What is disgust?

Question

Where does it come from? Why are some things gross?

Answer 1

Disgust is an emotion that is typically associated with things that are perceived as unclean, inedible, or infectious. In The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, Charles Darwin wrote that disgust refers to something revolting. Primarily in relation to the sense of taste, as actually perceived or vividly imagined; and secondarily to anything which causes a similar feeling, through the sense of smell, touch, and even of eyesight. Disgust is one of the basic emotions of Robert Plutchik's theory of emotions.

Disgust may be further subdivided into physical disgust, associated with physical or metaphorical uncleanness, and moral disgust, a similar feeling related to courses of action.

Answer 2

Disgust is an automatic response to stay out of contact with something inspite of its failure to arouse any of the automatic defense mechanism such as fear or hate in a person.

Though disgust is an automatic response, it is not a biological or primary feeling, because there is no valid reason to suggest that the things that cause disgust are bad for the physical well being of the disgusted person.

Disgust is a response originating from a person's learned behaviour and way of life. One can overcome disgust against certain things. I am a hindu living in India and I know a lot of people who feel disgusted at the thought of eating any kind of meat products. All members of certain cultures eat worms and insects alive with relish.

Some things are gross to you because there is a learned set of values working inside your mind causing you to have an automatic response to stay away from these things.

Answer 3

One of the most influential classification approaches in the study of emotion is Robert Plutchik’s eight primary emotions. The emotions that Plutchik lists as primary are:

* anger
* fear
* sadness
* joy
* disgust
* surprise
* curiosity
* acceptance

An emotion evokes an automatic response that helps keep us safe. An emotion is different from a feeling. To feel disgust would serve as a protective mechanical response to perhaps recoil at a toxic object.

Answer 4

Well it would all be different because some people are disgusted at things that others are'nt

its just an other question of life

Answer 5

Reactions to the dislikes of things. I've heard of people actually liking the SMELL of garbage. (Even though technically it has bacteria in its smell, but I suppose everything does...) But it's all reactions. For instance, look at Lindsey's Mugshot. When I saw that I laughed in disgust lol. Think about what MAKES the things disgusting.

Answer 6

It comes from the first person who tried to eat a piece of $hit. They said uhhh gross and from their we got smarter and found a better word for it that could be put in different ways, "you disgust me, or this $hit is disgusting".

Answer 7

I'll admit I'm no expert, but I think it's a physiological reaction to what our brain perceives as potentially dangerous (bacteria infested).

FYI: BlueGI®L's answer is plagiarized. It's a direct quote from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotion under "Classification by primary emotions".

Answer 8

just a state of mind

Answer 9

Its an emotional feeling. =)

Answer 10

Ugly people are gross to people