Could this be why we roll our eyes?

Question

Studies show when you look up that your brain instantly begins to relax the body. So could this mean that when we roll our eyes that's our natural way of calming ourselves down?

Answer 1

That could be it. I don't agree with these people who say it's just a silent expression, because..I just do it. I was never taught, I just started doing it one day. So there has to be a reason.

Answer 2

that's a really good theory, i think, but it's something you have to experiment with... i mean, is eye-rolling just something we as a society do because we've been conditioned to know that rolling your eyes means 'yeah whatever'? OR, is it something universal, something all types of people do, and have been capable of doing, since birth?

some scientists once did an experiment on facial expressions -- smiling =  happy, scowling = mad. they studied a society they found in some remote island's mountains, people who have **never** been exposed to anything modern... music, tvs, 'outside people'.... anyway, the result of that experiment was that even *those* people knew that a smile meant you were happy. that gives very good evidence for the theory that people are just born knowing which facial expressions mean what kinds of things.

they went on to theorize that people are born with the animal instinct of recognizing expressions so that, for example, they'd know when a predator was angry, or when a mother was happy to see them, etc etc etc. kind of how dogs wag their tails, or cats arch up when they're pissed off.

so based on that experiment, and the fact that eye-rolling is a pretty common expression, i might agree with your theory. :)

Answer 3

Haha No. I do it to p**s my mom off.

Answer 4

That's a REALLY good theory. I don't know why I do it. It's not like I learned it from anyone. I just started doing it. Maybe it's just one of those things that your body tells you to do you know? Just like when you're thirsty, your body asks for water. I never thought of this.  

Answer 5

I never knew that before. OUCH...  it hurts to roll my eyes!

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well it isnt *yhhh* relaxinnn... *zzz*

Answer 6

It's just a silent expression.

Answer 7

No, I actually never rolled my eyes until I saw a tv show or something. I do it when I'm annoyed, nervous, and in awkward situations.

Answer 8

haha no. i do it to p**s my mom off

Answer 9

I don't know I have never done that because it looks really gross