Disgust facts for kids
Disgust is a strong emotion we feel when something seems really yucky or unpleasant. It's like a warning signal from our brain! We might feel disgust when we see, touch, smell, or taste something that seems dirty, spoiled, or just plain gross. For example, finding moldy food or a really messy room can make us feel disgusted.
This feeling can also come from things we hear or even from certain actions people do that we find morally wrong or offensive. How much disgust someone feels can be different for everyone, depending on their culture, beliefs, and what they've experienced in life. Sometimes, people might even do things on purpose to make others feel disgusted.
Contents
What is Disgust?
Disgust is one of the main human emotions, just like happiness, sadness, or anger. It helps us stay safe by telling us to avoid things that could be harmful, like rotten food or dirty places that might have germs. It's a natural reaction that has helped people survive for a very long time.
Why Do We Feel Disgust?
Our bodies are designed to protect us. When we feel disgust, it's often because something might make us sick or hurt us.
- Avoiding Sickness: Imagine smelling milk that has gone bad. Your nose tells your brain it's spoiled, and you feel disgusted, so you don't drink it. This stops you from getting a stomach ache!
- Staying Clean: Seeing dirt or grime can make us feel disgusted, which encourages us to clean up. This helps prevent the spread of germs.
- Social Rules: Sometimes, disgust helps us follow social rules. For example, we might feel disgusted by rude behavior, which helps us understand what is acceptable in society.
Common Things That Cause Disgust
Many things can trigger disgust. Here are some common examples:
- Bad Smells: The smell of rotten eggs, garbage, or strong chemicals.
- Unpleasant Tastes: Food that is spoiled, bitter, or has a strange texture.
- Gross Sights: Things like vomit, blood, or certain insects.
- Uncleanliness: Very dirty places, unwashed hands, or messy surroundings.
- Moral Disgust: Sometimes, we feel disgust when someone does something we think is unfair, cruel, or very wrong. This is a different kind of disgust, linked to our sense of right and wrong.
Disgust and Our Bodies
When you feel disgusted, your body might react in certain ways. You might:
- Wrinkle your nose or pull back your lips.
- Feel a knot in your stomach or even feel like throwing up.
- Try to move away from the thing causing the disgust.
These physical reactions are part of your body's way of protecting itself from something it perceives as harmful or unpleasant.
Images for kids
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Oscar Gustave Rejlander showing disgust in pictures from Charles Darwin's The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
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The insula of the left side, exposed by removing the opercula. From Henry Gray, Warren Harmon Lewis (1918). Anatomy of the Human Body. Fig. 731
See also
- In Spanish: Asco para niños
