Screaming
Encyclopedia
A scream, shout, shriek, hoot, holler, vociferation, yell, outcry, or bellow is a loud vocalization in which air is passed through the vocal folds
Vocal folds
The vocal folds, also known commonly as vocal cords, are composed of twin infoldings of mucous membrane stretched horizontally across the larynx...

 with greater force than is used in regular or close-distance vocalization. Though technically this process can be performed by any creature possessing lungs, the preceding terms are usually applied specifically to human vocalization.

Emotional motivation

Reasons for shouting vary, and it may be done deliberately or simply as a reaction. The core motive, in essentially all situations, is communication. These outbursts convey alarm, surprise, displeasure or outrage, or perhaps to gain the attention of another person or an animal.

Fear and surprise

When frightened, human beings tend to yelp, or cry out. This is both to convey fear and to call attention to themselves, increasing the possibility of receiving assistance from others. This action also serves as a possible defense tactic, as shouting may frighten off an assailant or cause them to falter, allowing a chance to escape.

Also, when people are not expecting something and it comes suddenly, they are surprised. If a person approaches another and jumps on them or shouts in their ear, or possibly shakes or jolts them, the targets of such pranks usually scream in shock or surprise. It might sound like "AAH!"

Happiness

People may yell out when overcome by joy or excitement, such as when winning a game, contest, competition, or a prize.

Danger and pain

Shouting to inform others of danger is an evolutionary process within social animals. Such an action can be considered altruistic, as it announces the danger to others, while at the same time revealing the position of the one announcing the danger.

When people suffer injuries or other painful experiences, such as broken bones or gunshot wounds, they often scream in pain or surprise. These vociferations are often accompanied by crying
Crying
Crying is shedding tears as a response to an emotional state in humans. The act of crying has been defined as "a complex secretomotor phenomenon characterized by the shedding of tears from the lacrimal apparatus, without any irritation of the ocular structures"...

 and sobbing, and when done so, the synonym "wailing" may very well be used to describe this type of vocalization. These cries may be used to deal with the shock of the incident and can be used by others also as a way to avoid such hazards.

Music

Sometimes screaming or louder-than-normal vocals are used in music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...

. This is an increasingly common vocal technique especially utilized in numerous forms of heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

 and hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...

.

Dialogue

Some people, when arguing
Argument
In philosophy and logic, an argument is an attempt to persuade someone of something, or give evidence or reasons for accepting a particular conclusion.Argument may also refer to:-Mathematics and computer science:...

 begin to raise their voices to the point that they are screaming at each other in anger while continuing their debate exchange. Terminology includes "shouting match
Shouting match
A shouting match is an argument or debate characterized by the loud volume or intensity of the participants.-Parliamentary procedures:Large assemblies may easily degenerate into shouting matches as the participants raise their voices in order to be heard...

".

Military

Drill instructors frequently use this tactic and its associated fear and intimidation to train recruits whilst fostering obedience and expedience.

Audio level

The volume levels of scream pitches may be very high, and this has become an issue in the sport of tennis, particularly with regards to Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova
Maria Yuryevna Sharapova ,. is a Russian professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. A US resident since 1994, Sharapova has won 24 WTA singles titles, including three Grand Slam singles titles at the 2004 Wimbledon, 2006 US Open and 2008 Australian Open...

's loud tennis grunts which have been measured as high as 101.2 decibels. The loudest verified scream emitted by a human measured 129 dBA, a record set by teaching assistant Jill Drake in 2000. The loudest scream by a crowd was a scream by a group of Finnish Scout
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....

s and was measured at a level of 127.2 dBA, in the grounds of Toivala's Metsäkoulu, Siilinjärvi, Finland on 16 April 2005.

See also

  • Battle cry
    Battle cry
    A battle cry is a yell or chant taken up in battle, usually by members of the same military unit.Battle cries are not necessarily articulate, although they often aim to invoke patriotic or religious sentiment....

  • Death growl
    Death growl
    A death growl, also known as death metal vocals, guttural vocals, death grunts, and harsh vocals among other names, is a vocalisation style usually employed by vocalists of the death metal and black metal music genre, but also used in a variety of heavy metal and hardcore punk subgenres.Death...

  • Rebel yell
    Rebel yell
    The rebel yell was a battle cry used by Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War. Confederate soldiers would use the yell during charges to intimidate the enemy and boost their own morale, although the yell had other uses. The exact sound of the yell is unknown and the subject of much...

  • Wilhelm scream
    Wilhelm scream
    The Wilhelm scream is a film and television stock sound effect first used in 1951 for the film Distant Drums. The effect gained new popularity after it was used in Star Wars and many other blockbuster films as well as television programs and video games...

    , film's most familiar scream, and has been used in many movies since 1951.
  • Howie scream
    Howie scream
    The Howie scream is a frequently-used film and television stock sound effect for a scream...

    , another often used stock scream.
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