The germ aversion paradox: When germ aversion predicts reduced alpha power suppression to norm violations
Prior work shows that germ-averse individuals are more norm-abiding than their less germ-averse counterparts in the absence of any germ threat. However, it is unclear if germ aversion has similar effects in the presence of a germ threat. Here, we explored the hypothesis that germ-averse people would...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666622723000631 |
| _version_ | 1797391730169872384 |
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| author | Shinobu Kitayama Cristina E. Salvador Joshua Ackerman |
| author_facet | Shinobu Kitayama Cristina E. Salvador Joshua Ackerman |
| author_sort | Shinobu Kitayama |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Prior work shows that germ-averse individuals are more norm-abiding than their less germ-averse counterparts in the absence of any germ threat. However, it is unclear if germ aversion has similar effects in the presence of a germ threat. Here, we explored the hypothesis that germ-averse people would show less sensitivity to social norms because their perceived success in avoiding germs could make them feel protected from this threat. As an index of the sensitivity to norms, we assessed electrocortical reactions to another person's norm-violating behaviors. 59 young American adults were either primed with a germ threat or not. They subsequently saw either norm-violating or normal behaviors. In the control-priming condition, a reduction in upper-alpha band power in response to norm-violating (vs. normal) behaviors (signifiying vigilance to norm violations) was significantly greater for those high in germ aversion, thereby conceptually replicating the prior evidence linking germ aversion to conformity. This effect, however, was significantly reversed in the threat-priming condition. The elevated level of neural reactivity to norm violations in the threat-priming condition, present for those low in germ aversion, disappeared for those high in germ aversion. Our findings suggest that although germ aversion predicts greater norm-abidance in the absence of any germ threat, this effect paradoxically reverses itself in the presence of it. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:37:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b446d43fa0241d9b970466257e4c80a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-6227 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:37:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b446d43fa0241d9b970466257e4c80a2023-12-14T05:23:58ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Ecological and Social Psychology2666-62272023-01-015100150The germ aversion paradox: When germ aversion predicts reduced alpha power suppression to norm violationsShinobu Kitayama0Cristina E. Salvador1Joshua Ackerman2University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Corresponding author.Duke University, Durham, NC, USAUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USAPrior work shows that germ-averse individuals are more norm-abiding than their less germ-averse counterparts in the absence of any germ threat. However, it is unclear if germ aversion has similar effects in the presence of a germ threat. Here, we explored the hypothesis that germ-averse people would show less sensitivity to social norms because their perceived success in avoiding germs could make them feel protected from this threat. As an index of the sensitivity to norms, we assessed electrocortical reactions to another person's norm-violating behaviors. 59 young American adults were either primed with a germ threat or not. They subsequently saw either norm-violating or normal behaviors. In the control-priming condition, a reduction in upper-alpha band power in response to norm-violating (vs. normal) behaviors (signifiying vigilance to norm violations) was significantly greater for those high in germ aversion, thereby conceptually replicating the prior evidence linking germ aversion to conformity. This effect, however, was significantly reversed in the threat-priming condition. The elevated level of neural reactivity to norm violations in the threat-priming condition, present for those low in germ aversion, disappeared for those high in germ aversion. Our findings suggest that although germ aversion predicts greater norm-abidance in the absence of any germ threat, this effect paradoxically reverses itself in the presence of it.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666622723000631Germ avoidanceGerm threatElectroencephalogramUpper-alpha band powerSocial normsNorm violation |
| spellingShingle | Shinobu Kitayama Cristina E. Salvador Joshua Ackerman The germ aversion paradox: When germ aversion predicts reduced alpha power suppression to norm violations Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology Germ avoidance Germ threat Electroencephalogram Upper-alpha band power Social norms Norm violation |
| title | The germ aversion paradox: When germ aversion predicts reduced alpha power suppression to norm violations |
| title_full | The germ aversion paradox: When germ aversion predicts reduced alpha power suppression to norm violations |
| title_fullStr | The germ aversion paradox: When germ aversion predicts reduced alpha power suppression to norm violations |
| title_full_unstemmed | The germ aversion paradox: When germ aversion predicts reduced alpha power suppression to norm violations |
| title_short | The germ aversion paradox: When germ aversion predicts reduced alpha power suppression to norm violations |
| title_sort | germ aversion paradox when germ aversion predicts reduced alpha power suppression to norm violations |
| topic | Germ avoidance Germ threat Electroencephalogram Upper-alpha band power Social norms Norm violation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666622723000631 |
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