Psychological theories of blushing

Blushing is the uncontrollable experience of warmth, usually accompanied by reddening of the skin, on the face, neck, ears and upper chest that people sometimes experience in reaction to real or perceived evaluation or social attention. Physiologically, blushing reflects the vasodilatation of cutaneous blood vessels in the blush region. Dilation of these vessels causes an increase in blood volume in the affected area, which is experienced subjectively as warmth in the blush region and often perceived by others as a reddening or darkening of the skin, assuming that the individual’s skin tone is light enough to allow the blush to be seen (Edelmann, 1987). Dark-skinned people – such as Blacks and Indians – show the same physiological responses when blushing as Whites but report that others often do not notice their blushing (Drummond & Lim, 2000; Simon & Shields, 1996). In addition to these physical sensations, blushing is typically accompanied by a sense of self-consciousness or conspicuousness, as well as by emotions such as social anxiety, embarrassment, shame or fear, as might happen following a transgression or violation of social norms. However, not all emotional reactions that accompany blushing are negative. People may also blush while experiencing happiness or gratitude, such as when receiving a compliment or public recognition. Therefore, blushing cannot be tied exclusively to any particular emotion or even one valence of emotion. Rather, blushing seems to be experienced alongside a range of emotional reactions that are associated with social evaluation and self-consciousness.

Duke Scholars

Author Mark R. Leary Psychology & Neuroscience