The Psychological Significance Of The Blush

A unique interdisciplinary volume which addresses the psychological significance of the blush, a ubiquitous yet little understood phenomenon.

A unique interdisciplinary volume which addresses the psychological significance of the blush, a ubiquitous yet little understood phenomenon.

The blush is a ubiquitous yet little understood phenomenon which can be triggered by a number of self-conscious emotions such as shame, embarrassment, shyness, pride and guilt. The field of psychology has seen a recent surge in the research of such emotions, yet blushing remains a relatively neglected area. This unique volume brings together leading researchers from a variety of disciplines to review emerging research on the blush, discussing in depth issues that have arisen and stimulating new theorizing to indicate future directions for research. Topics covered include: the psychophysiology of the blush; developmental aspects; measurement issues; its evolutionary significance and the role of similar colour signals in the social life of other species; its relation to embarrassment, shame and social anxiety; and the rationale for, and clinical trials of, interventions to help people suffering from blushing phobia.

The blush is a ubiquitous, but little understood, phenomenon. It involves an involuntary change in the face that can express feelings, reveal character and cause intense anxiety. Crozier provides a scholarly, yet accessible, synthesis of new research, locating blushing within the context of the 'social emotions' of embarrassment, shame and shyness.

Darwin has long been hailed as forefather to behavioural science, especially nowadays, with the growing popularity of evolutionary psychologies. Yet, until now, his contribution to the field of psychology has been somewhat understated. This is the first book ever to examine the riches of what Darwin himself wrote about psychological matters. It unearths a Darwin new to contemporary science, whose first concern is the agency of organisms — from which he derives both his psychology, and his theory of evolution. A deep reading of Darwin's writings on climbing plants and babies, blushing and bower-birds, worms and facial movements, shows that, for Darwin, evolution does not explain everything about human action. Group-life and culture are also keys, whether we discuss the dynamics of conscience or the dramas of desire. Thus his treatment of facial actions sets out from the anatomy and physiology of human facial movements, and shows how these gain meanings through their recognition by others. A discussion of blushing extends his theory to the way reading others' expressions rebounds on ourselves — I care about how I think you read me. This dynamic proves central to how Darwin understands sexual desire, the production of conscience and of social standards through group dynamics, and the role of culture in human agency. Presenting a new Darwin to science, and showing how widely Darwin's understanding of evolution and agency has been misunderstood and misrepresented in biology and the social sciences, this important new book lights a new way forward for those who want to build psychology on the foundation of evolutionary biology

The third edition of Social Anxiety: Clinical, Developmental, and Social Perspectives integrates examinations of social anxiety, shyness, and embarrassment with the research on social anxiety disorder subtypes, biological theories and cognitive-behavioral or pharmacological treatment outcome studies.Clinicians, social and developmental psychologists and behavioral geneticists have all conducted research over the past ten years which is essential to furthering our understanding and treatment of social anxiety disorders. This book weaves together research findings gathered by renowned minds across these various disciplines, and deals with both theory and research. It explores what constitutes social anxiety, assesses the condition and its relationship to other psychological disorders, exploring the biological basis and treatment approaches as well. Coverage includes key issues not discussed fully by other books, including related disorders in adults and children, relationship to social competence and assertiveness, perfectionism, social skills deficit hypothesis, comparison between pharmacological and psychosocial treatments, and potential mediators of change in the treatment of social anxiety disorder.From the Author: Although social anxiety disorder (social phobia) is widely researched topic in psychiatry, other disciplines, such as social and developmental psychology, have independently been studying the same phenomena for many years. Yet, there has been very little cross-discipline communication and integration. The main objective of the book is to integrate the findings on social anxiety from various disciplines, including clinical psychology, psychiatry, social psychology, neuroscience, and developmental psychology. The most comprehensive source of up-to-date data, with review articles covering a thorough delineation of social anxiety, theoretical perspectives, and treatment approaches Consolidates broadly distributed literature into single source Each chapter is written by an expert in the topic area, providing more fully vetted expert knowledge than any existing work Integrates findings from various disciplines — clinical, social and developmental psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience — rather than focusing on only one conceptual perspective Provides a complete understanding of a complex phenomenon, giving researchers and clinicians alike a better set of tools for furthering what we know

For most of us, blushing when were embarrassed or anxious is a common occurrence. But for those who suffer from a stronger type of blushing, or blush more easily, also known as pathological blushing, this abnormal facial reddening can become physically and psychologically tormenting. In When Blushing Hurts, author and noted psychiatrist Dr. Enrique Jadresic offers hope for those who experience this condition. He examines blushing from the dual perspective of the healer and the healed, offering inspired testimonies of patients who sought medical help and successfully overcame their pathological blushing. Backed by scientific fact, Jadresic explores the delicate balance of human emotion and how it affects our physical responses. In addition, Jadresic discusses options for treatment, including drug therapy, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and even surgery. In this second edition, Jadresic updates the understanding of those who seek medical help for blushing in light of research thats evolved in recent years. He shares new testimonies and offers fresh information on previously published cases. Praise for When Blushing Hurts, First Edition Dr. Jadresics book, which is both meticulous and heartfelt, contributes greatly towards sharing information on and furthering an understanding of a disorder that is medically benign but psychologically tormenting, and orients the physician and the layman on the treatment possibilities offered by medicine today. Alejandro Goic, MD, President, Chilean Medical Academy While reading When Blushing Hurts, I once again admired Dr. Jadresics expository talent, his elegant, poetic pen, his thoughtful honesty, and his clinical ability. Renato D. Alarcn, MD, Mayo Medical School, Rochester, USA

'I just couldn't stop blushing... It was awful!' It's the thing you dread most. You're at a party, giving a presentation, joining a new evening class or even meeting your online date in real life for the first time. You feel the warmth creeping up over their face - you know they've noticed, and now they'll think you're socially inept, or awkward, or nervous. The more embarrassed you feel, the more you blush. But it doesn't need to be this way. Blushing is not something to be feared, and there are ways to break the cycle and regain control of your anxiety. Professor Edelmann offers proven, practical and easy to manage strategies to unlearn feelings of failure, and to not only survive but thrive in any social or professional situation.