This episode explores the emotion of disgust and its surprising role in decision-making and political opinions. Political psychologist Cindy Kam uses personal anecdotes, such as her family's experience with deep-fried cicadas, to illustrate the visceral nature of disgust. Against this backdrop, she explains how disgust, while a basic emotion with physiological responses, is also culturally learned and shapes our reactions to various things, from food safety to political policies. More significantly, Kam's research reveals that disgust sensitivity, a personality trait measuring the intensity of one's disgust response, correlates with support for policies perceived as protective, whether it's stricter food safety regulations or border controls during disease outbreaks. For instance, the public's reaction to Upton Sinclair's *The Jungle* led to landmark food safety legislation, highlighting disgust's power to drive societal change. However, Kam cautions that disgust, fueled by imagination and conditioned responses, can also lead to irrational fears and intolerance. Ultimately, the episode emphasizes the importance of recognizing disgust's influence on our choices and consciously deciding when to let it guide our actions or override it with reason.
