That’s Disgusting: Unraveling the Mysteries of Repulsion

Rachel Herz, Ph.D., Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Brown University

Host: David Inge

Humans are the only animals that experience disgust. It evolved so that we would learn to avoid foods that would make us sick. Over time it has taken on a distinct cultural dimension, becoming a component of both fear and prejudice. Our guest will be Rachel Herz, an expert on the psychology of smell and emotion. We’ll look at how repulsion shapes our everyday lives, from our choices in food to our sex lives to the strategies that marketers and politicians use to manipulate us. It’s all in her new book "That’s Disgusting."

This is a repeat broadcast from Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 11 am