Have you ever felt extremely annoyed sitting next to someone who has a habit of shaking their legs? Or when someone keeps tapping their fingers on the table incessantly?
That same uncomfortable and restless feeling can occur when you see someone unable to sit still, pacing back and forth in front of you, whether at home, in a hospital hallway, or at a bus station.
And here’s the most interesting part: the annoying effect of these actions is even stronger when performed by someone close to you.
For example, a wife might feel irritated if her husband shakes his leg. A husband might feel irritated if his wife keeps walking back and forth in front of him. Both parents can become frustrated if their child taps chopsticks against a bowl or plate.
Does this look annoying to you?
All these symptoms are described in the typical profile of someone suffering from Misokinesia syndrome, also known as “aversion to movement.” Psychologists indicate that Misokinesia is quite common among the general population, yet few people are aware of it.
Many individuals with Misokinesia experience symptoms ranging from mild to severe but are unaware of their condition. So what exactly is aversion to movement? Is it dangerous, or does it affect the quality of life for those who suffer from it? Let’s find out:
What is Misokinesia Syndrome?
This term has Greek roots, combining “miso”, meaning “hate” or “aversion,” and “kinesia,” which means “movement.”
Thus, “misokinesia” means “aversion to movement.” It is a condition in which a person feels irritated, uncomfortable, or extremely restless when observing repetitive small movements of others.
Common movements that trigger Misokinesia include: shaking legs, tapping fingers, chewing, hand movements, and more.
Misokinesia can be used by goalkeepers to psychologically impact penalty shooters.
It can also involve movements of the whole body, such as when someone is pacing in a room or dancing in front of you playfully. This annoying effect is sometimes utilized by goalkeepers to psychologically impact penalty shooters.
Most commonly, these behaviors can be observed in dance battles in Hip Hop, where body language is maximized to defeat opponents.
Why Does Misokinesia Cause Discomfort?
Ask dancers who have participated in “battle dance,” and you’ll understand just how annoying the sensation of Misokinesia can be.
During a competition, when one dancer performs, they often engage in provocative movements toward the other dancer who must remain still behind the line.
The provoked dancer typically feels an urge to move, experiencing restlessness and discomfort, often finding themselves dancing along with the music instead of standing still. Scientists refer to this effect as the Mirror Neuron System reflex.
Misokinesia is often observed in dance battles.
The Mirror Neuron System consists of a group of neurons in the brain that activate simultaneously when we perform an action and when we see others performing that same action.
This system has evolved to allow humans to express empathy toward others. For example, when you see someone in pain, you instinctively wince as if feeling their pain. When you see someone crying, you might feel the urge to cry as well to share in their sadness.
However, as a side effect in Misokinesia syndrome, our mirror neuron system is also activated when we observe others displaying restless or anxious behaviors such as shaking legs, tapping on tables, or pacing.
We instinctively feel the urge to “copy” those behaviors. This spreads the tension and restlessness from those exhibiting these behaviors to you.
When you see someone in a state of stress…
…the mirror neuron system activates…
…leading to the spread of tension.
You will feel extremely uncomfortable trying to resist that restlessness and the urge to replicate the behaviors causing it, even when you have no desire or need to feel stressed.
This is what makes Misokinesia an incredibly unpleasant experience.
Is Misokinesia Dangerous?
Although it is a relatively common syndrome, Misokinesia and its psychological effects remain under the radar of scientists, who often focus more on studying a “sibling” syndrome of Misokinesia.
Known as Misophonia or “aversion to sound,” individuals with this syndrome exhibit strong emotional reactions, ranging from anger and discomfort to panic, when they hear certain repetitive sounds such as chewing, tapping pens, drilling, breathing, or footsteps…
Numerous studies indicate that Misophonia has serious effects on the mental health of those afflicted. This syndrome increases feelings of anxiety and stress, potentially causing individuals to panic or react uncontrollably when exposed to trigger sounds.
Clearly, this is annoying…
…but is Misokinesia dangerous?
Misophonia can profoundly affect the quality of life for those affected. The continuous discomfort from facing trigger sounds can diminish concentration, cause stress in work and study, leading to decreased performance and feelings of helplessness and frustration.
Furthermore, Misophonia can impact personal relationships. When someone reacts strongly to sounds that others consider harmless, this can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts in relationships. Individuals with Misophonia may feel misunderstood or isolated, while those around them may feel attacked or uncomfortable due to their reactions.
However, no studies have been conducted on the psychological effects of Misokinesia syndrome, or aversion to movement. Nonetheless, some researchers suggest it may cause psychological effects similar to those of Misophonia, its “sibling” syndrome.
Misokinesia Can Spark Unnecessary Conflicts, Both at Home and in Society
A 2021 study published in the journal Scientific Reports, dubbed the “first in-depth scientific exploration of Misokinesia syndrome,” indicated that this syndrome currently affects about one-third of the population.
“We found that one in three people self-reported experiencing some level of sensitivity to misokinesia, feeling uncomfortable with others’ repetitive, restless behaviors in daily life,” said Professor Todd Handy, the study’s author and a psychologist from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada.
Some individuals showing mild Misokinesia report being less sensitive to restless stimuli, while others feel significantly affected by it.
“They experience negative emotional impacts and undergo reactions such as anger, anxiety, or frustration, as well as decreased interest in social, work, and learning environments,” Professor Handy stated.
Don’t walk in front of your wife; it might trigger Misokinesia and make her irritable.
Professor Handy himself has a wife who suffers from Misokinesia, which gives him a deep understanding of its impact on relationship quality. If couples affected by Misokinesia are not aware of their condition, it can lead to unnecessary conflicts and affect their marital life.
For instance, a wife may feel extremely irritated and uncomfortable when her husband shakes his legs or taps his hands on the table. She may perceive these actions as provocative and demand that he stop immediately. If the husband does not understand that his wife has Misokinesia, he might regard leg shaking as a harmless behavior and think that his wife is simply getting angry for no reason.
Surveys indicate that the closer the family member, the more severe the impact of Misokinesia. Individuals suffering from Misokinesia often report that when their condition first develops, they are only triggered by a few people.
This is often related to their immediate family members, such as parents or siblings, and then extends to their spouse living with them. However, over time, the triggers for Misokinesia can “spread” to others, eventually including anyone who engages in actions that provoke it.
Because Misokinesia can cause social conflict, individuals with a severe aversion to these movements may choose to socially isolate themselves, similar to the “brother” syndrome of Misophonia.
They might try to avoid situations like shared meals or gatherings to steer clear of witnessing the triggering behaviors. This isolation can increase the risk of developing other psychological issues, such as depression or anxiety disorders.
In a 2021 study, scientists noted that individuals with Misokinesia participated less in social activities compared to those unaffected by the syndrome.
“The results from our study support the conclusion that sensitivity to Misokinesia is not a phenomenon limited to a clinical population; it is a fundamental social challenge that many people in the general community also face but has yet to be fully recognized,” said Professor Handy.
An image testing for Misokinesia…
…do you feel uncomfortable?
Therefore, we will need more research in the future to delve deeper into the causes, consequences, and even treatments for this syndrome.
Until then, if you still feel uncomfortable with someone shaking their legs, snapping their fingers, or pacing in front of you, you can save this article to explain to them what Misokinesia is.
Then, you can ask these individuals to stop the behaviors that cause you discomfort. If they also have a mirror neuron system to show empathy towards you, they will know how to behave appropriately.
