It is the emotional response caused by disgust towards something or an unpleasant impression caused by something. Disgust is a basic and adaptive emotion, as it helps us ensure our survival. When the feeling of disgust is very strong, the tongue sticks out between the lips. For Paul Rozin, professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, United States, this emotion not only protects us from spoiled or poisonous food, but also keeps us away from other dangers.
- It is a complex emotion that involves a response of rejection of an object, a psychological event or repugnant moral values.
- It is one of the emotional reactions in which the physiological sensations are most evident.
- Most disgust reactions are generated by interoceptive conditioning.
- It is related to behavioral disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia.
1. The triggers are unpleasant stimuli, mainly chemical ones, potentially dangerous or annoying ones, such as spoiled food, body odors… A whole sensory range of aversively conditioned stimuli also produces disgust reactions, while unconditioned stimuli tend to be olfactory or gustatory.
2. The cognitive processing It occurs when triggers are low in familiarity and with a low level of predictability. The event is considered very unpleasant. And the entire process is considered important for the well-being of the body.
The probability of the consequences was already expected before the event occurred.
Regarding coping, there is a medium degree of urgency to face the event and its consequences.
Regarding the assessment of the possibility of facing the conditions that have produced the disgust, it is estimated that it is not possible to adapt to its consequences, and the rejection of the triggering object or situation is sought.
3. Effects
– Subjective effects.
Need to avoid or move away from the triggering stimulus. If the stimulus is odorous or gustatory, unpleasant gastrointestinal sensations appear, such as nausea.
– Physiological effects.
ANS: a very moderate elevation in heart rate, skin conductance level, and certain reductions in blood volume and peripheral temperature.
There are also effects on the somatic system, such as elevations in general muscle tension, elevation in respiratory rate, and increased gastrointestinal reactivity.
– Coping
It is the rejection of an object or situation that triggers the emotion. For this, the generation of escape or avoidance responses occurs.
The stimuli are usually related to ingestion, so that the fundamental quality is olfactory or odorous, although conditioned stimuli can be associated with any other perceptual modality (visual scenes, sounds…); or it can also occur when faced with any other type of stimulation that does not have to be related to gastrointestinal problems, such as disgust reactions to nutritious and healthy foods.
Disgust has a functional purpose, to promote healthy, hygienic and adaptive habits.