2007-04-04 09:34:38 · 12 answers · asked by bobstefan 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Yes, I was telling this to my son the other day. We were experimenting with trying to tickle ourselves, and it didn't work. This was very interesting to him. Also my husband is immune to it. He was tickled so much by his older brothers as a child, that he decided to build up a mental immunity to it, and now he is no longer ticklish. Yes, I beleive that it is mostly mental. There are sensitive spots on the body that are more susceptible to human touch, but if you were to block it out mentally that it is going to tickle, then it can have no effect on you.
2007-04-04 09:41:19 · answer #1 · answered by Lindsey H 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it is a mental reaction because if you try not to think about it, it won't tickle as much. Also, I have found that if I know who is tickling me, it doesn't tickle. If someone sneaks up behind me to tickle me and I don't know it's coming, then I am ticklish.
2007-04-04 09:44:20 · answer #2 · answered by Skyline 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is physical, cos you don't know that someone is going to tickle you, and they sneak up on you and tickle you. It's the type of touch that has to come from someone else. You can't give yourself a hug or a massage or a kiss or anything, tickles are no different.
2007-04-04 10:44:00 · answer #3 · answered by Hot Coco Puff 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's mental. As a small child, I was very ticklish. Mainly becuase I let myself be. Then one day I just stopped. Just like that. Just said that I wasn't ticklish any more to myself and I wasn't. Also, if I don't tell myself I'm not ticklish, then I am. It's really weird, but definitly mental.
2007-04-04 09:44:13 · answer #4 · answered by Jess 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Naturally, our response of laughing is a mental one. However, the feeling of being tickled is a physical irritation/response, similar to touching something hot or cold. The same way I was able to resist feelings of heat and actually change my mental response, I think we can also change our response to feelings of tickling.
2007-04-04 17:07:13 · answer #5 · answered by terry 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Excellent Question. I think it's both mental and physical. The physical response is obvious, but I think people can be tickled without even being touched. -If you have someone's barefoot in a vulnerable position, and you start wiggling your fingers in the air towards them, it definately gets a response!
2007-04-05 02:21:20 · answer #6 · answered by tklshtklr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's both. There's the physical sensation, which even when you do it yourself, usually feels a little odd. Then there's the menta reaction to the 'intrusion.' This is why a lover's feather light touch doesn't necessarily tickle.
2007-04-04 09:39:27 · answer #7 · answered by Alison R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wish I had someone to tickle me.
2007-04-04 09:46:21 · answer #8 · answered by bonnechancepetitchat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh you can tickle yourself... you just havent used the right feather yet LOL (TRUE)
2007-04-04 09:47:45 · answer #9 · answered by darchangel_3 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know but that is a good question, I have also wondered about this myself.
2007-04-04 09:40:04 · answer #10 · answered by vickie2391 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋