Everyone encounters embarrassing moments every now and then. Some people more often than others, but no one is an exception to making a mistake or a fool of themselves. Even more, so they relive these experiences in their minds on repeat even if others have moved on from their mistakes.

According to Kristin Weir’s article “Oh No You Didn’t,” in the American Psychological Association, “failure to experience or display much embarrassment to members of another social group may harden prejudices and widen the gap between ‘us’ versus ‘them.’”

It’s understandable that people try to avoid making mistakes so as not to be judged or humiliated. However at the end of the day, whether they realize it or not, it’s not the end of the world if they do encounter an embarrassing moment.

Weir said embarrassment causes people to behave in irrational ways, but, “Understanding more about the emotion itself can help people decide when they should think twice about embarrassment preventing them from engaging in behaviors.”

Something that may help deal with embarrassment is confiding in others or more so letting them in on the little ‘joke,’ which could lighten the mood and help see that others are not going out of their way to point out a mistake and judge immediately on their experience.

“Researchers found that people who tended to express more outward signs of embarrassment while describing their embarrassing moments (such as tripping or passing gas in public) also reported a tendency to be more ‘prosocial’ — that is, kinder and more generous,” Weir said.

Being exposed to a humiliating moment may be daunting to the person experiencing it, but trying to find the positive outcome along with learning from it is the best way for them to move on from it.

At Los Medanos College, both students and faculty have gone through these experiences and shared how they’ve dealt with it and what it taught them.