Ever noticed how we sometimes say “ow” the moment we bump into something even if it didn’t really hurt? It’s like a our mouth reacts before our brain even has time to process the situation.
Ive caught myself saying “ow” after just a light tap or even when I drop something unexpectedly. There’s no real pain involved yet the word just slips out!
Is this just a learned habit? Or is there something deeper at play maybe a psychological reflex or some ancient evolutionary survival mechanism?
Comments
There’s people who don’t say a thing even if it hurts badly.
Its to comnunicate to others that we got hit, yes! Its independent of if it hurt or not, when you say ‘Ow’ even tho you werent harmed, youre just signaling to other humans (even instinctively, when youre alone) in your group or general area that you got hit
I say “ope” in those cases
attention
I used to not say “ow” and remember thinking, as a kid, that I should say it more because everyone else does. After that I started saying it more, to the point that I don’t even think about it.
Oooh, I wanna fake slap you so hard!
It’s called “language.” Humans use it for communication purposes.