The Dauntless initiation is the most competitive out of all the initiation processes. The Dauntless population is the highest of any faction in the factionless sector. The Dauntless initiation is mentioned the most in Divergent because the book is basically about Tris's adventure through initiation:
Stage One:
Stage one is is mainly physical. Initiates are taught how to shoot, fight, and throw knives. Of course, they are also expected to know how to jump on trains before they reach the Dauntless headquarters.
(Cuts come after stage one)
Stage Two:
Stage two focus on the initiates' emotions. They are given serums that activate fear simulations in their brains. They believe that if you learn to control you fears, you won't act cowardly in the future. They do one fear per day until stage two is over.
Stage Three:
Stage three is primarily mental. Initiates are given another serum and they do another fear simulation. This time, they only do it once and it attacks all of their fears rather then just one. It combines the skills they learned in stage one AND stage two. Instead of in their head, this fear simulation is what they see around them, but is not actually real. To move onto their next fear (their fears come one by one), they must either "make it worse to make it better" or calm down.
At the end of the day (of stage three), all of the Dauntless come to see the initiates' scores. Only the top 10 initiates get to become members. the rest are sent to become factionless. Their rank also decided what jobs are available to them.
Stage One:
Stage one is is mainly physical. Initiates are taught how to shoot, fight, and throw knives. Of course, they are also expected to know how to jump on trains before they reach the Dauntless headquarters.
(Cuts come after stage one)
Stage Two:
Stage two focus on the initiates' emotions. They are given serums that activate fear simulations in their brains. They believe that if you learn to control you fears, you won't act cowardly in the future. They do one fear per day until stage two is over.
Stage Three:
Stage three is primarily mental. Initiates are given another serum and they do another fear simulation. This time, they only do it once and it attacks all of their fears rather then just one. It combines the skills they learned in stage one AND stage two. Instead of in their head, this fear simulation is what they see around them, but is not actually real. To move onto their next fear (their fears come one by one), they must either "make it worse to make it better" or calm down.
At the end of the day (of stage three), all of the Dauntless come to see the initiates' scores. Only the top 10 initiates get to become members. the rest are sent to become factionless. Their rank also decided what jobs are available to them.