Individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) tend to report higher levels of disgust, but not much is known about factors that might underlie this relationship. The present study was motivated by the behavioral immune theory, which suggests that disgust has evolved as a protective reaction to potential presence of disease agents in the immediate environment. We examined the relationships between the intensity of experienced physical disgust, perceived vulnerability to disease, and OCD symptoms. The intensity of experienced disgust was assessed with a recent procedure whereby participants rate how disgusted they feel in response to color versus black-and-white pictures that evoke physical disgust. In addition to this procedure, participants (N = 403) completed measures of perceived vulnerability to disease, OCD symptoms, depression and anxiety. OCD symptoms were positively related to the physical disgust evoked by the pictures, and this relationship was mediated by reported emotional discomfort in contexts that connote a potential for pathogen transmission. Replicating previous findings, color pictures were rated as more disgusting than black-and-white pictures overall, and this effect was especially pronounced among people with higher OCD tendencies. These results suggest that, consistent with behavioral immune theory, disgust in OCD is a basic, concrete emotion that is at least partly mediated by fear of pathogens.

强迫症（OCD）的人倾向于报告较高的厌恶程度，但对于可能造成这种关系的因素知之甚少。本研究受到行为免疫理论的启发，该理论表明，厌恶已经演变为对周围环境中潜在病原体的保护性反应。我们检查了经历过的身体厌恶的强度，对疾病的感知脆弱性和强迫症症状之间的关系。通过最近的程序评估经历过的厌恶的强度，根据参与者对彩色图像和唤起身体厌恶的黑白图像的反应，参与者对自己的厌恶程度进行评估。除此程序外，参与者（N = 403）还完成了对疾病易感性，OCD症状，抑郁和焦虑。OCD症状与图片引起的身体不适呈正相关，并且这种关系是由报道的情绪不适介导的，这暗示着病原体可能传播。重复以前的发现，彩色图片在整体上被认为比黑白图片更令人恶心，并且这种效果在OCD倾向较高的人群中尤为明显。这些结果表明，与行为免疫理论一致，强迫症的厌恶是一种基本的，具体的情绪，至少部分由对病原体的恐惧引起。彩色图片总体上比黑白图片更令人恶心，这种效果在OCD倾向较高的人群中尤为明显。这些结果表明，与行为免疫理论一致，强迫症的厌恶是一种基本的，具体的情绪，至少部分由对病原体的恐惧引起。彩色图片总体上比黑白图片更令人恶心，这种效果在OCD倾向较高的人群中尤为明显。这些结果表明，与行为免疫理论一致，强迫症的厌恶是一种基本的，具体的情绪，至少部分由对病原体的恐惧引起。