system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: why do people put their hand in front of their mouth when something horrible happens?
gpt
There are a couple theories. 

1) it's a polite habit. Shock or horror makes your mouth drop open and we are (almost) all conditioned to cover our open mouths. 


2) it's protective; our mouths are pretty vulnerable and we cover them bc in that moment we can't keep them closed. 

3) it's protective; we are trying to hide our expression from others and we can't school our expression so we physically cover them. Also to smother gasps or shouts that expose us. 

4) we are subconsciously trying to contain emotions or reactions that feel too big - trying to physically hold them in. 

5) a careful combination of some or all of the above.