Interested to know what causes that reaction. Not the person suffering the injury but people who see it. Doesn’t affect all people and you can get desensitised but what is it about the sight of inside stuff that makes you feel sick?
In: Biology
I think it’s a simple extension of the fact we’ve evolved to have empathy and to have a disgust response toward certain things. (though I’m sure social conditioning also plays a role)
Body fluids are supposed to stay inside, and when we see other people get hurt it makes (most) people uncomfortable. (I think nearly every guy can relate to that feeling you get inside when you see someone get hit in the nuts…)
Also, when injuries get bad enough, and you’re present in person, the scent can be highly triggering. Even when waste products aren’t involved, your sense of smell really makes the “oh shit, we’re made of bloody meat!” realization hit hard.
(Which is why I tend to laugh at gamers who think they’re desensitized to gore and wouldn’t mind being splattered in blood like their characters. And squeamishness aside, blood is sticky, greasy and thoroughly unpleasant to have on you.)
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