Higher scores on the mini-k life history battery are associated with greater disgust sensitivity on the three domains of disgust scale

Abstract

Disgust is a universal emotion that promotes protective behaviors in three distinct domains: sexual, moral, and pathogenic. There is considerable individual variation in sensitivity to disgust, and past research suggests individuals with slower life history strategies are more sensitive to stimuli that provoke pathogen and moral disgust. We hypothesized that such individuals would also be more sensitive to disgust in a sexual context. Two hundred seventy-seven participants completed the Mini-K Life History Battery and the Three Domains of Disgust Scale. A slower life history strategy (as reflected by a higher Mini-K score) was associated with increased sensitivity to sexual, pathogen, and moral disgust. Removal of items with potential overlap did not affect the significance of the results. These findings suggest that the K-factor of life history is associated with increased disgust sensitivity across all three domains.