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Why do we experience awkwardness?
Brains that react with embarrassment to awkwardness situations increases trust and social cohesion.
Feeling awkward activates the same regions in the brain as physical pain.
Responses to awkward, uncomfortable situations are similar to Fight or Flight reactions.
Fight or Flight reactions:
- Breathing and heart rate
- Breathing and heart rate increases during prolonged periods of awkwardness.
- Digestion
- indigestion shuts down to allow extra blood and energy to reach muscles, causing
butterflies in the pit of the stomach
- indigestion shuts down to allow extra blood and energy to reach muscles, causing
- Cold hands and feet
- Blood leaves extremities to prioritize vital organs for an attack, hands may start to feel
cold
- Blood leaves extremities to prioritize vital organs for an attack, hands may start to feel
Embarrassment can be a major factor in how we interact throughout life.
Table Topic Questions
The if-onlys:
If only I hadn’t done that, said that. If only, if only, if only…
How do you stop your brain from replaying the if-onlys?
You enter a board meeting room filled with red ties and black suits, sit down…take out all of your stuff, realize you’re in the wrong meeting and your boss walks into the room.
How do You Exit with dignity?
Your friend says I’m going to a funeral
You, paying half-attention respond: “Have fun”
What/s your escape plan?
Falls Flat
On your way to the stage to give a speech at a Toastmaster competition you miss a stair step and fall flat on your face.
How do you recover?
Caught in a Bluff
During an interview for a great job, you realize you exaggerated a bit too much on skills, knowledge and experience resume
What’s the plan, confess, back away or keep on bluffing?
Exit, Stage Wrong
You’ve completely aced the interview and successfully closed the million dollar deal.
You thank everyone, shake hands… then exit into a broom closet.
How do you recover
You are the Expert
You realize you don’t know, or have completely forgotten something you are expected to know precisely at this moment.
How do you downplay the predicament while trying to remember the info?
Food Disasters
You are at a work social and seated directly across from the big boss.
You take a sip of something, miss your mouth, and spill it all over your shirt.
What’s your recovery plan?
What is your ‘I can never go ( there ) ever again’ story?
For anyone who has managed to completely BLOW IT during the very last moments of an otherwise successful first date, job interview, spousal spat, PTA conference or just a meeting at work.
The unwavering conviction of this man! The stubborn determination he possesses in his refusal to admit his mistake in front of a prospective employer is absolutely compelling.
Fantastic skit.
These videos are utter perfection
https://www.lifehack.org/592992/a-detailed-breakdown-of-the-6-types-of-facepalmed-moments-we-all-have-experienced
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwdYUIQzu-o
https://www.icadenza.com/feeling-awkward/
