Why do people scream?

[SimonSays]

Have you never heard of the Wilhelm scream?

Sort of, now you mention it.
In normal life I think more women scream than men. That's been my experience.

 

[SusanLR]

I agree that it is a built in mechanism from the start of humans.

It brings attention and is taken as someone in danger.
Something that scares us can bring on a sudden, natural scream.
Like a phobia of snakes, spiders, rats, or natural elements that could pose a danger such as
lightening, fire, tornados and such.
Being physically attacked. It's a spontaneous cry for help.

I've often listened to children playing and how they scream for no good reason.
My thoughts on that has always been it is usually the girls. They shriek!
They are practicing their natural attribute without realising it.
Again, going back to the beginning, this was probably built in to get the attention of
a male for help.
Or it could even be considered sexy to the male ear. Making a feeling of dominence.
The ME Tarzan, YOU Jane thing.
Why girls do it when they get together or greet each other is a mystery though.

 

[Crossbreed]

Why girls do it when they get together or greet each other is a mystery though.

Pick-A-Little Talk-A-Little, The Music Man (1962)

 

[SusanLR]

Pick-A-Little Talk-A-Little, The Music Man (1962)

Typical.
Hen house humour.

 

[SimonSays]

Or it could even be considered sexy to the male ear. Making a feeling of dominence.
The ME Tarzan, YOU Jane thing.

It is likely to produce a reaction from a man, but definitely not sexy to the ear

Why girls do it when they get together or greet each other is a mystery though.

Excitement similar to fear in emotional expression

 

[Crossbreed]

Typical.
Hen house humour.

Your post about women's voices tending to be higher-pitched reminded me of that scene.
(My wife likes that scene.)

Our local speech therapist explained female vocal anatomy to us. It was pretty interesting.

(edit: I didn't mean to offend.)

 

[Gift2humanity]

It's a good question. I've never screamed (isn't it more a female thing?). I'm not even sure I could scream vocally. I understand why people DO scream. What's been said here makes sense, especially to frighten away the cause of it in the case of a wild animal that might eat us. But I suspect, as has also been said, it's just a way or releasing powerful unexpected emotion in the moment. Maybe screaming and crying are closely connected?

They say that crying releases toxins, as well as opens the emotional valve. But it is a strange thing to do when emotional - release salty liquid from our eyes. We are strange creatures.

I think that yes, we hear of women screaming more than men, they are physically weaker, however, if a man feels in distress, and he feels in a helpless painful position he may scream. Also if he has lost his mind and is in distress, he and women can scream.
I also agree screaming can be used to frighten off a threat like a dangerous animal.

 

[Joshua the Writer]

Terror, excitement, or to just get the attention of somebody far away.

 

[Joshua the Writer]

I am curious as to your thoughts on why people scream. It seems that most people scream when afraid. Many, when something terrible occurs, stop all action and just scream. For the life of me, I can’t see a benefit to screaming. When something scares me, I usually lock-up, but I never scream. I know that is not very helpful either, but it seems that screaming just adds more distraction to the fearful event. What do you think?

Everybody does something different when their fight or flight response kicks in. Although there should be a 3rd option of freeze, which would be either stop doing anything entirely or faint out of fear.

 

[Joshua the Writer]

Have you never heard of the Wilhelm scream?

 

[Judge]

The one scream that always puzzled me in my childhood were teenage girls in the presence of The Beatles.

Never saw so many people so upset and joyous at the same time.

 

[Joshua the Writer]

The one scream that always puzzled me in my childhood were teenage girls in the presence of The Beatles.

Modern day equivalent is One Direction. They are also a boy band popular with young teen girls. I am pretty sure Beatles are what started Boy Band as a term to begin with, as well.

 

[Judge]

I am pretty sure Beatles are what started Boy Band as a term to begin with, as well.

Not really.

The Beatles had very different origins. The unpolished image they developed on their own while in Germany was very different from the "boy band" image carefully crafted later by Brian Epstein who discovered and changed them into the global sensation they became.

Pete Best says Hamburg got Beatles ready to rock

 

[GrownupGirl]

So screaming is weird, now? Because I can do it like a banshee. In fact, on St. Patrick's day I'd rather put up decorations of banshees than leprechauns. But most people probably won't know what a banshee is.(a female spirit from Irish folklore that screams, wails or "keens" when a family member is about to die)

 

[SchrodingersMeerkat]

So screaming is weird, now? Because I can do it like a banshee. In fact, on St. Patrick's day I'd rather put up decorations of banshees than leprechauns. But most people probably won't know what a banshee is.(a female spirit from Irish folklore that screams, wails or "keens" when a family member is about to die)

 

[SusanLR]

I understand the screaming girls at the sight of the Beatles.
It is one of those sexual related screams.
Then you faint!

The man I rent with now, was a cop on-duty at that arrival event.
He experienced it.
My last boyfriend was there also with his sister and she went nuts, he said.
I wasn't there, but, watched it on TV and was only 6 yrs old.
I didn't scream, but, it was a young awakening to what I thought was the new wave of
men and I really liked what I saw.
(It had to be the hair!)

It was one of those happenings that really can't be explained.
They illicited a mass hysteria in aroused young females.
Almost like a cult type persona that people just follow and adore in a massive group.
Why does this happen with certain people? It always has through history.
Even down to drinking the Koolaid group.
I knew that feeling when I saw the Beatles. Beatlemania.

As far as females having higher pitched voices, it's all in the vocal chords.
Again, why were females created to have the smaller, narrower chords?
To be heard easier when screaming for help probably.
But, there is a certain element of sexuality I think.
I have heard men talk of thinking how sexy the high pitched girls voice is compared to lower
voices. It seems to be feminine, therefore attractive. Part of the overall package.
Just as most women like the deep voice of a male along with the strong man look.

This doesn't apply to all, just the many.