Can Blushing Be a Good Thing

Not only is it an emotion-coaching no-no to tell kids how to feel—or that they shouldn’t feel something they are already feeling—but it turns out that embarrassment is a good thing. Research shows that people who blush are judged more favorably than those who don’t in the face of a mistake.

Is making someone blush a good thing?

Blushing can be to your advantage because it is a distinct signal of sincere regret; it signals to others that you acknowledge your shame, mishap, or social wrongdoing, and in doing so, it promotes trust and positive judgments by observers.

Why is blushing important?

The authors claim that, much like crying (another peculiarly human expression of social emotion that is difficult to control), blushing serves to signal the actor’s genuine regret or remorse over a wrongdoing.