Why You Get Goosebumps

You Should Know: Now that chilly autumn days are here and Spooky Season in full swing, it’s prime time for goosebumps. We’ve all had them, but why do we get them for so many different reasons — cold, scared, turned on, or emotionally moved? And do they actually serve a purpose? 

Going Deeper: If you’ve ever felt like your hair is standing on end while watching a scary movie, that’s exactly what’s happening with goosebumps (a.k.a. piloerection). Nerve cells signal the arrector pili muscle cells in the skin to contract, pulling on hair follicles and making them stand upright in a bump.   

Takeaway: Goosebumps are part of the “fight or flight” response of the sympathetic nervous system. When our bodies sense a strong feeling, temperature drop, or impending danger, getting goosebumps is one protective reaction we experience.

Bottom Line: Goosebumps are likely a relic of evolution without much of a role now, though they do trap heat under the raised follicles to regulate temperature. When goosebumps happen to animals, their fur puffs up to make them look bigger and more threatening to enemies. Humans don’t have as much body hair anymore, so the result is far less intimidating.