Physical Reactions That Show Hatred

Emotions are any of the feelings of joy, sorrow, fear, hate, love, etc.  We all experience these emotions, but we each react to them in our own individual way.  Still, there are some similarities in how we let others know we are sad, depressed, angry, happy, etc.

How Your Characters React Emotionally
What about your characters?  How do they show their emotions?  Do you allow them to show how they feel, or do you just tell what they are feeling?

What about the emotion of hatred?  Do you just tell your readers that your characters hate someone?  Or do you demonstrate through their actions that they loathe and detest a person or some action?  Do you know how to show that they feel animosity towards someone?

There are physical signs that your character filled with hatred would show that could be noticed by anyone who was watching.  The character expressing hatred would feel certain things internally and have mental responses to this feeling.  If the hatred has been going on for a long time, the effects on this individual would be even more pronounced.  Let’s take a look at the physical signs of hatred.

Physical Reactions
Your character, let’s call him Dave, is attempting to have a conversation with a person he hates with a passion.  Let’s call that person, uh, Roger.

You wouldn’t need to use all of the physical signs: that would be overkill and would throw your readers off.  And you can probably think of more physical signs that those I will share below.  You need to carefully choose what you show to match the scene you are writing.  There is a time to tell and a time to show.

What would Dave’s face look like? 
1)  His jaws could be clenched tightly together as he ground his teeth.

2)  He could bear his teeth, just as an angry, growling dog does.

3)  His nostrils might flare.

4)  The skin on his face might be tightened in rage.  He would possibly snarl or sneer.  His mouth could curl in dislike.

5)  His face and neck could be red with rage.

6)  He stare could be so intense that it would be amazing he wasn’t burning holes through Roger.

7)  Sweat might coat his forehead and possibly the rest of him.

What sounds would he make?  What would his words be like?
1)  The words he spoke would probably be dark and hurtful, meant to provoke a reaction from Roger.

2)  He might be shouting, screaming, and swearing.

3)  He could burst into laughter, but it would be a derisive, hateful laugh.

4)  Spittle would most likely fly everywhere while he is yelling.

5)  His voice could shake.

Other Physical Signs He Could Display
1)  His fingers might curl into tight fists, and they would probably tremble.

2)  He could tense his muscles so that the ones in his forearms would be rigid and defined.  When he did so, he could appear to be on the verge of springing.

3)  His posture would most likely be stiff and his shoulders square.  He would lurch as he walked.

4)  He might shove and push things and/or people out of his way.  He would easily trip over objects in his path.

5)  He could retract his fingers and turn them into claws.

6)  He might possibly lunge at Dave.

7)  There would be at least one visible vein, probably in his neck, that would noticeably throb.

8)  Have you ever heard a dog growl when an enemy approaches?  A growl could emanate from Dave’s throat.

9)  His grip might become intense.  If he happens to be holding a pen when this happens, he would snap it in half.  If he happens to be holding a glass, he would shatter it.

10)  Dave might feel the need to reach out and grab Roger’s arm to keep him from leaving.

11)  Dave cannot control his anger, so he would grab objects and throw them, or he would destroy property.

12)  Dave could turn and walk away, refusing to be in Roger’s presence

13)  Dave might spit at Roger or in his general direction.

14)  Dave might reach out to hit Roger, or throttle him.  His main objective would be to cause pain to Roger.

Other Actions He Would Take
1)  Dave might switch work shifts or alter his schedule to avoid meeting up with Roger.

2)  Dave might bully Roger in person, or he could bully him online.

3)  Dave might recruit his friends to help him bully Dave in person or online.  He would use them in any way they would help him to cause others to ostracize Roger or cause him to descend into depression.

4)  Especially if he lived close to or worked with Roger, he might start hateful, damaging rumors about him.  He could initiate some hateful gossip.

Writing Exercise
I hope you have a writing notebook set aside for writing exercises.  If you don’t, this is a good time to start one.

Think about the many different ways you act when you hate.  In your notebook or document in the writing program on your computer, start to list the ways that you have acted or thought about acting in situations where you have hated a situation or a person.  Don’t be afraid to let your raw emotions show through in what you are writing.

Once you have about ten different ways listed, go back and write at least a paragraph showing a character react in the way you have written.  Do this for each of your reactions you have written.

Since we are all human, this list will probably grow until the day you die.  Make it a habit to go back and elaborate on at least one of the ways you have reacted in hate.  It shouldn’t be long before your notebook (if it is paper) is filled or until your Word document is huge.

Amazon link: The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi has helped me immensely in my writing.  The writer’s guide to character expression is what I referred to when writing this article.

Recommended Article: Mental and Internal Reactions to Hatred