolt through the body ● Waving/flapping hands ● Bouncing on the balls of feet ● Quivering breaths ● Trembling voice ● Eyes shining with tears ● An effort to not get too excited (clasped hands, holding oneself still, etc) ● A sense of calm; Belief it will work out ● Refusing to consider, speak of, or listen to the negative possibility ● Making enthusiastic preparations for 'best case scenario' ● Chattiness, babbling ● Verbalizing what can be done to encourage the best possibility to happen ● Rapt, positive attention on a task or person involved |
HUMILIATION
| Humiliation is the emotion you feel when your status is lowered in front of others. You may feel annoyed with yourself when you make a mistake or fail to know an answer, but unless others are around to witness it, that’s all you’ll feel. You need other around to fell truly humiliated. |  |
| Facial Expression ● Red in neck, cheeks ● Bowed head ● Scrunch face ● Close eyes ● Teary eyes ● Bite lip ● Turn down mouth ● shake head |   |   |
| Other Physical Behavior ● Cover face with hands or something else ● Shrink into one’s self; become small ● Hold self around middle ● Hand(s) to head or chest ● Apologize and divert conversation ● Blame someone else, ● Beat a hasty retreat without apology ● Rough, jerky movements | Other Physical Behavior ● Teary eyes or real tears: swipe at them with back of hand ● Tongue tied and can’t talk; stutter ● Act like nothing has happened; buck up and put on a smiling face ● Try to make a joke of it ● Apologize and retreat ● Stiff posture |
HURT
Hurt can be both physical and emotional
  |   | Other Physical Behavior – Physical Hurt ● Heavy limbs/ numbness ● Sudden clenching of stomach ● Won’t make eye contact ● Flinching with physical hurt ● Hunching over, pressing hand to the injury ● Watery, hot eyes that rapidly give over to uncontrollable crying Other Physical Behavior – Emotional Hurt ● Weeping ● Speechlessness ● Moaning, groaning, crying out ● Heavy limbs/ numbness |
| Facial Expression ● Mouth agape ● Teeth Gritted ● Stiff jutting jaw ● Blinking rapidly ● Teary bright eyes; glazed eyes ● Eyes scrunched closed, puckered forehead and frown ● Forehead scrunched and squinting eyes ● Tics in face ● Lips compressed and mouth turned down Other Physical Behavior – Physical Hurt It would be impossible to list all the feeling of physical pain someone who is ill or injured can feel. This is a best attempt at generalization and physical actions. ● Weeping ●▪Physical pain specific to illness or injury ● Speechlessness ● Moaning, groaning, crying out | ● Feeling of nausea ● Sudden clenching of stomach ● Won’t make eye contact ● A jerking walk or run (fleeing others or a circumstance) ● Heaviness of heart ● Self-loathing ● Lashing oput at anything close to hand, damaging property, etc, finding release in breaking things and causing damage ● Replaying the hurtful event over and over ● Asking questions: "How could she? Why me?" ● Crumpling into a ball, sagging onto a chair, sliding to the floor with back to the wall ● Retreating to a safe place and not coming out ● Showing signs of depression (retreating inward) ● Hurt manifesting as violence ● Feeling of nausea |
IMPATIENCE
Other Physical Behavior ● Fussing with appearance ● Door or window watching ● Straying attention ● Feeling exhausted or strained to the limits ● Fidgeting, moving about in a seat ● Whining, grumbling or pouting (small children) ● Changing places to wait; sitting to standing, ●General fidgeting ● Muttering, shaking the head, talking to oneself ● An inability to focus on other things or people ● Attempting to distract oneself INDIGNANT | Facial Expression ● A tightness to the face ● Lips pressed together in a fine line ● Frowning ● Puffing out cheeks ● Tilting head; propping it up with hand ● Exasperated sighing ● A clenched jaw, gritting teeth Other Physical Behavior ● A tapping foot; Clicking fingernails against a table ● Glancing down at wristwatch, or at a wall clock ● Pacing ● A sharp tone, using as few words as possible to answer ● Attention snaps toward small sounds or movement ● Complaining to others or mumbling a complaint to self under the breath: "Where is he?" or "What is taking so long?" ● Holding a drink or plate of food to be polite but not drinking/eating it ● An ingenuine smile |
| Indignation is a complex emotion triggered by feelings of anger and disgust. The feeling of indignation can occur when one is mistreated by another or negative feelings are sparked by situations or actions that are considered to be unjust. Facial Expression ● Lips pressed thin ● Rolling eyes, eyes avoiding contact, squinted ● Frown and compressed lips ●Mouth agape ● Eyes bulging ● Rapid blinking ● Color rising in cheeks |   |   |
| Other Physical Behavior ● Hands on hips ● Exhaling impatiently, snorting ● Sputtering, stuttering over words, broken sentences ● Speechlessness ● Evasive maneuvers while trying to formulate a response (roving eyes, fidgeting hands) ● Raised voice, yelling, cursing ●· Vehement denial, even in the face of logic ●· Looking to others for back-up or confirmation ●· White knuckles, tense jaw, muscles, etc. | ther Physical Behavior ● Jerking, tossing, shaking of the head ● Throwing hands in air ● Crossing arms over chest ● Stalking away ● Sharp, spastic movements; general fidgeting ● Slapping hands over top of the head ● Shaking splayed fingers close to ears as if to contain thoughts/outrage ●To ward someone off with a hand, stopping them from speaking further ● To hold a shaking index finger up at someone in warning to say no more ● Using anger as an excuse to leave |
| INTERESTED  entusiastiq.blogspot.com/facial-expressions Interest is a feeling or emotion that causes attention to focus on an object, event, or process. In contemporary psychology of interest, the term is used as a general concept that may encompass other more specific psychological terms, such as pleasure, curiosity and, to a much lesser degree, surprise.
|  Facial Expression ● The frontalis muscles raise our eyebrows straight up ● Corners of lips turn up in a slight smile, suggesting pleasure. ● Eyes will contract ● Gaze focuses on the object of interest ● Wide eyes, sharp and focused Other Physical Behavior ● Hands to face ● Intense concentration ● Straight posture, alert ● Minimal fidgeting and moving around This emotion is opposite disinterest. |
IMPATIENCE
  |   | Facial Expression ● Squinting or narrowing eyes ● Puffing out cheeks ● Jutting chin; clenched jaw, gritting teeth ● Tightness to face Other Physical Behavior ● General fidgeting ● Pacing ● Repetitive nervous motions such as tapping foot, clicking fingernails of table, crossing and uncrossing legs |
| Impatience is an unwillingness to wait for something or someone. But cognitive science says impatience is a survival emotions arising from our hunter-gatherer days and told us when to move on from a place that was no longer feeding us. Facial Expression ● Compressed lips; pout ● Frown ● A focused stare, seemingly at nothing | ● Propping up head or chin with hand ● Glancing at wristwatch or clock ● A sharp tone, using as few words as possible ● Tilting head ● Letting out a heavy sigh ● Constant checking for phone messages ● Increased tension in face, shoulders, neck ● Stiff posture· ● Veiled anger or light sarcasm |
INDIGNATION
Indignation is a complex and discrete emotion that is triggered by The feeling when one is mistreated by another or negative feelings are sparked when a situation is out of the normal realm of society. Facial Expression ● Lips pressed thin with frown and narrowed eyes ● Rolling eyes, Break in eye contact ● Eyes bulging or rapid blinking ● Mouth dropping open ● Mouth open in a “What the heck?” shape, teeth usually showing ● Color rising in cheeks or neck | Other Physical Behavior ● Exhaling impatiently, snorting ● Sputtering, stuttering over words, broken sentences ● Speechlessness ● Evasive maneuvers while trying to formulate a response ● Raised voice, yelling, cursing, vehement denial ● Looking to others for back-up or confirmation ● Jerking, tossing, shaking of the head ● Hands on hips, Hands thrown in air ● Crossing arms over chest ● Walking away ● Sharp, spastic movements ● Slapping hands over top of the head ● Shaking splayed fingers close to ears as if to contain thoughts/outrage ● Putting palm out to stop someone from speaking further ● Shaking index finger up at someone in warning ● To accuse another, “How dare you!” ● Using anger as an excuse to leave/ to stalk off/ speed away in a car ● White knuckles, tense jaw, muscles ● Stiff posture, shoulders set ● Flinching, recoiling, taking a step back ● Snapping back with a cheap shot in retaliation |
JEALOUSY
  |   | Extroverted Response – Other Physical Behavior Continued ● Sitting against a wall, holding knees to chest and staring off angrily ● Minor destruction as a release: Crumpling paper, pop cans, breaking pencils ● Muttering unkind things under breath ● Rash decisions (impulsively quit a team, group or storm out of party/event) ● Refusing to speak to others ● Crossing arms in front of chest |
| Jealousy is a complex emotion that en-compasses feelings ranging from suspicion to rage to fear to humiliation. It strikes people of all ages, genders, and sexual orientations, and is most typically aroused when a person perceives a threat – real or imagined -- to a valued relationship from a third party. Facial Expression ● Pouting ● Sullen looks, glowering ● Hot eyes, tears form ● Pursed or tightly pressed lips ● Clenching teeth Introverted Response – Other Physical Behavior ● Retreat from activity/cause the jealousy ● Quick, sharp movements (swiping tears from cheeks, shoving hair back behind ear, getting up fast and knocking something over in haste) ● Minor self-mutilation (scratches self, press fingernails into skin) using pain to feel better | Extroverted Response – Other Physical Behavior ●Jeering, calling names, running someone down ● Starting rumors, acting catty ● Shoving person who causes feelings of jealousy ● Acting out through petty crimes (scratching the person’s locker or car; stealing or hiding something small they care about, hiding ● Bullying: pushing, hitting, pinching someone weaker ● Sneering, rudeness ● Spitting in the direction of the person/object of jealousy ● Kicking at something nearby (garbage can, dandelion head, pebble, chair) ● Showing off ● A desire for revenge ● Pulling a stunt or pranks to regain attention ● Goading a weaker person into an argument |
Emotion Thesaurus - Part 4 coming next week - September,10, 2021
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