12/1/13 - Fight or Flight part 3

To start todays post i'll be continuing to look at existing research into body language that applies to this test.

Fight or Flight

"When we experience excessive stress-whether from internal worry or external circumstance-a bodily reaction is triggered, called the "fight or flight" response. Originally discovered by the great Harvard physiologist Walter Cannon, this response is hard-wired into our brains and represents a genetic wisdom designed to protect us from bodily harm. This response actually corresponds to an area of our brain called the hypothalamus, which-when stimulated-initiates a sequence of nerve cell firing and chemical release that prepares our body for running or fighting."

"We may overreact to the slightest comment. Our fear is exaggerated. Our thinking is distorted.""Our respiratory rate increases.... Our pupils dilate. Our awareness intensifies. Our rational mind is disengaged."

I've pulled these quotes from the website:

http://www.thebodysoulconnection.com/EducationCenter/fight.html

Points to consider when animating

• Movements may be slightly more exaggerated than normal to mimic overreactions
• the release of adrenaline means if the character is injured they might not be affected by it as much alternatively it could result in the character not appearing to experience fatigue quite as quickly.
• Pupils dilate
• Breathing increases
• The time allowed for character thought might be reduced as rationality decreases leading to faster movements.

Aggressive body language

Face

Body

Movement

The instances shown above are a couple of examples of aggressive behavior  the first is an extension of invading personal space the second is wielding an object as a weapon poised and ready to swing. Other aggressive movements include short movements as if beginning to attack which serve as a way of testing their opponents reaction speed and things like waving fingers, mimicking a baton of some sort, shaking fists, head-butts, leg-swinging and so on. This is saying 'Here is what I will do to you!'