Han Jiwoo opened the first page of his diary, it was empty. He gently caressed the smooth paper and lifted his pen. He then began to write.
"In order to understand the mindset of individuals when they are about to enter into a physical confrontation, such as a fight, it is important to first explore the psychological and biological processes that occur within the human body and mind during moments of threat, pressure, and competition. This includes investigating the emotional responses like fear and nervousness, as well as the confidence that arises when one perceives the opponent as weak. These emotional and physiological reactions are deeply rooted in both evolutionary biology and cognitive psychology, and they shape how humans prepare for and respond to challenges that may involve danger or uncertainty."
"Fear is an emotion that has evolved as a survival mechanism. When a person perceives a threat—whether it is physical, social, or environmental—the brain processes this information and activates a chain of biological responses designed to prepare the individual to either fight or flee from the danger. This is commonly known as the fight-or-flight response. The amygdala, a small almond-shaped cluster of neurons located deep within the temporal lobes of the brain, plays a central role in detecting threats and initiating this response. Once the amygdala is activated, it sends signals to the hypothalamus, which in turn activates the sympathetic nervous system. This leads to the release of adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol from the adrenal glands."
"Adrenaline increases the heart rate, elevates blood pressure, and boosts the energy supply of the body by promoting the breakdown of glycogen to glucose. Cortisol, on the other hand, helps maintain fluid balance and blood pressure, while also suppressing non-essential functions such as digestion and immune responses. These hormonal changes make the body more alert, increase muscle readiness, and sharpen focus, allowing the person to respond more effectively to the perceived danger."
"When a person is about to face someone who is known to be strong, this perceived strength acts as a psychological cue that increases the intensity of the fear response. This is not merely a matter of opinion or subjective belief; it is a biologically rooted reaction based on the perceived likelihood of harm or defeat. For instance, if a person has heard stories or seen evidence that another individual is powerful, skilled in fighting, or has a reputation for being dangerous, the brain interprets this information as an indicator of high risk. This increases amygdala activity and can lead to heightened anxiety, nervousness, or even avoidance behavior."
"It is important to note that the perception of strength does not have to be accurate to trigger this response. Even if the strong individual is actually not as capable as their reputation suggests, the belief alone is sufficient to cause the brain to treat them as a threat. This shows that human beings are highly sensitive to social information, and our biological systems respond not only to actual danger but also to perceived danger based on prior knowledge, assumptions, or observations."
"On the other hand, when an individual is faced with someone who appears weak—perhaps because of their smaller size, timid behavior, or lack of reputation—the brain does not interpret the situation as threatening. In fact, the absence of threat signals can cause the opposite reaction: a sense of ease, confidence, or even superiority. In this case, the amygdala remains relatively inactive, and the sympathetic nervous system does not get triggered to the same extent. The parasympathetic nervous system may even dominate, leading to a relaxed physiological state. This is why people often feel more confident, composed, or even dismissive when facing someone they assume is easy to defeat."
"The interesting aspect of this phenomenon is that it can lead to underestimation, which is a cognitive bias. Cognitive biases are systematic patterns of deviation from rational judgment. When someone assumes they will win because the opponent looks weak, they may not prepare adequately, may underestimate the opponent's capabilities, or may lower their guard during the confrontation. This bias can be dangerous, particularly if the supposedly weak individual has hidden strengths, unrecognized skill, or a strategic advantage. Overconfidence can dull reaction time, impair judgment, and create vulnerability."
"From an educational standpoint, it is also important to recognize that the brain uses heuristic processes to make quick judgments. Heuristics are mental shortcuts that help individuals make decisions quickly without needing to analyze every detail. While useful in many everyday situations, heuristics can be misleading in complex or high-stakes contexts such as physical confrontations. A person might quickly assess another's strength based on appearance, body language, or social cues, and then draw a conclusion without thoroughly verifying it. This kind of mental shortcut is efficient but not always accurate."
"Another concept to consider is the role of past experiences and social learning in shaping how people respond to strong versus weak opponents. If someone has previously lost fights against strong-looking people or won easily against weaker ones, their brain may form associations between visual cues and likely outcomes. These associations influence expectations and emotional states during similar future encounters. This is known in psychology as classical conditioning, where a person learns to associate a stimulus (e.g., someone with big muscles) with a specific response (e.g., fear or caution)."
"Moreover, human beings are social animals, and the opinions of others can strongly affect our perceptions. If a group of people believes that someone is strong, and this belief is shared repeatedly, it can create a form of social proof. Social proof is a psychological phenomenon where individuals conform to the beliefs or actions of others under the assumption that those beliefs or actions are correct. In a school setting filled with gangsters, if many people say someone is unbeatable, others may start to believe it and react with fear, even if they have no direct evidence of that person's strength."
"On the neurochemical level, dopamine also plays a role in how people respond to winning and losing. When a person anticipates victory, their brain releases dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and reward. This can reinforce the behavior and make them feel more motivated or energized. But when someone anticipates defeat, especially against a known strong opponent, their dopamine levels may drop, leading to decreased motivation, low energy, and a sense of helplessness."
"There is also the role of mirror neurons, which are specialized brain cells that activate both when a person performs an action and when they observe someone else performing the same action. Mirror neurons help individuals understand and predict the intentions and emotions of others. In the context of fighting, observing the aggressive body language, confidence, or violent history of a known strong person can trigger similar emotional responses in the observer, such as fear or hesitation, because their brain mirrors what it perceives."
"To summarize, nervousness and fear when facing a strong opponent are biologically and psychologically normal. They are part of the body's natural survival mechanisms, governed by brain structures such as the amygdala, hypothalamus, and prefrontal cortex, and influenced by neurochemicals like adrenaline, cortisol, and dopamine. These responses are not signs of weakness but evolved traits that helped human beings survive in hostile environments."
"In contrast, confidence when facing a weak-looking opponent arises from the lack of perceived threat and is bolstered by cognitive biases, social learning, and reduced stress responses. However, this confidence can be misleading if it causes one to ignore the possibility that appearances can be deceiving. This is especially true in situations where the supposed weak individual has trained themselves to suppress emotion, endure pain, and strategically control their actions beyond what is commonly expected. Such individuals challenge the typical biological narrative and force others to reconsider what it truly means to reach the peak of human limits."
"Understanding these principles is crucial not just for fictional storytelling, but also for real-life applications in sports psychology, military training, and self-defense. It shows that while biology sets the foundation for human behavior, psychology and experience shape how individuals interpret and act on those biological signals. And sometimes, those who appear to have nothing to offer—those who look small, quiet, and scared—are the ones who have trained the hardest to rise above the limits of fear, emotion, and expectation."