Why are certain sounds so disconcerting to some people?

[TechnoPro]

The other day, I lost my cool when someone around me was handling a block of styrofoam. The noise was driving me nuts. I couldn't figure it out since the sound itself was not intrinsically harmful. It was not too loud, so there was no biological motive to protect my ears. Sure, music and sound in general can alter ones state, but what's with these "annoying" sounds? Why are they universally disliked, or at best tolerated?

 

[MrPickins]

Strange coincidence, I was just (as in 5 minutes ago) talking to my friend about how much I hate stryofoam. The sound makes me break out all over in chill bumps. I don't even like touching the stuff.

I know it's completely irrational, but that doesn't matter. It still bothers the hell out of me. :|

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: MrPickins
Strange coincidence, I was just (as in 5 minutes ago) talking to my friend about how much I hate stryofoam. The sound makes me break out all over in chill bumps. I don't even like touching the stuff.

I know it's completely irrational, but that doesn't matter. It still bothers the hell out of me. :|

Personally, I can tolerate the sound if I am handling it. But when I hear it being handled, I cringe on the inside. Logic dictates that the sound is bsaically the same, but either the unpredictability or another factor is what makes my perceptions different in each case.

 

[pray4mojo]

Am I one of the few that isn't disturbed by nails on a chalkboard?

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

For me its the sound of someone chewing up ice. Weird, I know. I can't chew ice myself, and it gives me goosebumps to listen to someone else do it.

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: pray4mojo
Am I one of the few that isn't disturbed by nails on a chalkboard?

Doesn't bother me either. I don't find it pleasant, though. Styrofoam, on the other hand...

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

/me waits for somebody to come in and complain about bubblewrap 😀

chalkboard makes my neck tense and gives me a headache.

Styrofoam isn't a problem though.

- JaAG

 

[I Saw OJ]

Originally posted by: pray4mojo
Am I one of the few that isn't disturbed by nails on a chalkboard?

It doesnt bother me either.

My buddy really hates the sound of two files beig rubbed together. Needless to say we have a good time driving him crazy.

 

[TechnoPro]

Okay, so let's put our collective heads together. Why do some people have strong aversions to certain sounds that go well above and beyond likes and dislikes? Any theories?

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
chalkboard makes my neck tense and gives me a headache.

Styrofoam isn't a problem though.

same

Originally posted by: TechnoPro
Okay, so let's put our collective heads together. Why do some people have strong aversions to certain sounds that go well above and beyond likes and dislikes? Any theories?

Probably some kind of evolutionary baggage. Perhaps these sounds all share a sonic characteristic which is similar to that of some long-past threat to survival? Sort of like how some of us are aversive to spiders or snakes, because some can be poisonous and extraordinarily dangerous, so it became hardwired and remains so for some people to this day.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Nails on a chalkboard don't bother me in the least bit, styrofoam however can become quite annoying, nothing too bad though.
The one thing that drives me NUTS, is when people chew too fvcking loud. Someone chewing bubble gum at like 100 dB for example, is a complete ass and I always pray they choke on the damn gum or at least learn how to chew the sh!t properly. Then people eating something like lettuce *COUGH* DAD! *COUGH* and being so damn loud while eating it. It's even worse with noisier vegetables, like cucumbers.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

And when people eating chips actually make the "chomp" noise. And the noise made by like, little aluminum wrappers like the kind on chocolate, fruit snacks, etc. People making glug, glug, glug noises when they drink water is irritating as hell too.

The last time a thread like this was posted it was determined that all of us had "SSSS", or Soft Sound Sensitivity Syndrome.

 

[Philippine Mango]

Nails on the chalkboard only disturbs me because it invokes the feeling of running your fingernails across the board which personally feels awful in the hand/wrist. But otherwise it doesn't really bother me..

 

[dighn]

I hate those types of sounds. styrofoam, rubber/leather on plastic, dry marker on whiteboard etc. I guess you can call them squeaky sounds. they just drive me nuts. this goes beyond preferences/pet peeves. it's something very instinctual. just reading some of these posts makes me shudder. I haven't been able to find a straight answer to this.

 

[40Hands]

I am not bothered by any of those sounds. I've always wondered why people are annoyed by them....