Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 25, 2025
A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats
Published on: February 22, 2018
Modulating disgust in mental contamination: Experimental evidence for the role of disgust
Zhi Hui Fong1, Oliver Sündermann1
1Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Background And Objectives:
Disgust has been associated with mental contamination (MC), although the evidence has hitherto been nonexperimental. Furthermore, strategies that can target both disgust and MC have not been well explored. We investigated the role of disgust in MC by inducing disgust via olfaction within the "dirty kiss" paradigm and conversely, to see if pairing pleasant olfactory stimulus during re-exposure, based on counterconditioning, can reduce MC. We also examined whether disgust constructs (propensity and sensitivity) and trait MC are associated with state MC arising from the "dirty kiss".
Methods:
MC was first evoked using the "dirty kiss" paradigm, in which participants (N = 90) visualized receiving a non-consensual kiss from a physically dirty man (time 1). After a break, participants repeated the "dirty kiss" task in a room that was scented to smell either disgusting, pleasant or neutral (time 2). Participants completed measures of disgust and trait MC after the experiment.
Results:
Participants in the disgust condition reported increased feelings of dirtiness at time 2. Disgust propensity predicted feelings of dirtiness at time 1. Disgust sensitivity and trait MC were not associated with state MC indices.
Limitations:
The use of a non-clinical female sample, extraneous factors during the break and contextual factors arising from room change at time 2 are some potential limitations.
Conclusions:
Induced disgust within a MC paradigm resulted in increased feelings of dirtiness, suggestive of disgust-based emotional reasoning. Pairing pleasant olfactory stimulus was not effective at attenuating MC or disgust.
Insights
Induced disgust heightened feelings of dirtiness in a mental contamination (MC) paradigm, but counterconditioning with pleasant scents did not reduce MC. Disgust propensity, not sensitivity, predicted initial dirtiness feelings.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Emotional Reasoning
- Sensory Perception
Background:
- Disgust is linked to mental contamination (MC), but experimental evidence and targeted interventions are limited.
- Investigating the role of disgust in MC and exploring counterconditioning strategies are crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate the role of disgust in MC using the "dirty kiss" paradigm.
- To assess if counterconditioning with pleasant olfactory stimuli can reduce MC.
- To examine the association between disgust constructs and trait MC with state MC.
Main Methods:
- Ninety participants visualized a "dirty kiss" scenario, with disgust, pleasant, or neutral scents introduced during a second "dirty kiss" visualization.
- Measures of disgust and trait MC were administered post-experiment.
- Disgust propensity, sensitivity, and trait MC were assessed in relation to state MC.
Main Results:
- Participants in the disgust condition reported significantly increased feelings of dirtiness.
- Disgust propensity was a predictor of initial feelings of dirtiness.
- Disgust sensitivity and trait MC did not correlate with state MC indices.
Conclusions:
- Induced disgust within an MC paradigm increases feelings of dirtiness, supporting disgust-based emotional reasoning.
- Counterconditioning with pleasant olfactory stimuli was ineffective in reducing MC or disgust.
More Related Videos
09:14Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: March 14, 2025
10:51Real-time fMRI Biofeedback Targeting the Orbitofrontal Cortex for Contamination Anxiety
Published on: January 20, 2012
