Why women are more likely to view life with disgust
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
George Odling For The Daily Mail
4
View
comments
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.
-
A cheap 1p diabetes pill can stop heart attacks and strokes…
Forget 10,000 steps! A brisk ten-minute walk is just as good…
More than two thirds of breast cancer patients diagnosed…
Having more than two children can significantly damage a…
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.
Share or comment on this article:
-
Antibiotics HALVE life expectancy of cancer sufferers,…
-
Jeremy Thorpe probe to reopen after police admit suspect…
-
Georgia police officer is fired after body camera footage…
-
Triathlete, 43, dies of a heart attack while taking part…
-
Pictured: Semi-professional boxer, 22, fighting for his…
-
Son of late Corrie actress who played factory worker Ida…
-
Trudeau brands Trump’s trade tariffs and says it is…
-
Kansas secretary of state sparks outrage after riding in…
-
Did Elizabeth I really have black teeth? Sir Walter…
-
‘I tried, but I couldn’t go through with it’: Vikki…
-
Exorcism 101! Vatican holds training course for priests…
-
Guns N’ Poses! Britain’s top amateur bodybuilders show…
-
Barnaby Joyce’s four teenage daughters and estranged wife…
-
The world’s biggest splinter! Russian paraglider crashes…
-
Man who claims he travelled from the year 6491 and is…
-
Texas woman, 47, admits to shooting and killing her…
-
Four adults are taken to hospital after inhaling deadly…
-
Top mobile firms including EE, Nokia and Vodafone are…
Comments 4
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Close
Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline?
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Close
Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline?
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.