Its okay to be gross

How we account for the fact that disgusting things can sometimes captivate us?

Psychological research suggests that disgusting stimuli both capture and retains your attention more effectively than emotionally neutral stimuli do.According to media scholars Bridget Rubenking and Annie Lang, this likely happens because, from an evolutionary perspective, it seems that “an attentional bias toward disgust – no matter how aversive – would better equip humans to avoid harmful substances.” So although disgust can be an unpleasant feeling, the emotion has evolved to simultaneously seize people’s attention.

But disgusting things don’t just capture your attention; you can even enjoy them.

Psychologist Dr Strohminger suggests that the pleasurable features of disgust may be an instance of what has been called “benign masochism” – the human tendency to seek out seemingly “negative” experiences for the purposes of enjoying constrained risks. So as day 30 comes to a close...if you have read even half my posts....what I just said there....means you like it!! And you are a better human for it.

Let your disgusting freak flag fly!!!

Thanks for joining me on the adventure!