Specificity of Disgust in the Prediction of Behavioral Avoidance of Possible Contaminants

Ways in which healthcare interior environments are associated with perceived safety against infectious diseases and coping behaviours

“…perceived vulnerability) on the association. These results are in accordance with previous research regarding contamination-related anxiety and avoidance [27], as well as the role of individual differences [26,39]. Avoidance was strongly associated with perceived contamination as well as health anxiety, particularly estimated likelihood of having an illness [27].…”

“…Different studies showed a similar result that individual differences (i.e. disgust propensity) were significantly correlated with avoidance of possible contaminants [26]. However, those studies focused on disgust sensitivity and propensity, whereas this study focused on perceived vulnerability and infectious diseases.…”

“…feet, elbows, back) to open doors, and frequently disinfecting their hands or environmental surfaces [23]. Previous, but very limited, studies have investigated how personal belief [24,25], disgust propensity [26] and health anxiety [27] are related to avoidance tasks.…”

Disease-related disgust promotes antibody release in human saliva

“…This would rather support the theory that the BIS and PIS compensate for each other (as also suggested by Fleischman and Fessler, 2011 ; Gassen et al, 2018 ). We therefore assume that people with a weaker PIS response, as reflected by a reduced ΔS-IgA after stimulation, might compensate this whenever confronted with a sick person by perceiving the situation as generally more disgusting, which also triggers increased avoidance, hence lowering contagion risk ( Campbell et al, 2020 ; Dorfan and Woody, 2011 ). It is important to note that the findings of Stevenson et al (2015) were based on a different disgust inventory than the one we used.…”

“…Disgust may have evolved as a response to objects that represent a potential threat of (infectious) diseases ( Curtis et al, 2004 ; Tybur et al, 2009 ). The emotion of disgust also correlates with avoidance behavior ( Campbell et al, 2020 ; Dorfan and Woody, 2011 ). Two studies from the group of Stevenson found an increase in various immune parameters after presentation of disgust evoking stimuli, such as pictures of rotten food, animals and wounds.…”