Journal of Psychology & Behavioral Science

The Role of Danger Expectancies and Disgust in Obsessive-Compulsive Washing
Ms Leonie MacDonald, Dr Mairwen K. Jones

Abstract
Cognitive Appraisal Models of OCD washing contend that elevated danger expectancies serve as an important risk factor for the disorder. Evidence also indicates that OCD washers may have heightened disgust experiences in response to certain stimuli. This study examined the contribution of danger expectancies and disgust to OCD washing phenomena in a sample of undergraduate students (n=63). All participants completed a Behavioural Avoidance Test (BAT) consisting of a garbage bin containing a mixture of potting soil, raw meat, animal hair and food scraps. Thirty-three participants were randomly allocated to experience a disgust evoking smell during the BAT (disgust condition) and 30 were randomly allocated to a control condition (no disgust evoking smell). Participants exposed to the smell and those with higher levels of pre-existing trait disgust were more likely to avoid the task. Further, participants who had high danger expectancies for the likelihood and severity of a consequent disease showed increased avoidance behaviour. Finally, danger expectancies mediated the relationship between trait disgust and BAT avoidance and exposure to the disgusting smell increased hand sanitiser use post- BAT. The implications of these findings for future research and clinical practice are discussed.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jpbs.v3n1a14