I can't think of a reason for screaming other than to hope someone will help you. But why is it that when we are in pain, severe pain, we scream. For instance, I was watching 24 last night and JB was being tortured and he let out a scream. I started to imagine if I were being tortured (which is very hard to do since I have never been tortured) would I scream or could I refrain from screaming? I imagined myself struggling, face turning red trying not to scream but eventually giving in. I suppose there is something to screaming - such as a release of stress. Is there a physiological or psychological reason for the "need" to scream when we are suffering? Does it actually help?
2007-01-15 06:36:55 · 14 answers · asked by p_patin 2 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
It's a partial release, just as the way people moan while having sex.
2007-01-15 06:44:18 · answer #1 · answered by SATAN 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is the functional aspect of alerting the other members of the tribe that we are hurt and need help and that there is also a possibility of danger to them as well from whatever is making us scream (bear, leopard, snake, etc.) but there is another aspect as well, which I discovered during one of my episodes.
I have a chronic pain condition called Fabry's disease (www.fabry.org if you're interested in the specifics) and before it was diagnosed I would have episodes of extreme pain in my joints lasting anywhere from a few hours to two weeks one time. And during one of those episodes I realized that for those brief seconds that I was howling and crying from the throbbing agony in my hands, my brain wasn't focusing on the pain.
Pain is intolerable to the mind, by design. Things that are damaging to you hurt. If something hurts, you stop doing it. Thus you avoid damaging your body before you have a chance to reproduce. Evolution at work.
However, if you're in a situation where you are experiencing pain and cannot stop it, it's like a massive noise in your head that you can't turn off. Your mind freaks out and, by screaming or crying, makes a bigger noise in your head than the pain does. I know that's a little vague but it's the best way I can put it.
2007-01-15 06:52:20 · answer #2 · answered by ▐▀▀▼▀▀▌ ►۩BaM۩ ◄ ▐▄▄▲▄▄▌ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you're right about screaming being a way of letting out stress. I also think that screaming is almost a reflex, kind of like when the doctor hits your knee it kicks out. I think that when we are in severe physical pain that we have to try to let some of it out somehow and screaming can do that. I don't think that it really actually helps much to alleviate the pain though.
2007-01-15 06:42:36 · answer #3 · answered by bashleyf2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is an instinct. I was talking with my boyfriend about why our kitty screams when we step on her. I think it is an effort to scare away whatever is attacking you. Or maybe to alert your companions of danger. It is very effective in getting our attention to lift our feet immediately. It might also be a release of stress. I always feel better after I yell when I am really stressed. Good question, now I will have it in my head for the rest of the day.
2007-01-15 06:44:20 · answer #4 · answered by yay_boxes 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If someone was torturing me, I'd scream like crazy.
Screaming is a natural reaction to extreme pain. It is a way of feeling like you are fighting against the pain. Screaming alerts others to your distress. Unconsciously, we hope someone will come to help and end the pain.
It is as normal as crying when you are upset.
2007-01-15 06:51:43 · answer #5 · answered by ne11 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you dont show the pain and suffer, you probably will die because of the pain continuing and the factor keeps hurting you,so you use screaming as a "alarm" that u have been hurted.thats how the human brain works and sometimes you just cant help it
2007-01-15 08:49:17 · answer #6 · answered by The dude 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Screaming releases endorphins in the brain that help to suppress pain. It's probably an instinctive reaction.
2007-01-15 06:44:53 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When we are under extreme stress our body reacts, everything tries to prevent the pain in one way.
If you put your hand on a burner, your body automatically moves it away.
I suppose that the body automatically does this to call for help or stop a person who is hurting you. It is a guess.
2007-01-15 06:47:57 · answer #8 · answered by Michel C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
people scream to distract themselves from the pain. If you concentrate on your own voice, it will lessen the pain. Also screaming releases endorphines and adreniline, so that helps as well. It's just instinct to scream
2007-01-15 06:45:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well im no scientes but screaming is one way to signal help and it helps relieve pain try pricking your finger and start yelling moving jerking your body around your body doesnt focous on the pain thats also why your told to calm down your body starts movieg when injured to help clot blood and to relieve pain and when you caml down the pain might increase a little but you will soon stop thinking of pain and thinking or relaxing
2007-01-15 06:42:07 · answer #10 · answered by villevallo77 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋