Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2022 Aug 11;17(8):e0272726. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272726. eCollection 2022.
Evolutionary theories of disease avoidance propose that humans have a set of universal psychological processes to detect environmental cues indicative of infectious disease. These processes then initiate cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses that function to limit contact with harmful pathogens. Here, we study the conditions under which people exhibit behavioral avoidance of others with a contagious illness or a physical injury (i.e., a broken leg), and the potential mechanisms that underlie this behavior. Across three studies, participants were given the option of sitting at one of two workstations previously occupied by two confederates, one of whom either showed visible symptoms of a cold (contagion condition), wore a lower-leg orthopedic boot and used crutches (broken leg condition), or showed no signs of illness or physical injury (control). We found strong evidence that adults explicitly avoid contact with individuals who show symptoms of a contagious illness. Further, we provide some evidence that adults also avoid individuals with a physical injury, but that this behavior might be driven by implicit, unconscious processes. The findings are discussed in terms of implications for the healthy avoidance of contagion, and the risk for potential stigmatization of non-contagious groups.
疾病回避的进化理论提出，人类具有一套普遍的心理过程来检测提示传染病的环境线索。这些过程会引发认知、情绪和行为反应，从而限制与有害病原体的接触。在这里，我们研究了人们在什么情况下会对患有传染病或身体损伤（即骨折）的人表现出行为回避，以及这种行为背后的潜在机制。在三项研究中，参与者可以选择坐在之前被两名同伙占据的两个工作站之一，其中一人要么表现出明显的感冒症状（传染条件），要么穿着小腿矫形靴和使用拐杖（骨折条件），要么没有任何疾病或身体损伤的迹象（对照条件）。我们有充分的证据表明，成年人会有意识地避免与表现出传染病症状的人接触。此外，我们提供了一些证据表明，成年人也会避开身体受伤的人，但这种行为可能是由无意识的、潜意识的过程驱动的。研究结果从健康回避传染病的角度以及对非传染性群体潜在污名化的风险进行了讨论。
