14 DAY TRIAL // A new research by investigators at the University of California in Berkeley (UCB) demonstrates that people who get red-faced easily after gaffing in public are more trustworthy than their peers. The study also shows that these individuals may be more generous than others.
According to the study team, it could be that embarrassment makes observers unconsciously think of an emotional signature that they can trust. Knowing that a person is capable of recognizing the errors of their ways, and feel ashamed about it, speaks volumes of the type of personality that individual has.
Companies and average citizens looking for cooperative and reliable team members, or business partner, could have a lot to benefit from the new discoveries, the UCB team argues. Another use for the findings could be in dating, where people need to know that they can trust each other above all else.
An interesting connection the team uncovered was that people who are more easily embarrassed tended to display a higher level of monogamy than all others. UCB experts say that the type of embarrassment they are referring to has nothing to do with debilitating social anxiety or with excessive shame.
“Embarrassment is one emotional signature of a person to whom you can entrust valuable resources. It’s part of the social glue that fosters trust and cooperation in everyday life,” explains Robb Willer.
The expert – who holds an appointment as a UCB social psychologist – is also the coauthor of a new study detailing the findings. The paper is published in the September online issue of the esteemed Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
“Moderate levels of embarrassment are signs of virtue. Our data suggests embarrassment is a good thing, not something you should fight,” UCB PhD student in psychology Matthew Feinber says. He was also the lead author of the paper.
UCB psychologist Dacher Keltner, who is a leading expert on pro-social emotions, was also a coauthor of the research paper. The team says that gazing downwards, covering one's face partially with a hand, or grimacing and smirking are the clearest signs that someone is embarrassed.
In a series of experiments the researchers set up, it was observed that people who easily got embarrassed tended to be the most pro-social of the test group. According to Feinberg, “you want to affiliate with them more, you feel comfortable trusting them.”