Emotion: Disbelief

When you want to write the emotion disbelief, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it. In this article we provide you with inspiration so you can avoid emotion tells and immerse your readers in your story.

Disbelief is an emotional state characterized by a lack of acceptance or trust in something that is contrary to one's expectations or beliefs. It often involves a sense of confusion, doubt, or skepticism about the truth or validity of something. Disbelief can range from mild skepticism to complete rejection, and it can be triggered by a wide range of events or situations, such as hearing surprising news, encountering something unexpected, or experiencing a major shift in one's worldview. Overall, disbelief is a complex emotion that can have a significant impact on how we perceive and respond to the world around us.

Different Types of Disbelief

Here are some different types of disbelief:

• Shocked disbelief
• Skeptical disbelief
• Incredulous disbelief
• Dismissive disbelief
• Disoriented disbelief
• Unbelieving denial
• Utter astonishment
• Dumbfounded disbelief
• Awe-struck disbelief
• Stunned disbelief
• Disbelief mixed with fear
• Disbelief mixed with anger

Situations Associated with Disbelief

Here are some situations where a character might experience the emotion of disbelief:

• Witnessing something unimaginable or extraordinary
• Receiving shocking news or information
• Being betrayed by someone they trusted
• Discovering a secret or a hidden truth
• Experiencing a sudden change in circumstances or reality
• Seeing someone they know behave out of character
• Being accused of something they did not do
• Encountering something that defies their beliefs or expectations
• Receiving a sudden and unexpected promotion or opportunity

Physical Reactions to Disbelief

Here are some physical reactions a character experiencing disbelief might have:

• Raised eyebrows
• Wide eyes
• Mouth slightly open
• Shaking the head
• Rubbing the eyes
• Covering the mouth with a hand
• Stuttering or stumbling over words
• Pausing for a long time before speaking
• Crossed arms or tense body language
• Leaning back or away from the source of disbelief
• Asking for clarification or repetition of information

Thoughts Associated with Disbelief

Here are some thoughts a character experiencing disbelief might have:

• I can't believe this is happening.
• This can't be real.
• There's no way this is true.
• I must be dreaming.
• I never thought this could happen.
• This is too good/bad to be true.
• I don't understand how this could happen.
• This doesn't make any sense.
• I feel like I'm in a movie.

Atmosphere of Disbelief

Here are some ways that you might reflect the emotion of disbelief in the atmosphere of your scene:

• Use contrasting or incongruous images, such as a bright sunny day in the middle of a disaster zone or a peaceful garden next to a noisy construction site, to create a sense of disbelief and confusion.
• Create a sense of disorientation by using unusual camera angles, such as a low-angle shot looking up at a towering building or a fish-eye lens that distorts the perspective.
• Use sensory details to create a sense of unreality or surreality, such as describing an object or a person in a way that defies logic or common sense.
• Use repetition or circularity to create a sense of stuckness or inertia, such as repeating a phrase or an action that seems futile or meaningless.
• Use foreshadowing or irony to create a sense of dramatic irony or impending doom, such as hinting at a twist or a revelation that will shatter the characters' beliefs or expectations.
• Use symbolism or metaphor to create a sense of ambiguity or multiplicity, such as using a mirror or a labyrinth to suggest the complexity and uncertainty of reality.
• Use dialogue or internal monologue to reveal the characters' doubts or suspicions, such as having them question their own perceptions or challenge the assumptions of others.

Verbs Associated with Disbelief

Here are some verbs commonly associated with the emotion of disbelief:

• Stare
• Flinch
• Blink
• Gasp
• Pause
• Hesitate
• Stutter
• Reel
• Gawk
• Freeze
• Wince
• Scoff
• Scowl
• Squint
• Shake head
• Mouth "what?"
• Raise eyebrows
• Clench jaw
• Rub eyes
• Whisper "no way"
• Grin cynically
• Look away
• Roll eyes
• Jaw drop
• Sneer
• Blink rapidly

Emotions Before Disbelief

Here are some emotions that may come before a character experiences disbelief:

• Surprise
• Shock
• Amazement
• Astonishment
• Bewilderment
• Incredulity
• Doubt

Emotions After Disbelief

Here are some emotions that may come after a character experiences disbelief:

• Shock
• Denial
• Anger
• Confusion
• Sadness
• Betrayal
• Fear
• Paranoia
• Disappointment
• Resentment
• Embarrassment
• Shame
• Insecurity
• Regret

Telling Disbelief Examples to Avoid

Here are some examples of telling the emotion disbelief in a sentence. You should avoid things like this:

• I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
• He was in complete disbelief at the news.
• She couldn't wrap her head around what had just happened.
• The revelation left them all in disbelief.
• He found it hard to accept the truth.
• She was stunned and struggling to comprehend what had just occurred.
• He refused to believe the evidence presented to him.
• She was skeptical and doubted the validity of the claim.
• He was incredulous and couldn't fathom the reality of the situation.

Practical Examples of Showing Disbelief

Here are some examples of showing disbelief in a sentence:

• She blinked twice, unable to believe what she was seeing.
• His mouth hung open as he stared at the impossible sight before him.
• A wave of confusion and disbelief washed over her as she read the letter.
• The reality of the situation hit him like a ton of bricks, leaving him in a state of disbelief.

Exercises for Showing Disbelief

Here are some writing exercises to practice showing disbelief:

• Imagine a situation where your character is confronted with a truth that goes against their beliefs. Write down how your character reacts physically and emotionally.
• Write a scene where your character is presented with evidence that contradicts what they thought was true. Show how they struggle to accept this new information.
• Have your character witness something that they never thought was possible or that challenges their understanding of the world. Describe their reaction in detail.
• Write a dialogue between your character and someone who is trying to convince them of something they find hard to believe. Show how your character's disbelief affects the conversation.
• Imagine a scenario where your character is forced to confront a harsh reality they have been avoiding. Describe how they react and how their disbelief affects their decision-making process.

Want more help with showing emotion instead of telling? You find more help in our full emotional thesaurus.