Why Do People Sometimes Speak in Rhymes When Nervous?

Sometimes when people are nervous, they start talking in rhymes. It’s like their brain is trying to calm them down by making things sound easier and more fun. Imagine you're on stage and your heart is pounding, maybe your brain starts rhyming just so the words feel less scary and more familiar.

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Examples

A boy starts reciting rhymes about dragons when he's asked to speak in front of his class.
A girl sings the alphabet while trying to answer a question on TV.
A man says, 'I'm going to be brave, I'm going to fly!' as he walks into a meeting.

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Categories: Psychology · nervousness,language,rhymes,psychological mechanisms