Why Do You Get that Sudden, Cringeworthy Feeling - The Ick?

And the Meaningful Differences Between Men and Women

Over the past few days, "The Ick" has been a recurring theme. First, my three teenage daughters tried to update me on the latest slang (link), assuming I was clueless about "The Ick." Then, I wrapped up the first season of Nobody Wants This, which features an episode titled "The Ick." Finally, a friend broke up with her boyfriend because she couldn’t bear to hear his high-pitched, childlike voice, singing "bye-bye" on the phone - as if speaking to an infant.

We’ve all felt it—that sudden, stomach-dropping realization that the person you were once neutral or attracted to is now utterly, irredeemably cringeworthy. You can’t unsee it. You can’t undo it. The ick has arrived, and it’s here to stay.

As it turns out, there is much to know about this unique form of human suffering…