Corine Dijk (42) is a behavioral scientist and clinical psychologist at the University of Amsterdam. This time she answers the question:“Why do we blush?”
Corine Dijk:“Blushing occurs in situations where you are acutely aware of the judgment of another. And especially that of someone who matters to you. At such a moment you see yourself through the eyes of another. This causes a physiological reaction:your blood vessels dilate and your cheeks turn red. You blush not only when you are embarrassed, but also when you are in front of a large group, when you like someone or when you receive a compliment from someone you hold dear, such as your boss.”
“How often you blush depends largely on your personality and how much you care about other people's opinions. Some people can easily let it slide off, while others take longer to worry about it. For example, teenagers blush more often because they are more attracted to others. How visible it is depends on your skin tone. The blush is more noticeable on fair skin. Yet the visibility of blushing is often overestimated. The color difference is less intense than you think. There is a lot of shame surrounding blushing, because we live in a society where being tough, strong and competent is valued more than sweet and submissive. Blushing radiates insecurity and we generally don't think that's a nice quality. You often blush in situations where you want to control your social image. And that's the problem:you can't control blushing. The consequences of blushing are also often overestimated. Others may not see you as the toughest person, but that doesn't make you any less of a nice person.”
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“There is something conciliatory about blushing. You show:your opinion matters, I know my place in this group. The lower you are in the social hierarchy, the more likely you are to blush. A CEO is less concerned about what people think of him or her and will not blush as often. If blushing really bothers you, there are drastic options, such as cutting certain ramifications in your nervous system. But it is better to work on the underlying problem. People with extreme fear of blushing often have extremely low self-esteem. There is something to do. Blushing is a beautiful, sincere and reliable signal, because you can't fake it. Moreover, we often like people who show their emotions more.”
