– Why do we scream when something painful happens to us?
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Not sure this is going to be much of an answer or very helpful, but… Mythbusters proved that you can handle more pain if you cuss/say whatever comes out vs if you don’t use any kind of bad words or expletives.
Alert mechanism to save others. It’s why people scream when they see someone else get damaged as well. Alert others in the hope of help coming.
It’s a warning and a cry for help. Imagine you’re back in caveman days. You get attacked by a lion. The tribe needs to know that there’s a threat, and there’s a chance they might send help in time to save you. Also, a scream might scare the lion away.
Humans are social creatures, evolved to live in groups. Screaming at danger can provide two benefits: The first is the obvious potential for the rest of the group to come help you deal with the danger and so increase your chances of survival. Another less obvious benefit is that screaming when in danger can help *the rest of the group survive*!
Remember that evolution acts on the level of the gene, not the individual. A group of animals with a shared genetic heritage that has the trait to raise the alarm when one is harmed can benefit even if the alarmed animal doesn’t survive. By alerting the others to danger their chances of survival increase, passing along the trait to other creatures.
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Some people may scream, others just suck it up. I’d say screaming occurs as an outlet. An acknowledgement of what has occurred. Screaming won’t alleviate the pain, but letting others know we’re suffering may attract empathy or compassion.
We instinctively scream to alert others of the injury; it alerts them to potential danger and tells them you may need help.
I can ELI2 if you want. Pain is bad, scream gets help, help stops pain.
ELI3-4: when you are in pain or get scared sometimes you’re in danger. Screaming or shouting can let other people around you know that you’re scared or in pain and so they will often come and help you. Other people, especially adults, will help you with your pain, get you out of danger or protect you from what you are scared of.
I’m not doing any more ages.
It was probably an advantage to know when one of your group was attacked or injured. The quiet pain genetics died out.
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