Why do people and animals yell when they’re in pain?
In: Biology
It draws attention.
For mammals, it might attract the attention of our family/social unit, who might come to our aid.
For every creature, it stands a chance of frightening the creature that is hurting/eating us, enough to drop us and run.
It also stands a chance of attracting the attention of more predators who will quarrel, giving a chance for escape.
Because it hurts.
From an evolutionary perspective it could serve several purposes.
First it summons help. This is massively important particularly in species where child rearing is an investment of significant time and resources.
Second it warns the community of potential hazards.
Both of these best function as a reflex, as a rational process requires both intention and the time and complexity to form that intention.
The reflex is so important that both yelling and cursing produce a neurological reward in the form of released analgesics.
You literally feel better if you yell.
C’mon you can figure this out yourself. Haven’t you ever yelled when a puppy bites you too hard or something similar? It shocks them into letting go.
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I don’t really think adults need to yell when in pain and I think many don’t. I myself fell hard on a concrete floor 2 years ago, shattered my elbow and sprained my knee, needed emergency surgery to put the broken arm back together. I didn’t scream, I didn’t really make any noise. I was in the worst physical pain that I can ever remember. As a kid I remember falling off my bike hard once and crying about it for a long time, when all that really happened is I bruised my knee a little. For whatever I didn’t feel any need to do that as an adult.
Would you prefer them burst out in uncontrollable laughter instead?
Would you prefer them burst out in uncontrollable laughter instead?
Not all mammals yell. Cats often suffer in secret because if they make too much noise they would withdraw attention from their enemies. It makes it harder for the owner’s to notice if something is wrong with their pet.
Social animals yell to get help from the other members of their society. It is also a warning to the aggressor.
Because we are animals and it’s a way to indicate to someone and others that we are hurt. I’d say an evolutionary thing but more just natural biology. Which is evolution, but even back to aquatics, there was some sort of vocalization I’m sure. So it’s always been there
also the exhaling and vocalization of a yell helps ease pain. Mythbusters did an episode on this, though it was more on swearing but same difference
So because all non-single cell organisms that are sentient/sapient (humans and non human animals) benefit from vocalization, they do. and sometimes on a level we can’t hear
obviously there’s probably exceptions.
I like to think that the natural state of humans is to be screaming and we are just taught to hold it in. That’s why babies start as soon as they can breath, and when we get hurt (or really excited or angry), we momentarily forget to contain the screaming.
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