One of the three main dilemmas of DramaTheory.
I have a threat dilemma if you doubt my intention to flout your position.
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A party faces a threat dilemma when its threat (i.e., an intention it has stated under confrontation) lacks credibility. To eliminate this dilemma, it must either give up its threat or, inspired by negative emotion, make others believe that carrying out the threat is more attractive to it or more inevitable than they suppose.
More precisely, A faces a threat dilemma with respect to B when they are incompatible and B doubts a stated intention of A that flouts B’s position. A’s dilemma is whether to accept this—by abandoning its threat—or try to change it by sending messages that cause B to abandon its doubt.
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In Drama Theory Version 2, party A has a threat dilemma with party B when A's stated intention flouts B's position, but there is doubt over this intention.
A can "give in" to the threat dilemma if he communicates no new reasons why B should beleive his intention, if "fights by communicating new reasons.