Disgust

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I am a vomiter. If I am not feeing well, one of the first signs is I am nauseated. As someone with a sensitive stomach, it’s a familiar feeling.

When one studies conscientiousness in psychology, one hears about the element of disgust. I found this interesting. When we think of disgust, we think of a cringing facial expression or someone vomiting. Take a minute and think about something disgusting. You will probably flinch.

Vomiting expels toxins. It keeps out pathogens, as Jordan B. Peterson teaches. It keeps us pure. It cleans us out.

Disgust plays a big role in order. Disgust is often perceived as fear, but it’s not fear, Jordan B. Peterson explains. To maintain order and draw boundaries, you must be disgusted or guarded against something that will destroy or taint something you desire to protect.

One could easily argue that part of society’s problem is its lack of disgust and lack of guarding against certain things. If everything is acceptable, nothing remains pure or set apart. Everything becomes infected with a pathogen that may be lethal.

Is there anything we need to re-cultivate disgust for? Are there pathogens we need to expel? Have we become unbalanced?Perhaps disgust is worth revisiting.