And does this happen with all cultures around the globe
2007-04-19 22:48:59 · 18 answers · asked by carqueen1 4 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
i dont know but six of us were watching lost last night and something shocking happened and six pairs of hands flew to six mouths - it was quite amusing when we all looked around and realised we were doign the same thing...guess you had to be there though!
2007-04-19 22:54:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Carqueen, I'm guessing this is an automatic, subconscious response to cover a gaping mouth. Covering a gaping mouth protects it from unwanted elements coming inside (such as flying insects.) On the side of etiquette, it becomes socially acceptable to cover an open mouth, which when left uncovered, would seem rude and bad-mannered.
2007-04-19 22:58:56 · answer #2 · answered by Dowland 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Primeval instinct tells us when shocked/surprised we may need to run. We open our mouths to increase the oxygen in our bloodstream to enable us to deal with this eventuality. Covering your mouth is a modern(ish) polite reflex. We are taught that opening your mouth wide in public is rude. This is from all the thousands of years before Brightsmile when oral hygiene was poor.
I am from Europe and live in India. I have not noticed Indians covering their mouths... but historically they have had much better oral hygiene than the rotten toothed Europeans.
..oh and I checked with a friend who used to lived in a number of Arab countries and he does not think that they cover their mouths either, so I'm guessing it is a western sensibility.
2007-04-19 22:58:51 · answer #3 · answered by dws2711 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be because some old cultures deem it rude to open your mouth widely in public. Like putting hand to mouth to cover a yawn or a laugh.
2007-04-19 22:54:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question, I have no idea although I suspect that it is an automatic reaction maybe to do with the fight and flight syndrome, maybe it is to prevent a scream which would indicate our position to a threat....there are several things that are just a reflex action from our ancient past....I will be interested to see other comments, especially from those who have 'looked it up'
2007-04-19 22:54:34 · answer #5 · answered by Knownow't 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
have you ever seen somebody status frozen with worry mouth putting open ... tremendously darn goofy lookin' in case you question me. So i'm thinkin' that's a computerized reaction because of the fact all of us be attentive to how ridiculous we could look if we did not conceal our mouth - to not point out is makes an incredible barrier from spit or drool as quickly as we are status there and have not have been given any actual administration for some seconds. the two that or it started as a thank you to dodge respiratory in flies while human beings have been "horrified or stunned" out on the type. Take your %., however the "anti - spit and/or drool" one sounds possibly to me! lol Peace ... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2016-11-26 00:00:28 · answer #6 · answered by adamek 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cos symbolically, when you open your mouth in that way, it would be to scream in fear. Hand on the mouth is to muffle the sound of what would be a scream. It's a habit-reaction we pick up from seeing others do the same.
2007-04-20 05:24:50 · answer #7 · answered by Hot Coco Puff 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well there are different forms of experssing the same emotion differently in all cultures...also what may be acceptable in one culture may not be acceptable in the other culture...for instance showing facila anger(by kids) in a puvlic gathering where they are getting bored may be accepted in one culture and may not be accepted in other cultures....as far as covering our face with hands is concerned...it is more of a reflex action and not as such nething to do with psychology...its a reflex action that just happens...maybe if u refer to some detailed iology books u may find somehing useful...
2007-04-19 23:03:30 · answer #8 · answered by Ridhi R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because we are dumbfound -- not prepared to react to (say anything; use our mouth) the situation that shocked or surprised us
2007-04-19 23:09:48 · answer #9 · answered by Sameer A 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol ... I don't !!
but as i see it, some people do so to prevent themselves from shouting .. the same reflex done when people lie, as they cover their mouths to prevent words from going out (especially children, cz adults have more control so they just play with their hair or touch their noses or ears)..
makes sense,huh ?
2007-04-19 22:55:28 · answer #10 · answered by Meonthkiolla 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋