Category: Human Facts

You can't believe the words that just came out of your mouth. You certainly didn't mean to insult the woman in line ahead of you, but it's too late now. What business is it of yours how many chicken nuggets she orders? She's staring at you angrily. You feel a sudden jolt as your heart rate increases, and your cheeks begin to feel warm. You, my friend, are embarrassed, and you're blushing because of it.

Blushing and embarrassment go hand in hand. This reddening of the face is such a natural response to sudden self-consciousness that if it weren't part of an emotionally crippling experience, it could almost be overlooked. But blushing is unique, which is why scientists want to know more about it. While the psychology of blushing remains elusive, we do understand the physical process involved.

How Blushing Works

Blushing from embarrassment is governed by the same system that activates your fight-or-flight response: the sympathetic nervous system. This system is involuntary, meaning you don't actually have to think to carry out the processes. When you feel embarrassed, your body releases adrenaline. This hormone speeds up your breathing and heart rate to prepare you for danger. Your pupils grow bigger, and your digestive process slows to redirect energy to your muscles.

Adrenaline also causes your blood vessels to dilate, in order to improve blood flow and oxygen delivery. The veins in your face respond to a signal from the chemical transmitter adenylyl cyclase, which tells the veins to allow the adrenaline to do its magic. As a result, the veins in your face dilate, allowing more blood to flow through them than usual. This reddened appearance is how the body responds to an embarrassing or shameful situation.

The Unique Phenomenon of Blushing

Blushing is exclusive to humans and is considered a universal phenomenon among us. Described by Charles Darwin as "the most peculiar and most human of all expressions," blushing is still not fully understood by scientists. Interestingly, veins in other parts of your body don’t respond to adrenaline the same way, making facial blushing a unique response to embarrassment.

Theories Behind Blushing

Several theories attempt to explain why we blush:

  1. Social Apology: Blushing evolved as a means of enforcing social codes. By blushing, we show others that we recognize our social misstep and are paying the price for it. It's a nonverbal, physical apology.
  2. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Blushing displays emotional intelligence, indicating that we're empathetic and aware of the social situation. This makes us more likable and trustworthy.
  3. Defense Mechanism: Blushing might be a defense mechanism to avoid potential confrontation. Just like animals exhibit submissive behaviors to avoid fights, humans blush to show they're not a threat.
  4. Narcissism, Perfectionism, Aggression Theory: The NPA theory of personality suggests that blushing occurs when our quest for glory and recognition is publicly derailed.

When Does Blushing Start?

Blushing typically begins around kindergarten age, when children start engaging in social situations and become conscious of others' feelings and thoughts. This suggests that blushing has a purely social basis and develops alongside our social intelligence.

The Vicious Cycle of Blushing

The more anxious we feel about blushing, the more we blush. This vicious cycle can perpetuate itself, making the situation even worse. Studies have shown that simply being told you're blushing can induce it, even if you weren't initially.

Severe Blushing and Erythrophobia

For some, blushing can become a significant problem. Erythrophobia, or the fear of blushing, can be so severe that individuals might opt for endothoracic sympathectomy, a surgical procedure that severs the nerves controlling blushing. In less extreme cases, cognitive behavioral therapy can help manage the anxiety associated with blushing.

How Blushing Exposes and Benefits You

Blushing can be to your advantage because it is a distinct signal of sincere regret. It signals to others that you acknowledge your shame, mishap, or social wrongdoing, promoting trust and positive judgments by observers. In other words, if you show embarrassment by blushing at your transgressions, you are more likely to be liked, forgiven, and trusted than those who do not. So, your blush may help you save face.

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