The freeze survival response: When an argument feels dangerous, the body enters an involuntary primitive reaction known as freeze. When conflict is perceived as threatening, the nervous system activates a survival response shutting down is typically linked to the freeze response.

Emotional flooding: High-intensity conflict can cause a sudden spike in heart rate and panic. once heart rate crosses roughly 100 beats per minute during an argument, the brain's reasoning center starts losing access

Childhood conditioning and trauma: Past family dynamics heavily influence how people handle adult stress. A person raised in an emotionally distant home may have learned that silence feels safer than vulnerability.

They could be nervous about something happening

They could be scared of something that’s happening or going to happen

Stressed

(Fight or flight) when the body reacts to a perceived threat.

(Evolutionary and resource competition) Aggression evolved as an adaptive tool to protect food or territory

(Psychological and social factors) Adolescents and adults sometimes use physical conflict as a problem-solving strategy to gain respect or prevent perceived weakness

Angered, Frustrated

Scared, Fight/Flight/Freeze

Uncomftorable, processing

They’re mad

They could be sad or upset

Misunderstanding

They are upset

They had something bad happen that changed their whole day/mood

They don’t know how to feel about a certain situation