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

there’s two parts to this as far as i see it.

you know how you can’t really tickle yourself? your mind knows what your body’s doing and it compensates however and just shuts that response off.

the other part is that *everything* hurts *much worse* if you *do not expect it*. when you’re biting your own tongue, you’re expecting it. that signal goes past your brain and your responses adjust. when you’re chewing food and accidentally bite your tongue, it’s the last thing your brain expects so it starts throwing danger signs at you in the form of pain.