Facial Coloration and Temperature Responses in Blushing

Abstract

Little work on the psychophysiology of blushing has been done since Darwin's 1872 observations. Facial vascular and temperature changes have been largely ignored in psychophysiology. We had 16 female and 16 male undergraduate volunteers watch a videotape intended to produce blushing (the individual's singing recorded the previous day), and a videotape not intended to produce blushing, but elicit physiological responses for comparison (a segment from Hitchcock's movie Psycho). Four people were present as a subject watched these video segments. Cheek and ear coloration, measured photoplethysmographically, cheek temperature, and finger skin conductance responses were significantly greater during stimulation intended to elicit blushing than during comparison stimulation. Gender interacted statistically with kind of stimulation only in cheek temperature. Only video segments of the subject's face that coincided with maximal cheek coloration during stimulation intended to produce blushing were judged reliably as blushing, and then more often in females than in males.

Blushing in early childhood: Feeling coy or socially anxious?

“…Similarly to our findings, AC was found to be related to social anxiety and to increase from baseline to the social interaction and social performance task in adults (Drummond et al, 2007). However, DC was also found to increase from baseline to the watching-back task in adults (Mulkens et al, 1999;Shearn et al, 1990). In the previous studies, the watching-back task (strong stressor) was conducted after the initial baseline, the introduction of the experimenters who were also seated in the room to watch back the participants' performance (mild stressor), and the second baseline.…”

The effect of facial blood flow on ratings of blushing and negative affect during an embarrassing task: Preliminary findings

“…Blushing forms part of a broad increase in sympathetic activity characterized by increases in heart rate, sweating and decreases in blood flow through the fingers (Shearn et al, 1990;Drummond, 1994;Gerlach el al., 2001;Voncken and Bögels, 2009). However, fear and certain forms of embarrassment are associated with decreases in facial blood flow that may sometimes override blushing during psychological arousal (Hare, 1973;Drummond, 2001;Drummond and Quah, 2001).…”

“…Blushing refers to transient reddening of the face, typically in association with feelings of embarrassment, guilt or shame elicited by scrutiny or appraisal (Shearn et al, 1990;Leary et al, 1992). Although blushing may help to remedy social transgressions (Keltner and Buswell, 1997;Keltner and Anderson, 2000;Dijk et al, 2009a), nevertheless people who are concerned about blushing inflate both the probability and costs of blushing (Dijk et al, 2010).…”

“…Blushing usually peaks within seconds and subsides within minutes (Shearn et al, 1990) whereas flushing typically lasts five minutes or more and may be triggered by a variety of physical (e.g., alcoholic beverages, spicy foods, heat, sunlight, or exercise) and psychological stimuli (Kligman, 2004). For example, flushing can develop during repetitive or protracted embarrassment (e.g., Drummond et al, 2003;Drummond et al, 2007), and may also develop during psychological stress and emotions such as anger or shame (e.g., Drummond, 1999;Drummond and Quah, 2001).…”

“…For example, flushing can develop during repetitive or protracted embarrassment (e.g., Drummond et al, 2003;Drummond et al, 2007), and may also develop during psychological stress and emotions such as anger or shame (e.g., Drummond, 1999;Drummond and Quah, 2001). By-and-large, blushing and flushing are mediated by dilatation of superficial blood vessels in the forehead and cheeks which increases cutaneous blood flow and secondarily lifts facial temperature (Drummond and Lance, 1987;Shearn et al, 1990). The increase in facial blood flow may provide cues (e.g., sensations of engorgement or throbbing in the face, or facial warmth or sweating) which might, on one hand, raise personal awareness of blushing and, on the other, increase concerns about the blush being noticed by others.…”