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That's Disgusting: Unraveling the Mysteries of Repulsion [NOOK Book]
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An entertaining and revealing look at the science behind the emotion of disgust.
Disgust originated to prevent us from eating poisonous food, but this simple safety mechanism has since evolved into a uniquely human emotion that dictates how we treat others, shapes our cultural norms, and even has implications for our mental and physical health. That’s Disgusting illuminates the science behind disgust, tackling such colorful topics as cannibalism, humor, and pornography to address larger questions: Why do sources of disgust vary among people and societies? Where does disgust come from in our brain and what deeper fears does it reflect? How does disgust influence our individual personalities, our daily lives, and our values? It turns out that disgust underlies more than we realize, from political ideologies to the lure of horror movies. Drawing on surprising research in psychology and evolutionary biology, That’s Disgusting shows us that disgust mirrors human nature and, as a result, is as complex and varied as we are.
We all know the sensation: We open the refrigerator and wince instantly at the smell of rancid food. Or we shiver involuntarily at the sight of a gory scene on a DVD. Repulsion is such a universal response that few of us ponder its cause or its use. Rachel Herz, the author of this book previously explored more alluring emotions in The Scent of Desire. Now she turns her attention to what repulses us.
— Vicki Powers
Preface ix
1 Let's Eat 1
2 A Snapshot of Disgust 28
3 Disgust on the Brain 58
4 Germ Warfare 77
5 Disgust Is Other People 102
6 Horror Show 132
7 Lust and Disgust 156
8 Law and Order 184
9 Disgust Lessons 210
Acknowledgments 235
Notes 237
Illustration Credits 263
Index 265
Overview
An entertaining and revealing look at the science behind the emotion of disgust.
Disgust originated to prevent us from eating poisonous food, but this simple safety mechanism has since evolved into a uniquely human emotion that dictates how we treat others, shapes our cultural norms, and even has implications for our mental and physical health. That’s Disgusting illuminates the science behind disgust, tackling such colorful topics as cannibalism, humor, and pornography to address larger questions: Why do sources of disgust vary among people and societies? Where does disgust come from in our brain and what deeper fears does it reflect? How does disgust ...