Particular body odors matter: disgust sensitivity differs across attachment groups

Amy Shell*, Anna Blomkvist, Mehmet K. Mahmut

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)
    43 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Extensive research has highlighted how one's attachment style influences the development and maintenance of romantic relationships. Disgust is a construct that conceptually overlaps with attachment style given both include elements of behavioral avoidance. However, no previous study has examined how one's attachment style may influence disgust-based avoidance of intimacy in romantic relationships. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to determine if adult attachment style is associated with olfactory disgust ratings towards eight body odor (BO) sources from their partner, previous partner, or others. The results revealed that disgust ratings of a partner's BO differed depending on attachment style. Specifically, the participants with a dismissing-avoidant attachment style rated their partner's BO as more disgusting than the secure, fearful-avoidant, or preoccupied styles. Moreover, participants with a dismissing-avoidant attachment style rated their partner's and strangers' BO equally disgusting whereas those in the other attachment groups rated strangers' BO as more disgusting than their partner's.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)990-1001
    Number of pages12
    JournalJournal of Applied Social Psychology
    Volume52
    Issue number10
    Early online date1 Aug 2022
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct 2022

    Bibliographical note

    Copyright the Author(s) 2022. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Particular body odors matter: disgust sensitivity differs across attachment groups'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this