I have to hold back smiles when bad things happen..and i really am upset but i want to smile.. Why do i do this?
Nice answers please.
2007-06-16 14:09:05 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Depends on how you look at it. It could be argued that smiling is a defense mechanism you use to deal with the situation. Basically, when a difficult sitch comes up, stress in your body begins to build up creating an uncomfortable sensation, so you defend agains said sensation by engaging in an activity that negates it... thus you smile.
Also, it could be that you are conditioned to smile in bad situations. In this case it could be argued that for some reason bad events and smiling are paired in your brain, so when the unpredictable event occurs (negative sitch), the predictable response comes up (smiling). For more on this, look up "Classical Conditioning" and "Operant Conditioning" on Wikipedia.
I'm sure other answers are available for this, but I can't think of anything else at the moment.
Hope this helps.
-D
2007-06-16 14:16:10 · answer #1 · answered by Daniel F 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As a mental health professional with 20+ years experience, now retired, I can tell you that your smiling in "serious/bad moments" is a coping or defense mechanism. Ironically, it's one I had back when I was much younger, and the thing that got me to quit giggling or smiling during such times was two of my professors pointing that out to me while we were waiting to get on the elevator. I was somewhat embarassed by their "confrontation" and I was determined that I would never do that again, and I haven't. I'm so confrontational now that many people, and sometimes including me, wish I'd go back to giggling and smiling in tough times. Tough sheeiitttttt!!!! I'm the way I want to be now, and if you (generally speaking; not specifically YOU) don't like it, tough sheeiittttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRR!!!!! (I'm really a "nice guy". I just won't admit it in public: face-to-face :-))))). ) God Bless you.
2007-06-16 21:19:08 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know why, but I wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I do the same thing! Sometimes I'll just bust out laughing too. And I'm talking at the most serious of moments. Like a funeral, or in a meeting. At least I know I'm not alone! I'll be interested to see what kind of answers you get. And as you said, I hope they are nice :)
2007-06-16 21:13:53 · answer #3 · answered by Pretty in Pink 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think you're young, and it's just emotion trying to bust out. I used to giggle past the point of control! The worse the news was, the more 'out of control' I would get. Don't worry about it - it does go away as you get older.
2007-06-17 01:42:34 · answer #4 · answered by misty19492000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very simply nervous tension. Happens to everyone. Ever hear of people laughing uncontrollably at a funeral of a loved one. It is a defense mechanism.
2007-06-16 21:12:47 · answer #5 · answered by sparky 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
lol yea i know what you mean, it has to do with nervousness. Like you're embarrassed or nervous so you uncontrollably act an opposite way.
2007-06-16 21:15:44 · answer #6 · answered by 12VDC800mA2600 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it really does help u to feel better !
Jon
2007-06-16 21:15:10 · answer #7 · answered by jon 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its ur minds way of easing ur pain...
2007-06-16 21:18:15 · answer #8 · answered by Ruby 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋