Scientists discover the evolutionary reasons why women are more likely to view life with disgust
- Scientists have uncovered 6 types of disgust based on a study of 2,500 people
- Disgust at spoilt food, sexual promiscuity, poor hygiene were three of them
- Unusual appearances, animal contamination and skin lesions were the others
- Women are more disgusted because they can have a limited number of children
- They must pick their partners very carefully, the researchers have suggested
Women are regularly more disgusted than men, according to a study which indicates our revulsion has evolved to protect us from getting ill.
Scientists have uncovered six defined types of disgust which have evolved as a practical way of protecting against disease.
Disgust at spoilt food, sexual promiscuity, poor hygiene, animal contamination, unusual appearances and skin lesions is an evolutionary way to avoid sickness, the researchers argue.
A study which asked 2,500 people to rate how revolted they were by 75 different scenarios – including treading barefoot on a slug and accidentally using someone else’s roll-on deodorant – found women consistently rated the situations more disgusting than men.
And it was the sexual scenarios women were especially repulsed by, the research led by Professor Val Curtis, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, found.
Scientists have uncovered six defined types of disgust which have evolved as a practical way of protecting against disease
The difference between the genders was likely to stem from the biological fact that women can have a limited number of children so must pick their partners very carefully.
While men’s reproduction is limited only by the number of women they are able to seduce.
Men are therefore more inclined to risky behaviour, according to the findings, which can be found in the Royal Society’s Philosophical Transactions B Journal.
Professor Curtis told The Times: ‘If you see something disgusting you’re probably responding to something that might cause disease.
WHY DOES DISGUST PROTECT US FROM DISEASE?
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, results confirm the ‘parasite avoidance theory’, in which disgust evolved in animals, encouraging them to adopt behaviours to reduce the risk of infection.
This behaviour is replicated in humans where disgust signals us to act in specific ways, which minimise the risk of catching diseases.
And women are more likely to be disgusted more often because they have a limited number of children so must pick their partners very carefully.
While men’s reproduction is limited only by the number of women they are able to seduce, researchers suggested in the Royal Society’s Philosophical Transactions B Journal.
‘Our ancient ancestors didn’t know about microbes, they just knew they had to stay away from bad smells.’
Disgust and revulsion were so powerful they could be ‘practically used in public health’ to shame those who behave in an unhygienic manner, she continued.
Professor Curtis admitted it was possible to obsess about cleanliness, however.
‘It’s about responding to things and then thinking more carefully: “Is it really a threat?”‘ she said.
The results confirm the ‘parasite avoidance theory’, in which disgust evolved in animals, encouraging them to adopt behaviours to reduce the risk of infection.
This behaviour is replicated in humans where disgust signals us to act in specific ways, which minimise the risk of catching diseases.
Participants were asked to rate the strength of their disgust response to each scenario on a scale ranging from ‘no disgust’ to ‘extreme disgust’.
Of all the scenarios presented, infected wounds producing pus were rated as the most disgusting.
The violation of hygiene norms – such as having bad body odour – was also found to be particularly disgusting.
By analysing participants’ responses, researchers were able to identify the six common categories of disgust.
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