Imprint of ancestral and modern threats in human mind - experience of fear, disgust, and anger.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Threats to our survival are often posed by the environment in which humans have evolved or live today. Animal and human ancestors developed complex physiological and behavioral response systems to cope with two types of threats: immediate physical harm from predators or conspecifics, triggering fear, and the risk of infections from parasites and pathogens leading to the evolution of the behavioral immune system (BIS) with disgust as the key emotion. Here we ask whether the BIS has adapted to protect us from pandemic risks or poisoning by modern toxic substances.

Methods

We have developed a survey comprised of 60 vignettes describing threats evoking fear and disgust belonging to one of the three main categories of threats: (1) ancestral, (2) modern, and (3) pande

SUBMITTER: Landova E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11774860 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature