Related Experiment Videos
Perceived virulence of germs from a liked versus disliked source: evidence of magical contagion
1Paoli Junior-Senior High School, Hanover College, IN 47243, USA.
Purpose:
This research tested the hypothesis that adolescents perceive germs and resulting illness to be more virulent when contracted from a disliked source than from a liked source.
Methods:
High school students rated their imagined illness from a disliked person and a friend. Independent judges rated students' drawings of germs from the disliked source and from the friend.
Results:
Students imagined their illness as more serious when contracted from a disliked source, and judges rated the germs from a disliked source as angrier and more threatening.
Conclusions:
These results are discussed in terms of the role of "magical contagion" in reducing adolescents' perceived vulnerability to consequences of their risk-taking behavior.