Why does it seem to hurt a lot more when you accidentally bite your tongue than when you try to on purpose?

Question

Edit: I wanted to clarify that when I said on purpose I meant for comparison to the accidental one, not as self harm

In: 8

Answer 1

Long ago I read a psych article about things like this, it’s been so long I can’t point anyone to it sorry, but I remember the basics.

So when you do something like pinch yourself, it doesn’t hurt too bad. But if someone else did that the exact same way and same pressure it hurts. The brain has some mechanism which can mute pain and sensations which you cause to yourself. It’s easy to reproduce of course, just try a few pinches as opposed to biting your own tongue.