A dirty animal is a scary animal! Effects of disgust-related information on fear beliefs in children.
The present study investigated whether disgust-valenced information has an impact on children's fear beliefs about animals. Non-clinical children aged between 9 and 13 years (n=159) were presented with disgust-related and cleanliness-related information about unknown animals (Australian marsupials). Before and after information, beliefs of disgust and fear regarding the animals were assessed. Results showed that disgust-related information not only induced higher levels of disgust but also increased children's fear beliefs in relation to these animals. The other way around, cleanliness-related information decreased levels of disgust and resulted in lower levels of fear. The implications for the role of disgust in the development of animal fear are briefly discussed.
Muris
Peter
P
Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. muris@fsw.eur.nl
Mayer
Birgit
B
Huijding
Jorg
J
Konings
Tjeerd
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004644:Emotions; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008394:Marsupialia; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome