Psychology of Blushing

We've all felt our cheeks turn warm due to an uncontrollable emotion at some point in our lives. Sometimes blushing is brought out by public humiliation or embarrassment. Other times blushing is a symptom of social anxiety or discomfort in a group situation. No one knows the real reason why human faces developed to suddenly become flushed in certain situations.

Fight-or-Flight Reponse

• Blushing is part of the body's fight-or-flight response.

  Blushing is triggered by the body's response to a situation we subconsciously deem dangerous. The first step to activating a blush lies in our body's sympathetic nervous system. Better known as the flight-or-flight response to danger, when the sympathetic nervous system is activated, it begins a chain reaction of uncontrollable bodily responses. Dilated facial veins occur during this process, allowing the blood to flow freely into your cheeks, creating a reddened appearance in your face.

Why We Blush

• Though no one knows the exact reason why humans blush, there are a few theories. A 2009 article in The Daily Mail quotes professor Frans de Waal of Emory University as saying "blushing makes it harder for people to lie. Given that our biology is determined by the forces of natural selection, it suggests the ability to express genuine honesty gave our ancestors an evolutionary advantage over their more devious contemporaries."

The Psychology of Blushing

• Public speaking or being the center of attention can cause blushing.

  Blushing represents a different physiological reaction than when our faces become reddened due to alcohol consumption or sexual activity. It is a unique physiological response to an emotion of feeling embarrassed or shamed.

  The triggers for blushing are different from person to person. Some people with a fear of public speaking blush when asked to do so, though not all with that fear blush, and not everyone who blushes does so during public speaking. Blushing is a personal trait that seems to go hand-in-hand with our biggest social phobias.

  Overblushing, or blushing in almost any social situation, is known as idiopathic craniofacial erythema, and can lead to hampered social interactions and isolation.

Can We Control Blushing?

• Blushing is a response to social anxiety.

  The best way to control blushing is to attempt to control the factors that cause a response from the sympathetic nervous system. Since blushing is most often related to public shame or humiliation, the best option for stopping yourself from blushing is to rewire your sensitivity to the opinions of others, which is notably easier said than done.

  Bryn Mawr College student Maria Scott-Wittenborn identified her own uncontrollable inclination to blush as "an appeasement behavior designed to signal to the rest of the group that the individual in question realizes their social transgressions and asks for the group's approval or forgiveness" and went on to discuss that those less sensitive to their own social transgressions did not blush as frequently.

Reduce Blushing

• Anti-depressants can help reduce the social anxiety symptoms related to blushing.

  Whether or not a person can change his innate sensitivity to the opinions of others remains unclear. Some have found relief through anti-depressant medications. Performing calming techniques during social situations may help diffuse some of the social anxiety that triggers the sympathetic system.