Sensitivity to disgust as an indicator of neuroticism: A psychobiological approach

This study was conducted to confirm previous questionnaire data claiming higher sensitivity to disgust in neurotics, by an experimental approach. Biological variables which had previously been demonstrated to reflect stress (salivary cortisol) and/or emotional lability (secretory immunoglobulin A = sIgA) were used as markers for reactivity to induced feelings of disgust. Thirty-two healthy male subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental group (induction of disgust) or a control group. Selected sequences of the German movie Die Blechtrommel were used to induce disgust while subjects in the control condition were exposed to neutral movie sequences in a matched order. At defined time points ratings on emotional states as well as saliva samples for determination of sIgA and cortisol were obtained. Subjects were divided into high and low neurotics (N + /N −). The results clearly demonstrate that the movie sequences induced feelings of disgust. However, N + could not be identified as high responders by questionnaire data. With respect to biological responsiveness, marked reductions in sIgA were observed in both groups. However, N − returned to baseline levels within 10 min, whereas in N + decreased secretion rates of sIgA were observed until the end of the experiment. For cortisol no changes could be observed in either group. The results are discussed with respect to a reduced ability to recover or re-adapt in subjects high in neuroticism.