THINK back to the last time you felt embarrassed. Perhaps it was being reminded of your air guitar playing after one too many at the office Christmas party. Whenever it was, you鈥檙e not alone 鈥� embarrassment is a universal emotion. And while it mostly serves us well, new research shows that some people go to such lengths to avoid feeling it that they risk illness and possibly even death.
What kind of emotion is embarrassment? It鈥檚 certainly uncomfortable and usually involves feelings of fear, awkwardness or uncertainty. It鈥檚 often likened to a mild form of shame, but unlike shame it only occurs in the presence of other people. It is triggered by the anticipation of your reputation being damaged, or when a social situation suddenly takes an unexpected turn and you don鈥檛 know what to do next.
The purpose of embarrassment is thought to be to appease others and iron out awkward moments by signalling a form of non-verbal apology. It seems to work: research has shown that people who exhibit embarrassment in social situations, such as when they knock over a display in a supermarket, are liked more by observers than those who don鈥檛. It doesn鈥檛 pay to overdo it, though. Intense embarrassment, rather than signalling awareness that you鈥檝e violated a social norm, might signify a personality flaw.
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Because embarrassment tends to indicate honourable intentions, it鈥檚 useful to be able to spot it in others. Embarrassed people will usually look down, attempt an awkward smile and shift their gaze, often to the left. Looking left suggests that the right hemisphere of the brain 鈥� associated with negative emotions and withdrawal behaviours 鈥� is involved. They might also touch their face and shift uncomfortably. Last but not least comes that hallmark of embarrassment 鈥� the blush.
Embarrassment can act as a social lubricant, but it may also be more of a curse than a blessing. Studies show that some people are so averse to this emotion that they will risk their own or others鈥� health to avoid it, for example having sex without condoms because they are too embarrassed to buy or use them. Other research has shown that embarrassment puts people off seeking medical treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, urinary incontinence and mental illness, or having smear tests and colonoscopies. New work by Christine R. Harris at the University of California, San Diego, suggests that delaying or failing to seek medical attention for this reason may be a significant cause of illness and even death (American 杏吧原创, vol 94, p 524).
鈥淪ome people will risk illness or even death to avoid this emotion鈥�
So, blushing when your boss comments on your air guitar prowess may do you a favour 鈥� but failing to get a medical check-up because you鈥檙e embarrassed will certainly not.
