High- stakes conditions are proven to induce intense emotions. Traumatic and punishing events compel people to articulate emotions, demonstrating thoughts that might not have been mentioned before. McCarthy writes, “The man squatted and looked at him. I’m scared, he said. Do you understand? I’m scared” (259). Through this quote, the father admits his fear, denoting a weakness that humanizes him in the eyes of his child. The pervading aspect of stress is that it allows humans, comparatively, to be more truthful because people let down barriers that separate them from others. The emotions that were concealed before are revealed, whether for the better or for the worse. Likewise, communication increases and understanding is established creating
