The Scientific Reason People Blush When They're Embarrassed

If we violate a rule or expectation, it can anger people in our social group. Blushing allows us to display our emotional state and avoid aggressive interactions. When scientists reddened people's cheeks in photographs, study participants rated these individuals as being more embarrassed, sincere in their apologies, and were more likely to forgive them the

If we violate a rule or expectation, it can anger people in our social group. Blushing allows us to display our emotional state and avoid aggressive interactions. When scientists reddened people's cheeks in photographs, study participants rated these individuals as being more embarrassed, sincere in their apologies, and were more likely to forgive them the redder their faces were colored (via Cognition and Emotion). When we blush, people can see that not only do we recognize our transgression, but we feel embarrassment, shame, and regret.

Blushing changes how we judge the actions of others. In one study, participants played a computer game against an unknown player who was actually fake (via Emotion). When the participant was betrayed by the fake player, scientists showed the participant a picture of their transgressor's face. Participants were more forgiving and likely to trust a blushing player, entrusted them with more play money, and predicted a lower likelihood the blusher would break their trust again.

Just like study participants used blushing to measure shame, perhaps our ancestors used blushing as a non-verbal social cue indicating contrition (via the book "Shyness and Embarrassment: Perspectives from Social Psychology"). Lots of animals have behaviors they use to avoid fighting, called signs of appeasement, and blushing is one of ours (via Aggressive Behavior). By using our furless faces and intellect, we can use blushing as a polygraph of someone's state of mind, and avoid unnecessary brawls.

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