Why, when we are horrified or shocked, do we automatically cover our mouths with our hands?

Answer 1

Well, if children are around, it would stop me from saying, "Oh Sh*t, " "You Dumb F**k," " How f**king stupid are you?"

If everyone is sleeping, it helps to keep you from screaming out loud.

If you are eating something, it helps to make sure something doesn't fly out of your mouth.

If you are on a date, it helps you to not say something stupid, or let them know that you like to cuss, or let them see food fall out of your mouth.

Answer 2

Have you ever seen someone standing frozen with fear mouth hanging open ... pretty darn goofy lookin' if you ask me. So I'm thinkin' this is a automatic response because we know how ridiculous we'd look if we didn't cover our mouth - not to mention is makes a great barrier from spit or drool once we are standing there and have no bodily control for a few seconds.

Either that or it started as a way to prevent inhaling flies when people were "horrified or shocked" out on the range.

Take your pick, but the "anti - spit and/or drool" one sounds likely to me! lol

Peace ...

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Answer 3

Only if we are horrified or shocked by what is coming out of our mouths. I never cover my mouth when I'm horrified or shocked because I want to keep my sharp canine teeth visible for snarling and growling or in worst case scenarios I may need them for biting the shocking or horrible thing.

Also When I am confronted by a thing of horror I am compelled to protect myself by screaming or shouting out a loud warning or a signal to others of my kind to run for there lives. As a last defense against shocking horrors, I may chose to repel my enemy with projectile vomit which needs a clear path between me and my opponent in order to be effective.

The silly thing about is is if we wanted our mouths covered why do we open them wide first, then cover them.

In addition why, when we don't understand something, do we scratch our heads and say "hmm?" does the scratching of the head facilitate brain function and does the humming somehow provide vibrations wich also assist in the reasoning process? How about when a dog is confused. Why does she tilt her head? It's almost as if she is saying: "Well, it doesn't look right at this angle, maybe it just needs to be turned slightly... Ah yes, its all perfectly clear to me now."

When I was a young boy I wanted to see if it worked so one night instead of falling asleep, I layed awake and waited for the aliens to come and surround my bed. When they arrived they looked incomprehensible as usual so I tilted my head to one side and lo and behold, at that slightly different angle I saw that they weren't aliens at all but rather it was my uncle Dexter coming in my room to molest me and let me tell you it was such a relief! I had him arrested the next morning and all thanks to that little tilt of the head that allowed me to see things as they really are!... uh, but you didn't ask about that did you... heh heh, nevermind

Answer 4

That's a really good question, here's my scientifically unsound answer: When we're shocked we involuntarily inhale sharply. This is a really strong inhale and if we didn't put our hands in the way, we'd end up sucking small objects from the room into our mouth. Many shocked cavemen died this way according to fossil records, but eventually we evolved to put our hand up first.

Answer 5

Carqueen, i'm guessing that's an computerized, subconscious reaction to disguise a gaping mouth. protecting a gaping mouth protects it from undesirable components coming interior (such as flying bugs.) on the edge of etiquette, it particularly is going to become socially suited to disguise an open mouth, which while left uncovered, might look impolite and undesirable-mannered.

Answer 6

open mouth is probably an involentary reflex do to soem tighting or stess of the muscles when shocked, covering the mouth is a natural reaction cultured from society, which teaches us to cover our mouths when we yawn, not stare agape, steming from folk lore about our souls escaping from out mouthes when we yawn an dont cover out mouth, this is just a guess tho haha *smiles an shrugs* ♥

Answer 7

i personally don't i just do the jaw open, if i am horrified i either scream or don't say a thing. but as for shocked yes the hand comes over but my jaw is still open lol

Answer 8

The only time I cover my mouth is usually when something has grossed me out and I'm trying to keep myself from throwing up.

Answer 9

Probably it's a self defense instinct, a gesture that we do automatically to hide facial mimic in order not to reveal the shock we are in.

Answer 10

So we wont look like total retarded dorks with our mouths hanging open.
However I think I dont bother with the hand thing and just do the dork look.