• Question: Why do we blush??? xxx

    Asked by kannah to Iain, Jo, Leo, Mariam on 23 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Iain Moal

      Iain Moal answered on 23 Jun 2010:

      This is a long standing question in evolutionary biology. Nobody has a conclusive answer, but it is suspected that it is a method of communication which helps others understand your emotions and change their behavoir in small social groups.

    • Photo: Mariam Orme

      Mariam Orme answered on 23 Jun 2010:

      When we blush, the blood vessels under our skin of our cheeks expand, so that there is more blood just under the skin. This is what makes the cheeks go pink.

      Why this should happen in response to feeling embarrassed or ashamed, I have absolutely no idea. There must be a good reason for blushing to have evolved, but I really can’t think what it might be!

    • Photo: Leo Garcia

      Leo Garcia answered on 23 Jun 2010:

      Blushing is a response to some emotion – such as embarassment or shame. In terms of WHY we blush (that is, the evolutionary reason), that is a very interesting question.

      According to here:

      http://www.neatorama.com/2009/09/12/why-we-blush-an-evolutionary-explanation/

      We evolved blushing as a way of telling the other person that, in those situations where we have embarassed ourselves or done something that the other person finds disagreeable, we won’t repeat that misbehaviour! So, it’s a form of appeasement, and keeping relationships stable.

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