Arabic version: احمرار الوجه يدل على الصدق والوعي الاجتماعي

According to The Guardian, blushing is a uniquely human response to embarrassment, driven by the sympathetic nervous system. When the brain releases adrenaline during a fight-or-flight response, blood vessels in the face widen, increasing blood flow to the skin and creating a visible change in colour.

Prof Sophie Scott, director of the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London, describes blushing as a truthful signal because it cannot be faked or produced on command. She says everybody blushes, though it may appear as redness on pale skin and as darkening or heat on other skin tones. Awareness that others can see the reaction can itself intensify it.

The response may be linked to humans’ theory of mind, or the ability to consider what other people are thinking. In early societies, blushing may have signalled recognition of a mistake, rule-breaking or remorse, helping to reduce conflict without physical risk. Scott says easy blushing is associated with increased trustworthiness and can support the cooperation that helps people work in groups.

For people distressed by frequent blushing, the main issue may be anxiety about the reaction rather than greater physical blushing. Prof Peter Drummond, who led a study on actual and perceived blushing, says people afraid of blushing blushed as much as those who were not afraid, but noticed it more. Cognitive behavioural therapy and task concentration training can help manage that anxiety by shifting attention away from visible body sensations. Drummond also suggests blushing may help dissipate unpleasant emotions, much as flushing during exercise helps release heat.