# Sign of shock

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sign-of-shock/110419>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 23, 2002, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sign-of-shock/110419 "2002-05-23T01:39:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![insider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@insider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/insider)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2002, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sign-of-shock/110419/1 "2002-05-23T01:39:25Z")

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Why do women cover their mouths when they express schock or surprise? Is this instinctual and gender related? What purpose does it serve? Do most cultures have this sign of shock or surprise?

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**Author:** ![johncole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f9b8f/32.png) [@johncole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johncole)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sign-of-shock/110419/2 "2002-05-24T01:45:55Z")

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In his book **Manwatching** , the zoologist **Desmond Morris** suggested a number of reasons why people cover or touch their own mouths.

One of these suggestions may be pertinent to your question.

> [@](#):
>
> \*\*Auto-Contact \*\*
> 
> Three forms of Auto-Contact that provide comfort during moments of tension.
> 
> The hand pressed to the mouth recalls moments of security as an infant at the mother’s breast, …

Morris does not indicate any gender or cultural bias in the use of this gesture.

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**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sign-of-shock/110419/3 "2002-05-24T02:27:07Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by johncole \*  
> In his book **Manwatching** , the zoologist **Desmond Morris** suggested a number of reasons why people cover or touch their own mouths.
> 
> One of these suggestions may be pertinent to your question.
> 
> > [@](#):
> >
> > Auto-Contact
> > 
> > Three forms of Auto-Contact that provide comfort during moments of tension.
> > 
> > The hand pressed to the mouth recalls moments of security as an infant at the mother’s breast, …
> 
> Morris does not indicate any gender or cultural bias in the use of this gesture.

In moments of surprise or stress, I never press my hand to my mouth. But I do flail wildly to grab my flask of Jack Daniels.

I guess it comes down to being a bottle baby.

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**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sign-of-shock/110419/4 "2002-05-24T05:30:24Z")

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What if you’re like 90% of baby boomers, and was never breast-fed as an infant?

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**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sign-of-shock/110419/5 "2002-05-24T09:10:39Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Walloon \*  
> **What if you’re like 90% of baby boomers . . . ?**

You mean, a self-absorbed twit? (Insert smiley of your choice here.)