Embarrassment is a self-conscious and terribly painful emotion mostly because we’re thinking about and concerned about how others see us.
It’s different from shame. Shame hurts more because you focus solely on yourself.
Embarrassment is an evolutionary force. Primitive people didn’t have verbal skills. They needed a physical way to show remorse, so blushing, sweating and nervous laughter evolved.
Giggling after an embarrassing moment is a way to lower heart rate in order to sincerely apologize.
Embarrassment is a universal emotion with a biological basis. There’s a part of the brain the size of a thumb responsible for sensing embarrassment. If it’s larger than your thumb, you’re more prone to being red-faced than others.
The positive side is people who show embarrassment are seen as being more genuine, trustworthy and cooperative.
Remember, our perception of events is far worse than how others see it.
Claudia
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