It’s important to remember that nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes, failure is just another opportunity for growth, yadda, yadda, yadda. However, all of that is easier said than applied. Being embarrassed, in the moment, feels awful! You perceive it as a social threat.
Human beings are social animals, so watching your reputation (supposedly) crumble before your eyes hurts. Luckily, things are rarely as bad as you think.
Paradoxically, embracing that embarrassment rather than running from it is the healthy (though hard) thing to do. And it can be quite beneficial, too. For one, you seem much more, well, human: approachable, down-to-earth, and trustworthy.
The Conversation stressed the fact that embarrassment is a “universal, visceral, and oddly contagious emotion.” It is what’s known as a self-conscious emotion because it focuses on our awareness of ourselves through the eyes of other people. We generally tend to feel more embarrassed in front of powerful people or individuals whose opinions we value.
Embarrassment usually hinges on looking awkward or inept, and doesn’t have the moral quality that shame or guilt do.
It is theorized that embarrassment developed as a social corrective. In a nutshell, the purpose of embarrassment may be to reduce conflict in groups by acknowledging that one has made a mistake and to signal one's remorse. In other words, our ancestors, for whom staying in a group was vital for survival, likely saw embarrassed people as more trustworthy and cooperative.
When you show visible signs of embarrassment, like blushing or tripping over your own words, you are perceived as honest, generous, and more sociable.
“In this way, embarrassment can invite empathy and forgiveness, strengthening relationships. It signals that we care what others think, promoting approachability and emotional closeness. So, while it’s uncomfortable in the moment, embarrassment probably evolved to keep communities cohesive,” The Conversation explains.
If you’re cringing while reading the embarrassing stories that Bored Panda has featured here, you’re definitely not alone.
Embarrassment is highly contagious because of how social our brains are. Human beings are hardwired for connection, so we empathize with other people’s awkwardness and want to reassure them.
It is this empathy that allows us to build connections with other individuals and helps preserve the harmony of the group.
Broadly speaking, when you embarrass yourself, your mind sees the events as potential social threats. You are, essentially, realizing that you’ve made a social mistake. Internally, you are pushing yourself to conform to the expectations of your social circle.
However, if you want to move away from the perception of embarrassment as a threat, you can try to employ humor. Laughing at yourself can help you reframe the situation into something more amusing than ‘dangerous.’
“Embarrassment is uncomfortable, yes – but it’s also a reminder that we care about others and want to belong. It’s part of what makes us human. So the next time you experience an embarrassing moment, try to laugh it off and remember that the moment is helping us to learn and connect.”
