Goosebumps are a normal body reaction. It happens when the hair on your arms, torso, and legs rises while bumps are pulled up on the skin. While the scientific term for this reaction is piloerection, most people call it goosebumps. Amongst our ancestors, goosebumps played a pivotal role, as we’ll explain later on. Interestingly, goosebumps serve no purpose in modern times. With that in mind, why do they still occur? Find out here.
Are Goosebumps Related to Geese?
Goosebumps do not have anything to do with geese or poultry of any kind. The birds don’t even get goosebumps in the first place. This body reaction was given this name because it resembles how a bird’s skin looks after its feathers have been plucked.
What Causes Goosebumps in Humans?
In humans, goosebumps may appear due to several factors, including:
Fear
The first and most common cause of goosebumps in humans is fear. According to the University of Cincinnati, whenever humans find themselves in a scary situation, such as an accident or walking along a dark alley, one of the fight-or-flight responses is getting goosebumps. They even occur when watching horror movies.
Interestingly, goosebumps do not offer any benefits in times of fear. In the past, ancestors such as the Homo erectus (according to Darwin’s theory of evolution) had long hair. Goosebumps occurred due to fear, making them appear larger and more threatening to predators. The modern human has very little body hair, so when goosebumps occur, nothing puffs up. Instead, only tiny bumps form on the skin, which, as you would expect, have no impact on predators.
Cold
The other reason why we get goosebumps is if the weather is cold. Still on our predecessors, they didn’t wear clothes, and their bodies were covered with fur or thick hair. As the weather became chilly, goosebumps would occur to create a puffy layer to keep the body warm. The longer the goosebumps stayed on, the more “messages were sent to the stem cells to generate more hair to generate more body heat.
Sexual Arousal
Sexual arousal can also cause goosebumps in humans; scientists call this “skin orgasm.” In the past, raised hair was one of the ways the Homo Habilis would attract potential partners. However, this trait is no longer applicable because people are less hairy these days. It only happens in instances where modern humans have a strong sexual chemistry; goosebumps may occur when they meet.
Strong Emotions
In other instances, strong emotions may cause goosebumps. This includes happiness, love, excitement, sadness, grief, anger, and any other strong emotion human beings might experience. A good example is watching the fans of a sports game. Before and after a player scores, it’s normal for them to get goosebumps because of the anxiety and excitement.
The same applies to a person attending a job interview or visiting a tourist destination for the first time. Goosebumps are reflexes that are also commonly caused by other unique emotions, such as listening to music, watching a movie, or playing ASMR audio. These are emotions some refer to as frisson.
Daily Physical Activities
Besides emotions, physical activities can also cause goosebumps. From intense activities, such as working out, to simpler ones, such as a bowel movement, can lead to goosebumps on the skin. The most fascinating fact about this reaction is that it can sometimes occur for no reason.
Are Goosebumps Always “Natural?”
Some causes of goosebumps are not “natural”. They stem from a particular condition and act as a symptom. For instance, people suffering from Keratosis Pilaris may notice that they always have goosebumps on some parts of their body, such as the upper arms, thighs, legs, and sometimes the behind.
In this condition, keratin deposits in the skin prevent hair follicles from passing through. As a result, the skin on the surface looks bumpy and raised. Fortunately, Keratosis Pilaris is not a severe health condition and is treatable.
Folks who suffer from generalized anxiety disorders may find themselves getting more goosebumps than usual. Remember when we said goosebumps are part of our body’s fight or flight response? When going through a panic attack or severe stress, goosebumps might occur in some body parts.
To treat anxiety-induced goosebumps, one must first manage the root problem through treatment options such as meditation, CBT, and anxiety medications.
Physicians have also observed that people going through withdrawal may experience goosebumps from time to time. Withdrawal is just like anxiety. It causes significant stress on the body, and one of the responses given may include the development of goosebumps.
Seizures can also cause goosebumps, mainly in the lead-up to a seizure. Goosebumps affect seizures that happen in the left temporal lobe of the brain. On the other hand, the formation of goosebumps can be used as a warning sign for an upcoming seizure.
The Role of Goosebumps in Animals
In humans, goosebumps don’t serve a clear purpose. This is why it’s recognized as a vestigial feature in the human body – evolution has rendered goosebumps irrelevant. However, it still plays a vital role in animals. When animals feel cold or are threatened by prey, goosebumps fluff up their fur or feathers and protect them from external forces. Goosebumps remain a crucial reminder of the connection between humans and animals.