Are You Ticklish?
By Veronica MacDonald Ditko
An Accidental Anthropologist
Maybe it’s between your toes or the backside of your knee. Or for most, it’s the underarm. I swear I have hairs on my neck that allow me to detect fingers a foot away. There are so many areas on our bodies that are ridiculously ticklish (or maybe that’s me!).
Some scientists believe ticklishness is an extension of pain. It causes the same knee jerk reaction and shielding from the impact, yet, being tickled doesn’t result in discomfort. No, it’s laughter – uncontrollable laughter and extremely funny anxiousness. I can just see my kids running away from me now when I bring out my “Silly Monster” tickling claws.
Let’s just imagine that being ticklish evolved in humans on purpose; that there was a reason for it. Why would certain areas of the body cause such a drastic reaction? Are these areas protecting really important organs like the heart? Or if they were injured somehow, would it be a huge detriment to life in the wild, like on the feet or at joints? Is that why these areas are so sensitive?
Or, and I’m trying to keep this PG, it is an evolutionary development of pleasure? Humans are some of the only creatures on earth that find real enjoyment out of procreation (besides bonobo moneys, if you must know, you sicko). Is tickling an extension of that?
I did notice that my newborns did not have this ticklish sensitivity. Again I have to ask why. Babies are these little beings that are constantly absorbing sensory information. Maybe one more thing doesn’t really elicit a reaction. Or maybe they are not coordinated enough to react. Perhaps babies are meant to just be swaddled and not exposed, so there is no worry of getting injured.
What is surprising about ticklishness is that nearly all of us experience it. It doesn’t matter if you are the President of the United States or a store clerk or a Rabbi. If you dig right under that underarm, you are going to get a reaction. It’s pretty humbling. And either funny or angering depending on the situation!
When did you notice ticklishness began with your or in your family? Share your stories with us!
Veronica MacDonald Ditko is originally from the Jersey Shore, but married and settled in northern New Jersey. Her journalism career started a decade ago after studying Psychology and Anthropology in Massachusetts. She has written for several newspapers and magazines including The Daily Hampshire Gazette, The Springfield Union News and Sunday Republican, Happi, Chemical Week, The Hawthorne Press, The Jewish Standard, Suite101.com and more.