Body language experts - why do we cover our mouth/lower half of face when shocked ?

[peridito]

I was struck by the almost universal response at the Danish/Finnish football match involving this .

I wonder why we do it ?

Stop flies getting in??

To hide our reaction probably do unsee thibgs

Funny I wondered that myself on Saturday. When it happened I made the geature then noticed that it was happening all around the stadium. Thought it was strange that everyone pretty much did it.thank god the outcome seems to be positive at this stage.

Interesting, watching

Good question!

because otherwise open mouth/showing teeth = aggression?

in a 'shock surprise' situation covering your face so as to give as little info away about your emotional state might give you an advantage over an adversary/predator?

This sounds interesting: www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/why-do-we-cover-our-mouths-when-startled-or-shocked/

Interesting article here on why!

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/why-do-we-cover-our-mouths-when-shocked/amp/

Lol, x-posted!!

I assumed it was just because parents tell us not to sit there with our mouths open! at least, mine did all the time. While eating - clearly, if just sitting there gawping I'd be told of for looking gormless, if while breathing, god forbid a mouth-breather! I can't think of any occasion where its OK to have your mouth wide open. So I just assumed it was because of that.
But given how many people do cover their mouths when shocked, (and how many people still are mouth breathers or chew with their mouth open) I think the idea that we naturally want to hide the emotion is more likely.
V interesting question OP!

I always felt like it’s a way of stopping any inappropriate sentiments coming out.
I know when it’s happened to me it’s because I haven’t known what to say without sounding trite.

I smile when shocked which is really awkward, so my hand covers it up!

To stop the swears getting out? Actually I vaguely remember reading about facial expressions (among other things) in various societies donkeys years ago. Can’t remember much though.

I think because a gaping mouth is usually not what we want to display, but we're can't override the instinct to drop our jaw when we're stunned.

That's so interesting, you'd think it would be to stop yourself blurting something out.

I often wonder why (usually at football matches) that people put their hands on the back of their head/neck when there's a near miss. Same kind of thing?

hands to the back of the neck, i imagine they wanted to put their hands in the air, but had to stop themselves?

I thought touching your face, mouth, head was a sort of self soothing thing that people do in stressful, shocking or upsetting circumstances.

I thought you covered your mouth and widened your eyes so that you can see more take more information in about the shocking thing your seeing/hearing like it concentrates the senses? Also maybe its a primitive signal to others to not speak so everyone can process what happened.

So we don't look gormless with our gobs open

Although maybe it's down to stopping yourself making a noise when shocked and alerting predators to your presence? Like you're shocked to spot a bear to your right and quickly clamp your hand on your face so you don't gasp and get spotted.

Mmm ,yes Coriander .I think it's to do with keeping yourself still and quiet ,that's the feeling when you're very shocked isn't it ?

Stopped dead in your tracks .