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Selects: How Disgust Works | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

By iHeartPodcasts

Dive into a fascinating exploration of disgust's mysterious grip on humanity with Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark in "Stuff You Should Know." The latest episode delves into the evolutionary purpose of disgust as a survival mechanism—a primitive response ingrained in our biology to protect us from harm. This isn't just about recoiling at a bad taste; it's an emotion shaped by imagination and cognitive processes that has burgeoned into a complex psychological phenomenon. Discover how disgust serves as a guard against disease and how, over time, it has come to represent a symbolic rejection of our existential vulnerabilities.

Venture beyond biology to understand disgust's powerful role in culture and society. Disgust transcends physical repulsion to envelop moral judgment and social behavior, influenced by varying cultural norms and even manipulated for political gain. The episode unpacks how what once might have been a straightforward emotional response becomes entangled with social values, and how it can inadvertently shape ideologies. Moreover, Chuck and Josh shed light on the darker side of disgust in the realm of mental health, discussing its amplification in disorders such as OCD and the complexities of its treatment. Join them as they examine the fine line between this protective reaction and its potential to overwhelm and dictate our lives.

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Selects: How Disgust Works | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

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Selects: How Disgust Works | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

1-Page Summary

The evolutionary/natural selection basis of disgust

Disgust has its roots as a primitive response to protect organisms from disease by avoiding contaminated or spoiled substances, primarily through the sense of taste. In humans, this has evolved into a more complex emotional response, not limited to the direct physical sensation but extended through the power of imagination and cognitive processes. This allows for the anticipation of harm and avoids potentially dangerous substances without direct physical contact. Disgust also reflects a symbolic avoidance of reminders of our animalistic origins and vulnerabilities. It indicates a significant development of human emotion, where imagination and cultural factors enrich the original biological function.

Cultural differences in disgust

Disgust is culturally relative, with differing triggers for moral disgust across societies. While it pertains to physical revulsion, it extends to social and moral realms, where situations such as racism, bigotry, and disagreeable political conduct can also evoke this emotion. The notion of moral disgust is exploited by politicians, who harness triggers relevant to different cultures for political motives. Cultural norms shape disgust; for example, transitioning to veganism can transform perceptions of meat from appealing to repulsive. Disgust is influenced by societal values, and its manipulation, like the selective use of imagery by news outlets, plays a significant role in shaping public opinion and political outcomes.

In disorders like OCD, disgust can become a disruptive force, leading to pathological behaviors like excessive concerns about germs or an obsession with cleanliness. This heightened reaction may derive from an overemphasis on disgust, causing it to be out of proportion and excessively controlling an individual's behavior. In treating such disorders, therapy can be effective in helping individuals manage and mitigate inappropriate disgust responses. The goal of the treatment is to enable people to cope with their reactions and lead a more balanced life, free from the debilitating effects of exaggerated feelings of disgust.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Disgust, rooted in protecting organisms from disease, initially evolved as a response to avoid contaminated or spoiled substances primarily through the sense of taste. This primal function aimed to prevent ingestion of harmful or toxic materials that could lead to illness or infection. Over time, this basic protective mechanism has evolved into a more complex emotional response in humans, extending beyond direct physical sensations to include cognitive processes and imagination. This expanded response allows individuals to anticipate potential harm and avoid dangerous substances without direct contact, showcasing the intricate relationship between disgust and the sense of taste in safeguarding against threats to health.
  • Moral disgust is a cultural concept where societal norms dictate what is considered morally repulsive. Triggers for moral disgust vary across societies and can include behaviors like racism, bigotry, or political misconduct. These triggers are often exploited by politicians to influence public opinion. Cultural values shape what is deemed disgusting or unacceptable in different communities.
  • Politicians may use triggers of disgust relevant to different cultures to influence public opinion and behavior for their political gain. By tapping into societal values and cultural norms that evoke disgust, politicians can shape narratives and sway public sentiment. This manipulation can involve selective use of imagery or rhetoric to provoke feelings of moral disgust, influencing how people perceive certain issues or individuals. Understanding and leveraging disgust can be a strategic tool in political communication and persuasion.
  • Cultural norms play a significant role in shaping how individuals perceive and experience disgust. Different societies have varying triggers for what is considered disgusting, influenced by their values, beliefs, and traditions. For example, what one culture finds repulsive, another may find acceptable or even desirable. These cultural differences impact not only personal reactions but also societal attitudes towards certain behaviors or substances.
  • Disgust can become a disruptive force in disorders like OCD, leading to excessive concerns about germs or cleanliness. In OCD, individuals may experience heightened levels of disgust, which can manifest in obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. This overemphasis on disgust can result in behaviors that are out of proportion and significantly impact daily life. Therapy aims to help individuals manage these exaggerated disgust responses and lead a more balanced life.
  • In disorders like OCD, therapy plays a crucial role in helping individuals manage inappropriate disgust responses. Therapy aims to assist individuals in understanding and coping with their exaggerated feelings of disgust. Through therapy, individuals can learn strategies to reduce the impact of disgust on their daily lives. The goal is to enable individuals to lead a more balanced life free from the disruptive effects of excessive disgust reactions.

Counterarguments

  • Disgust may not solely be a protective response but could also be influenced by social learning and individual experiences.
  • The evolution of disgust may include other factors beyond disease avoidance, such as social cohesion or in-group identification.
  • The symbolic avoidance of reminders of our animalistic origins is a theory that may not be universally accepted or applicable across different cultures.
  • While disgust is culturally relative, there may be universal triggers for disgust that transcend cultural differences, suggesting a common biological basis.
  • The exploitation of moral disgust by politicians could be seen as a reflection of pre-existing societal values rather than a manipulation of those values.
  • Cultural norms do influence perceptions of disgust, but individual differences within cultures suggest that personal experiences and personality traits also play a significant role.
  • The relationship between disgust and OCD might be more complex, with other emotions and cognitive processes contributing to the disorder.
  • While therapy can be effective for some, it may not work for everyone, and alternative treatments or a combination of therapies might be necessary to manage inappropriate disgust responses in disorders like OCD.

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Selects: How Disgust Works | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

The evolutionary/natural selection basis of disgust

The conversation explores how disgust originated and its transition from a reaction based solely on taste to a complex emotional response driven by cognitive processes and imagination.

Disgust originated from taste to protect against disease

Disgust has evolved from an elementary distaste, a reaction common within the animal kingdom, to become a uniquely human complex emotional response. Initially, the mechanism of distaste involved the involuntary spitting out of harmful or gross substances, serving as an early defense against disease, as it typically protected against ingesting rotting or contaminated food, such as spoiled meat.

The human capacity for imagination has pushed the boundaries of disgust beyond direct sensory experiences.

Distaste and taste evolved into imagination-based disgust

Humans have the cognitive ability to feel disgust not just from direct physiological taste responses but from mere thoughts. The emotional dimension of disgust, derived from the basic physical response, has broadened to include non-food-related triggers. Imagination allows humans to preemptively avoid potential harm without requiring physical interaction or trial and error.

Over time, this evolved into an aversion to bodily fluids like vomit and feces, which are instinctively recognized as carriers of disease. This aversion was further compounded by a desire not to be reminded of our own animal origins and vulner ...

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The evolutionary/natural selection basis of disgust

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Disgust has evolved beyond a simple physical reaction to taste to include emotional responses influenced by cognitive processes and imagination. This transition means that humans can now feel disgust not just from direct sensory experiences but also from thoughts and mental images. The emotional dimension of disgust has expanded to encompass non-food-related triggers, allowing for a more complex and nuanced understanding of what elicits disgust in humans. This evolution showcases how disgust is now intertwined with human imagination and cognition, going beyond its initial function as a protective mechanism against ingesting harmful substances.
  • The evolution from distaste to imagination-based disgust signifies how humans can now feel repulsed not just by direct sensory experiences but also by thoughts and mental images. This transition showcases how our cognitive abilities have expanded the scope of what triggers disgust, moving beyond mere taste responses to include abstract concepts and symbolic representations. Imagination-based disgust allows humans to anticipate and avoid potential harm without needing to physically encounter the source of disgust, demonstrating a more sophisticated and nuanced emotional response compared to basic distaste reactions. This evolution highlights the intricate relationship between our biological instincts, cognitive processes, and emotional responses in shaping our perceptions of disgust.
  • The intertwining of disgust with human imagination, symbolism, and societal norms highlights how our feelings of disgust ...

Counterarguments

  • Disgust as a defense mechanism against disease may not be the sole evolutionary origin; some argue it could also have evolved to facilitate social cooperation by discouraging behaviors that are detrimental to group living.
  • The expansion of disgust beyond sensory experiences to imagination could be seen as an overextension that sometimes leads to irrational fears and prejudices, rather than a purely protective function.
  • The idea that humans can feel disgust from thoughts alone might overlook the role of cultural learning in shaping what is considered disgusting, suggesting that disgust is not entirely innate.
  • The aversion to bodily fluids might not be instinctive but rather learned through cultural norms and personal experiences, challenging the notion of a purely evolutionary basis.
  • The intertwining of disgust with human imagination and societal norms could be criticized for not accounting for the significant variations in what different cultures and individuals find ...

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Selects: How Disgust Works | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

Cultural differences in disgust

Disgust is a complex emotion with cultural underpinnings. Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant dive into how societies have different triggers for moral disgust and how these can be exploited, particularly by politicians.

What is morally disgusting varies by society

Politicians exploit society's moral disgust triggers

The concept of disgust, while universal, varies across societies in what triggers the emotion. Disgust is not only about physical revulsion, like the idea of holding poop close to one’s mouth, but also extends to social situations involving perceived injustices or antisocial actions. Clark and Bryant explore the idea that witnessing acts of racism, bigotry, or disagreeable political behaviors can also induce a feeling of moral disgust.

A study that the hosts reference indicates that in diverse cultures, including Japan, Spain, and Portugal, the term for disgust encompasses reactions to both physically repulsive acts and unfair or morally reprehensible behaviors. Notably, disgust can be influenced by cultural norms; practices such as cannibalism and incest might not elicit disgust in some societies where they are not considered taboo.

Further, disgust is not a fixed emotion; it can evolve with one's beliefs and habits. For instance, someone who transitions to veganism might begin to find the sight of meat disgusting, even if it was previously enjoyable, illustrating how disgust can be shaped by shifting cultural values and social norms.

The exploitation of the triggers of moral disgust by politicians is an aspect of disgust that can play a significant role in societal dynamics. Clark and Bryant touch upon the idea that politicians and media outlets can manipulate disgust sensitivity to elicit strong emotional reactions for political gai ...

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Cultural differences in disgust

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Moral disgust triggers vary across societies and can include reactions to physically repulsive acts, unfair or morally reprehensible behaviors, and cultural taboos like cannibalism or incest. These triggers are influenced by cultural norms and can evolve with changing beliefs and habits. Politicians and media outlets may exploit these triggers to manipulate public opinion by using images or narratives that provoke strong emotional reactions based on societal disgust sensitivities.
  • Disgust is not solely about physical repulsion but can also be triggered by social situations involving perceived injustices or antisocial actions. This means that witnessing acts of racism, bigotry, or disagreeable political behaviors can evoke a feeling of moral disgust. The emotion of disgust extends beyond just bodily reactions and can encompass responses to behaviors or situations that violate societal norms or values. In essence, disgust can be a response to not only physical stimuli but also to moral or social transgressions.
  • Disgust can be influenced by cultural norms, meaning what one society finds repulsive or offensive may not be the same for another. For example, practices like cannibalism or incest might not evoke disgust in societies where they are not taboo. This shows that what triggers feelings of disgust can vary based on the values and norms of a particular culture.
  • Disgust can evolve with one's beliefs and habits as individuals may start finding things disgusting that they previously did not, based on changes in their values or lifestyle choices. For example, transitioning to a vegan diet may lead someone to view meat as disgusting due to their new ethical stance. This evolution in disgust responses showcases how personal beliefs and behaviors can influence what triggers feelings of disgust in an individual.
  • Politicians and media outlets can intentionally use triggers of moral disgust to evoke strong emotional reactions from the public for political purposes. This manipulation involves strategically presenting information or images that are designed to provoke feelings of disgust in order to shape public opinion or influence perceptions. By tapping into individuals' sensitivity to disgust, these entities aim to sway attitudes and behaviors by associating certain ideas or groups with repulsion or aversion. This tactic can be particularly effective in appealing to individuals who are more sensitive to feelings of disgust, often correlating with socially conservative viewpoints.
  • Sensitivity to disgust is linked to social conservatism as individuals who are more sensitive to disgust tend to hold more traditional values and are more averse to change or novelty. This connection is often seen in h ...

Counterarguments

  • While disgust is culturally influenced, there may be some universal triggers of disgust that are rooted in evolutionary biology, such as reactions to bodily fluids, which are often universally found to be repulsive due to their association with disease and contamination.
  • The assertion that politicians exploit moral disgust triggers could be seen as an oversimplification, as political strategies are complex and multifaceted. Not all politicians may use disgust to manipulate public opinion, and some may appeal to other emotions or rational arguments.
  • The idea that individuals more sensitive to disgust are often more socially conservative may not account for the full spectrum of political beliefs and the complexity of individual psychology. People with high disgust sensitivity can also be found across different political ideologies.
  • The claim that disgust can evolve with one's beliefs and habits might not fully consider the potential for innate or deeply ingrained disgust responses that are resistant to change, even in the face of shifting cultural values or personal beliefs.
  • The suggestion that news outlets deliberately choose specific images to provoke disgust could be challenged by the principle of journalistic integrity. Some journalists and media organizations strive to report in a balanced and fair manner, without intentionally manipulating emotions.
  • The impact of disgust on shaping narratives and public opinion might be mitigated by the increasing awareness and media literacy among the public, who may recognize and critically evaluate attempts to manipulate thei ...

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Selects: How Disgust Works | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

Disgust in OCD and related disorders

Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark explore the role of disgust in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders, examining how it can escalate into phobias and pathologies.

Pathological avoidance of disease threat

Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark discuss the concept of disgust and its extreme manifestations in OCD and related disorders, where fear of germs or an obsession with cleanliness can lead to phobias and pathologies. They reference a movie called "Safe," which illustrates a community's preoccupation with compulsive cleanliness.

Treatment helps override pathological disgust reactions

Josh Clark points out that the basis of some compulsive disorders may stem from ...

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Disgust in OCD and related disorders

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Disgust plays a significant role in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders by manifesting as extreme reactions to perceived threats, such as germs or contamination. This heightened disgust response can lead to compulsive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety and fear. Individuals with OCD may engage in rituals or avoidance behaviors to manage their disgust-related distress. Understanding and addressing the role of disgust is crucial in the treatment and management of OCD and related disorders.
  • Disgust in OCD and related disorders can escalate into phobias and pathologies when individuals develop an intense fear or aversion towards specific triggers, such as germs or contamination. This heightened disgust response can lead to compulsive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety, but these behaviors can become excessive and interfere with daily life. Over time, the fear and avoidance associated with disgust can reinforce the cycle of obsessions and compulsions, contributing to the development and maintenance of phobias and pathological behaviors in OCD and related disorders.
  • The potential crippling effects of the brain's disgust reaction in OCD and r ...

Counterarguments

  • Disgust is not the only emotion involved in OCD; anxiety and fear are also central to the disorder, and focusing solely on disgust might oversimplify the condition.
  • The relationship between disgust and OCD might be correlational rather than causal; other factors could contribute to the development of OCD and related disorders.
  • The movie "Safe" is a work of fiction and may not accurately represent the experiences of individuals with OCD or related disorders, so using it as a reference could be misleading.
  • While therapy can be effective, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution; different individuals may respond to different types of therapy, and some may require medication or other interventions.
  • The concept of "indoctrination into disgust" is vague and may not adequately describe the complex learning processes that contribute to OCD. ...

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