The cure of self-consciousness / by James Alexander.

  • James Alexander
Date:
1915
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The cure of self-consciousness / by James Alexander. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    to control the flow of the blood through contraction of the capillaries, thus preventing them from distending to their full extent. When the action of the vaso-motor nerves is suspended or interfered with through the power of an emotion, for instance, the capillaries become con- gested, thus causing that appearance of redness at the surface of the skin in the congested area. Blushing usually effects only the head and neck, but it also, in rare cases, extends to the arms, chest, breasts, and lower parts of the body. According to Dr. Hack Tuke, the blush of shame commences at the cheeks and ears, the blush of anger first flushes the eyes, the blush of love flushes the forehead. ‘The self-conscious blush floods the face and neck and gives one a feeling of great heat similar to that experienced when brought suddenly in front of a very hot fire. There is an intimate connexion between blushing and the sexual life, hence the reason why youth at the period when the reproductive functions begin to assert them- selves are so greatly afflicted by blushing. The tendency to blush is much more common in women than jin men, probably due to the greater complexity of their sexual life, and their innate sense of modesty. Darwin regards blushing as hereditary; whether this be so or not it must be concluded that blushing is bound up with a great deal of our emotional nature, for instance (1) Love and the emotions surrounding the sexual life, (2) anger, (3) shame, and its connexion with sexuality, and in its connexion with social life—loss of prestige, disgrace, dishonour, anything in fact that shames us in the eyes of our fellows, (4) the mental states peculiar to the self- consclous person. The self-conscious blush is peculiarly liable to appear in persons who are timid, shy, or bashful; it seems to make them its special prey. Especially is this so when any reference is made to their appearance, style of dress.
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