Prioritizing the desirable over the disgusting self: self-disgust modulates perceptual processing of valenced
1School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, India.
Cognitive Processing
|July 28, 2026
Summary
The self-prioritization effect (SPE) shows we process self-related information faster. Negative self-judgments, like those in self-disgust, prioritize positive self-concepts but deprioritize negative ones.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Affective Science
Background:
- The self-prioritization effect (SPE) demonstrates a perceptual advantage for self-associated information.
- Recent research highlights the influence of self-valence on SPE.
- Self-disgust, a negative self-conscious emotion, involves revulsion and avoidance towards the self.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if negative self-judgments, central to self-disgust, impact the magnitude of the SPE.
- To explore how self-disgust sensitivity modulates the processing of valenced self-representations.
Main Methods:
- A standard perceptual matching task was used, presenting stimuli labeled as 'self,' 'stranger,' 'desirable self,' and 'disgusting self.'
- Individual differences in self-disgust were assessed using the Self Disgust Scale (SDS).
Main Results:
- A standard SPE was confirmed, with faster responses for 'self' compared to 'stranger.'
- Greater prioritization was observed for the 'desirable self' but not the 'disgusting self.'
- Reaction times for 'desirable self' were similar to 'self,' while 'disgusting self' reaction times were similar to 'stranger.'
- A significant negative correlation was found between SDS scores and processing speed for both 'desirable self' and 'disgusting self,' but not for 'self.'
Conclusions:
- Individual differences in self-disgust sensitivity influence the processing speed of valenced self-representations.
- Findings suggest a 'positive-self construct' prioritization and a 'negative-self' deprioritization in the context of self-disgust.
- The study underscores the role of affective states in modulating self-perception and cognitive processing.
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