How the behavioral immune system influences negative attitude towards the specific group

Abstract

The behavioral immune system (BIS) regulates one’s cognition, emotion, behavior for avoiding diseases. History shows that disgust as the key component of the behavioral immune system has played a crucial role in the spread of extreme out-group exclusion. This article aimed to examine how the BIS influences negative attitude towards the specific group. A broad range of literature review suggested that the fundamental principles of the BIS, smoke-detector principle and functional flexibility principle, are essential for understanding this issue. Previous studies showed individual differences in disgust sensitivity and perceived vulnerability to disease affect the negative attitude towards the specific group based on the BIS. Presence of disease cues also facilitates the formation of such attitude. In addition, the literature review revealed information provides the disease context can easily alter an individual’s attitudes towards the specific group in a negative direction. Furthermore, based on these findings, the direction of future research is discussed.