Why do we yell or shout when we're in pain?

[bmacd]

For instance, today I gashed my forehead on the corner of a shelf at work...there was blood and it definitely hurt...but i felt like i was biting my lip to not shout or swear (as customers were around). Instead, i held it in and scurried to the restroom to clot the blood. Why was it so hard to hold in the shouting?

-=bmacd=-

 

[gopunk]

to alert others to danger / our pain?

 

[LordMaul]

Helps relieve the stress.

 

[CTho9305]

Originally posted by: gopunk
to alert others to danger / our pain?

exactly. if the scream is followed by a burp, you run unless you want to be eaten.

if the scream is followed by a "thud", you go look

seriously though, I think it is a call for help and to alert others.

 

[katka]

Not everyone does. I don't. Watch Labor and Delivery on the Learning Channel many women scream their heads off while others do not. Go Figure

 

[Nohr]

'Cause swearing's fun!

 

[911paramedic]

Makes me feel like I am a part of the Osbournes when I get to swear like that.

 

[Armitage]

Cuz it hurts damnit!

 

[XMan]

Animals do the same thing when in pain . . . primal instinct of some sort?

 

[charrison]

because whispering "awww shucks" does not releive the pain.

 

[zbalat]

to alert others to danger / our pain?

I was home alone just before Christmas and I dropped a 35 pound dumbell on my foot. I yelled out every cuss word I know and no-one was around to hear it.

I think I yelled just to try to distract myself from the pain that I had just inflicted upon myself.

 

[BatmanNate]

In some situations, there is no better form of expression than dropping the F bomb.

 

[Packy]

Originally posted by: X-Man
Animals do the same thing when in pain . . . primal instinct of some sort?

I think it's hardwired. We have ferrets, and if they accidentally get under your foot or in a door that is closing, WOW, they let you know! In asking why we yell, you can also ask why we even feel pain... pain is so we know we're hurt, noise is so others know.

Or something like that

[edit] it's funny though, I hardly ever scream or yell if I'm hurt. One time my wife caught my finger in the back latch of our car, and I just said her name a few times until she realized what she was doing.

 

[Zenmervolt]

I don't yell, normally I just kind of hyperventilate.

ZV