Human emotional evaluation of ancestral and modern threats: fear, disgust, and anger

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14

Published: Jan. 4, 2024

Animal and human ancestors developed complex physiological behavioral response systems to cope with two types of threats: immediate physical harm from predators or conspecifics, triggering fear, the risk infections parasites pathogens leading evolution immune system disgust as key emotion. Integration evolutionary concepts fear module has been infrequent, despite significant survival advantages in various contexts. Studies comparing attention ancestral modern threats accompanied by have yielded ambiguous results what qualifies salient disgusting stimuli remains unclear. We do not know whether system, inherent aspects psychology, adapted safeguard us pandemic risks poisoning toxic substances. To test these effects, we a survey comprised 60 short vignettes describing evoking belonging one three main categories (1) (phylogenetic), (2) (ontogenetic), (3) pandemics airborne disease. Each vignette was evaluated on 7-point Likert scale based disgust, anger. In total, 660 respondents completed survey. The data were analysed using factor analysis general linear model respondent random factor. show that strongest is triggered (electricity, car accidents), while highest evoked ancient (body waste products, worms, etc.). Interestingly, does respond threat such substances radioactivity evoke mainly Finally, distinct pattern found for threats, which both (e.g., disease death) used face masks) are employed. Our study offers valuable insights into emotional responses their adaptation challenges. Ancestral always more powerful than adequate type, but they function specifically. Thus, snakes heights fear-inducing form separate factors multivariate analysis, whereas all group together. forms specific category people process it emotionally cognitively. These contribute our understanding psychology behavior an ever-changing world.

Language: Английский

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Exploring shared public perspectives on biodiversity attributes

People and Nature, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 3(4), P. 901 - 913

Published: June 22, 2021

Abstract Researchers, practitioners and policymakers have widely documented the multifarious ways that nature influences human well‐being. However, we still only a limited understanding of how public interact with, respond to talk about attributes biodiversity. We used image‐based Q methodology explore shared contrasting perspectives people hold for This approach is powerful way allowing articulate what is, or not, important them, free from constraints associated with statement‐based stimuli. British woodlands as study system, they are accessible well‐visited by public. The elements biodiversity incorporated in represented vertebrates, invertebrates, trees understorey plants fungi. varied, reasons underpinning those were rich diverse. People articulated related an array (e.g. functions, behaviours, colours, smells, shapes). Many transcended specific species taxonomic groups. Although referenced perceptions experiences external this habitat within their gardens) everyday lives. Cultural memories linked particular places also prominent. Few map onto objective measures dimensions researchers use describe categorise rarity, ecosystem service provision). A Plain Language Summary can be found Supporting Information article.

Language: Английский

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The Ultimate List of the Most Frightening and Disgusting Animals: Negative Emotions Elicited by Animals in Central European Respondents

Animals, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(3), P. 747 - 747

Published: March 9, 2021

Animals have always played an important role in our everyday life. They are given more attention than inanimate objects, which been adaptive during the evolution of mankind, with some animal species still presenting a real threat to us. In this study, we focused on usually evaluated as scariest and most disgusting kingdom. We analyzed characteristics (e.g., weight, potential for humans) influence their evaluation nonclinical Central European WEIRD population (Western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic). The tested animals were divided into two separated sets containing 34 standardized photos evoking predominantly one negative emotion, fear or disgust. pictures ranked according emotional intensity by 160 adult respondents high inter-rater agreement. fear-eliciting mostly large vertebrates carnivorans, ungulates, sharks, crocodiles), whereas smaller fear-evoking represented snakes invertebrates arachnids. disgust-evoking human endo- ectoparasites visually resembling them. Humans emotionally react that represent threat; however, identifying truly dangerous might be harder. results also support somewhat special position spiders.

Language: Английский

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Understanding human attitudes towards bats and the role of information and aesthetics to boost a positive response as a conservation tool

Animal Conservation, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 24(6), P. 937 - 945

Published: April 30, 2021

An understanding of human attitudes towards wildlife can be an essential element in the success or failure a conservation initiative, policy practice and represents one main problems for species. Despite ecosystem services bats provide, they often are socially stigmatized group, misperceived even hunted. This problem has been on increase as result Covid-19 pandemic. We examined how aesthetic appeal informational factors could influence survey 1966 participants from Spanish-speaking countries. Gender, educational level, religiousness previous experiences with were relevant variables to understand them. The results indicate that both stimuli positive responses, reducing negatives participants' attitudes. Our show importance public achieve goals, especially context human-wildlife conflict. Bats not charismatic animals still surrounded mystery; however, our findings benefit bat plans, allowing development new communication strategies locally nationally increasing acceptance will facilitate conservation.

Language: Английский

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Global response of conservationists across mass media likely constrained bat persecution due to COVID-19

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 272, P. 109591 - 109591

Published: May 13, 2022

Language: Английский

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Mapping the everyday concept of disgust in five cultures

Current Psychology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 43(20), P. 18003 - 18024

Published: Jan. 15, 2024

Abstract Past research has shown that disgust is a heterogeneous category and lacks unity in its defining features. In the two studies reported this paper, we examined internal structure of English, translation equivalents asco Spanish, Ekel German, garaf Arabic, yanwu Chinese. Study 1, 517 participants listed most accessible constitutive features (definition, elicitors, physical responses) concept their culture. 2, 653 were asked to judge extent which each 63 extracted from 1 was typical respective Results revealed differences content, as well structures across five cultural groups: concepts differed degree typicality features, relevance single they shared structural properties Taken together, our results question assumed conceptual equivalence cultures raise questions about suitability deploying direct translations terms cross-cultural research.

Language: Английский

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Emotional Reaction to Fear- and Disgust-Evoking Snakes: Sensitivity and Propensity in Snake-Fearful Respondents

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: Jan. 28, 2020

This paper continues our previous study in which we examined the respondents' reaction to two morphologically different snake stimuli categories – one evoking exclusively fear and another disgust. Here acquired Likert-type scale scores of disgust evoked by same a total 330 respondents. Moreover, collected data about age, gender, education, (Snake Questionnaire, SNAQ), propensity (Disgust Scale-Revised, DS-R), analyzed effect these variables on emotional (with special focus snake-fearful respondents). In addition this, SNAQ DS-R from respondents tested using rank-ordering method directly compare results approaches. The showed that non-fearful give high fear-eliciting snakes disgust-eliciting snakes, but they low other dimension (disgust/fear) each. contrast, not only higher respective stimuli, also snakes. Both Likert-scale show clear border dividing both dissolves when evaluated

Language: Английский

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Venomous snakes elicit stronger fear than nonvenomous ones: Psychophysiological response to snake images

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 15(8), P. e0236999 - e0236999

Published: Aug. 19, 2020

Snakes have been important ambush predators of both primates and human hunter-gatherers throughout their co-evolutionary history. Viperid snakes in particular are responsible for most fatal venomous snakebites worldwide thus represent a strong selective pressure. They elicit intense fear humans easily recognizable thanks to distinctive morphotype. In this study, we measured skin resistance (SR) heart rate (HR) subjects exposed snake pictures eliciting either high (10 viperid species) or disgust nonvenomous fossorial species). Venomous subjectively evaluated as frightening trigger stronger physiological response (higher SR amplitude) than repulsive non-venomous snakes. However, stimuli presented block (more stimulation) do not emotional compared sequentially (less stimulation). There significant interindividual differences with confronted images show stronger, longer-lasting, more frequent changes higher HR low-fear subjects. Thus, that demonstrate remarkable ability discriminate between dangerous viperids harmless snakes, which is also reflected distinct autonomous body responses.

Language: Английский

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Attitudes and preferences of wildlife and their relationship with childhood nature experience amongst residents in a tropical urban city

Urban Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 25(6), P. 1939 - 1948

Published: Sept. 19, 2022

Language: Английский

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Functional sophistication in human escape

iScience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(11), P. 108240 - 108240

Published: Oct. 18, 2023

Animals including humans must cope with immediate threat and make rapid decisions to survive. Without much leeway for cognitive or motor errors, this poses a formidable computational problem. Utilizing fully immersive virtual reality 13 natural threats, we examined escape in N = 59 humans. We show that goals are dynamically updated according environmental changes. The decision whether when depends on time-to-impact, identity predicted trajectory, stable personal characteristics. Its implementation appears integrate secondary such as behavioral affordances. Perturbance experiments the underlying algorithm exhibits planning properties can novel actions. In contrast, information-seeking foraging-suppression only partly devaluation-sensitive. Instead of being instinctive hardwired stimulus-response patterns, human multiple variables flexible architecture. Taken together, provide steps toward model how brain rapidly solves survival challenges.

Language: Английский

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