That may sound unappealing, but it has its benefits. In this way, blushing may have developed as a way for humans to better communicate sincere regret or contrition. Contact us at letters time. By Markham Heid. Related Stories. The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance. This indicates exactly how serious the problem is for people willing to take the risk. In theorizing about what evolutionary advantages blushing might present, Darwin suggests turning red is a phenomenon that marks sensitivity in its sufferers.
On a similar positive note, a study from the University of California, Berkeley, found that people who blush not only appear more generous and trustworthy, but actually may be more generous and trustworthy.
The researchers asked 60 students to recount embarrassing moments and rated them according to how many signs of embarrassment they showed, including blushing. Afterward, when the students were given 10 raffle tickets to keep or share as they chose, it turned out that those who blushed more were also more likely to share their tickets than non-blushers.
For me, acceptance has been the key in coming to terms with my own status as a blusher. Skip to content Site Navigation The Atlantic. Please click "Accept and Close" to accept the use of cookies on our website. By continuing to browse our website you consent to the use of cookies on this website.
For more information on how we use cookies please visit our Cookie Policy. Blushing is a general term applied to a temporary erythema redness of the skin, especially the upper thorax, neck, and facial areas.
The discoloration results from a brief infusion of blood following a rapid dilation of blood vessels in the affected area.
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're embarrassed, your body releases adrenaline. This hormone acts as a natural stimulant and has an array of effects on your body that are all part of the fight-or-flight response.
Adrenaline speeds up your breathing and heart rate to prepare you to run from danger. It causes your pupils to grow bigger to allow you to take in as much visual information as possible. It slows down your digestive process so that the energy can be redirected to your muscles.
All of these effects account for the jolt you feel when you find yourself embarrassed. Adrenaline also causes your blood vessels to dilate called vasodilation , in order to improve blood flow and oxygen delivery. This is the case with blushing. 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, creating the reddened appearance that tells others you're embarrassed.
You interrupt a big meeting to correct the speaker. Blood rushes to your cheeks. The more you think about it, the worse it gets. You have no conscious control over blushing — it is an involuntary response.
You can no more stop blood rushing to your face than you can will your lungs to stop breathing air or your heart to stop pumping blood. To direct all available energy to your muscles in an emergency, you need your heart rate and your breathing rate to increase to deliver as much oxygen as possible to your muscles and organs.
Adrenaline is responsible for all of these emergency response measures. The veins in your face also dilate. As they open up allowing more blood to flow, your cheeks become warmer and redder.
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