Why Do Girls Scream Over Small Disturbances?

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The discussion revolves around the phenomenon of girls screaming in various contexts, particularly at concerts. Participants speculate on the reasons behind this behavior, suggesting it may be rooted in sociological or evolutionary factors. One theory posits that girls scream not to attract attention from males but to signal their sexual maturity to other females. The conversation also touches on the idea that screaming may serve as a form of communication or expression of excitement and frustration, with some arguing that it is a learned behavior influenced by social dynamics. Additionally, there are humorous exchanges about gender differences in vocal reactions, with some participants expressing annoyance at the behavior, while others view it as a natural response. Overall, the thread highlights a mix of serious inquiry and lighthearted banter about gender and communication.
  • #31
Pengwuino said:
You're right, look what you made me do cronxeh

Hey have you seen Danger around? I wonder if he is ever coming back :zzz:
 
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  • #32
Too late, Cronxeh. You wrecked it. Besides, I don't mind being ignored. Sometimes, in fact, I prefer it. :-p
 
  • #33
Two quick questions. What age groups are you guys talking about? How many females do you know that behave that way in real life?

P.S. TV does not count as real life.
 
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  • #34
honestrosewater said:
Two quick questions. What age groups are you guys talking about? How many females do you know that behave that way in real life?

P.S. TV does not count as real life.

Very true, but we are discussing girls in Pengwuino's age group, which is like 13-15 right?
 
  • #35
honestrosewater said:
Two quick questions. What age groups are you guys talking about? How many females do you know that behave that way in real life?

P.S. TV does not count as real life.

Every girl I've ever known seems to act this way From back until as far as i can remember up until early/late 20's. They all scream.
 
  • #36
JasonRox said:
Very true, but we are discussing girls in Pengwuino's age group, which is like 13-15 right?

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: ROAR! YOU HAVE INSULTED THE PENGUIN, PREPARE TO FEEL PENGUIN WRATH
 
  • #37
honestrosewater said:
Two quick questions. What age groups are you guys talking about? How many females do you know that behave that way in real life?

P.S. TV does not count as real life.

I was wondering something along the same lines...
In my experience, the only times you see girls screaming en masse are in films/tv, and at concerts where people are screaming regardless of gender.
 
  • #38
Math Is Hard said:
I remember studying about this in anthropology- about the phenomenon of girls screaming at concerts, anyway. Supposedly, they are not screaming to draw the attention of the guys on stage, but are subconsciously signalling to the group as a whole that they are sexually mature females.
Oh, is that why I can't get a date? I don't scream? Actually, I always thought it was just a "California girl" type thing. I've never met anyone who grew up anywhere other than California who screamed like that. I thought perhaps it was a symptom of sun stroke. When someone starts that screaming (screeching), I just want to smack them and tell them to shut up.
 
  • #39
Vocal reaction meant to alert others to what they have noticed. Men do it too just differently... unless they are gay then they seem to tend to do it just the same as women.
 
  • #40
TheStatutoryApe said:
Vocal reaction meant to alert others to what they have noticed.
Moonbear, you should have known that. Wasn't it you who had the thread going about gopher whistles? :biggrin:
 
  • #41
TheStatutoryApe said:
Vocal reaction meant to alert others to what they have noticed. Men do it too just differently
Yeah, they retain cognitive function and say "Hey! Look over there!"
 
  • #42
Danger said:
Moonbear, you should have known that. Wasn't it you who had the thread going about gopher whistles? :biggrin:
Wasn't it Ivan's thread on the silent screams of prairie dogs?
 
  • #43
Mk said:
Yeah, they retain cognitive function and say "Hey! Look over there!"


:smile: :smile: :smile:
 
  • #44
Pengwuino said:
So why do they? It seems like girls will scream over the smallest disturbance and will even scream when they are overjoyed for some reason. What is with these people. Is it genetic? WHY!

Because it's cathartic for them.
 
  • #45
The_Professional said:
Because it's cathartic for them.


Hasn't the theory of therapy by catharsis been discarded? I could've sworn that several studies showed that releasing tension via catharsis results in positive feedback for the behavoir (for example, agression) which increases, rather than decreases its frequency.
 
  • #46
I can't say that I see girls scream very much. If they do, I imagine it's sociological.

Pattylou, do you really believe males consider females inferior? I know you didn't say that directly, but you hint very strongly in that direction...

Besides, guys ignore each other, also. Just because guys don't act like girls is no reason to suspect belittlement.
 
  • #47
Smasherman said:
Besides, guys ignore each other, also. Just because guys don't act like girls is no reason to suspect belittlement.


Careful, you might pull the legs out from under the feminists on that one.

Sorry, I'm feeling belligerent today. Just ignore me PF sisterhood. You know I properly worship you with attendant chocolate rights and all. Please don't hurt me[/size].
 
  • #48
franznietzsche said:
Careful, you might pull the legs out from under the feminists on that one.
Sorry, I'm feeling belligerent today. Just ignore me PF sisterhood. You know I properly worship you with attendant chocolate rights and all. Please don't hurt me[/size].

And I'm feeling confrontational :biggrin: .
 
  • #49
Smasherman said:
And I'm feeling confrontational :biggrin: .
I'm just cranky on account of a certain tiny people named Tiny. Long story.
 
  • #50
franznietzsche said:
I'm just cranky on account of a certain tiny people named Tiny. Long story.

:smile: :smile: :smile: sounds like a great story, but alas, I don't have time.
 
  • #51
Mk said:
TheStatutoryApe said:
Vocal reaction meant to alert others to what they have noticed. Men do it too just differently.
Yeah, they retain cognitive function and say "Hey! Look over there!"
Some times men scream. Somtimes they grunt. I think most often we spit out expletives.
 
  • #52
Mk said:
Yeah, they retain cognitive function and say "Hey! Look over there!"
:smile: :smile: :smile: Thanks, I was having a bad night and needed that. :biggrin:

Anywho, I thought you might have been thinking of those women they put in action or horror movies who just stand around screaming as the men fight or who shriek at every noise or of Friends-like shows, etc. I don't think that would go over very well in real life. But screaming to get attention or express excitement does work in some cases and can be even more effective than using words. :-p
 
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  • #53
cronxeh said:
Ive seen too many of them signal their readiness to the mice :-p
No, that is done through ear-wiggling. :-p Male mice find that irresistable, I hear. ooh la la

Moonie said:
Oh, is that why I can't get a date? I don't scream? Actually, I always thought it was just a "California girl" type thing. I've never met anyone who grew up anywhere other than California who screamed like that. I thought perhaps it was a symptom of sun stroke. When someone starts that screaming (screeching), I just want to smack them and tell them to shut up.

IIRC, from the cultural anthropology standpoint, the concert-screaming phenomenon is not a direct signal from girls to boys, but from girls to other girls. It's a hand-raising reaction to communicate "I am a part of this group because I understand why you are screaming (because you are overcome with sexual arousal), and look! - I am screaming, too (I also feel it)". It's not unlike people laughing out loud at movies, I suppose, not because they are overwhelmed by the humor, but because they want everybody else in the audience to know that they get the joke.

EHI said:
I was thinking something along those lines. It has been said that the oft aggressive, loud, overtly sexual behaviour of groups of alpha-male types (you know the kinds: they start shouting "Oi, darlin, darlin! 'Ow abaht it? You and me! You and me!". If they are cockneys) is to compensate for the homosexual overtones of close male bonding. We shout to demonstrate that we are sexually immature males, despite the fact I just grabbed that guy's crotch.
And that would also fit in with the anthropology hypothesis - since a man is communicating, or reinforcing, his sexual status to the larger group.


Anyway, I have not screamed or even shrieked in a very long time. Suspect drop in estrogen.
 
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  • #54
It must be a socially induced behavior because girls don't seem to scream so much without any other girls around. It's that and giggleing, I've seen some pretty elaborate giggleing performances between women, it goes back and forth a couple of rounds. :smile:
 
  • #55
Well, people don't laugh as much without other people around. Everybody is more susceptible to laughter when in groups. Maybe groups tend to cause more extreme happy feelings?
 
  • #56
Mk said:
Well, people don't laugh as much without other people around. Everybody is more susceptible to laughter when in groups. Maybe groups tend to cause more extreme happy feelings?
Could be. I think we also have to look at why and when we laugh. Reading jokes at home, I might chuckle a little bit. I am only sharing the joke with myself so no need to get demonstrative. The laugh is short-lived. But in a group, laughter becomes infectuous because it's part of a group activity. We laugh harder and longer because we are sharing in an experience. It's a form of communication. The extreme happy feelings are likely to be magnified in a group setting simply because we are social creatures, and the sharing of something with each other brings us happiness in a way that we cannot realize on our own.
 
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  • #57
I just spit.
 
  • #58
Evo said:
I just spit.


And you aren't attracted to psychos?
 
  • #59
Evo said:
Wasn't it Ivan's thread on the silent screams of prairie dogs?
The silent screams of prairie dogs!? I've driven past a prairie dog village every day for past three months and I've never heard one of these silent screams. :rolleyes:
 
  • #60
BobG said:
The silent screams of prairie dogs!? I've driven past a prairie dog village every day for past three months and I've never heard one of these silent screams. :rolleyes:
That would be because, uhm, they're silent. :biggrin:
 

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