Work

From decay to delight: Disgust processing among extreme metal enthusiasts

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Disgust is a basic emotion that likely evolved as a protective mechanism to steer humans away from potential sources of disease. This study investigated the relationship between an inclination toward the music genre ‘extreme metal’ (EM), which is associated with themes of core disgust (death and decay)—and the evaluation of disgust elicitors across various domains and modalities.We compared emotional responses to generally disgusting and EM-related stimuli across three different paradigms (songs/sounds, album covers/images, written lyrics) between 116 extreme metal fans and 116 fans of other music genres matched for sex, age, and education (68 male, mean age = 32 years, mean years of education = 13 years).EM fans consistently rated both general and EM-specific disgust stimuli lower than other music fans across all paradigms. Moreover, they reported lower overall disgust propensity. This finding suggests that lower disgust propensity may predispose individuals to EM music or that repeated exposure to such content leads to desensitization. Additionally, the presentation of disgust in an artistic format may offer unconventional aesthetics, allowing fans to connect with the music on a deeper level. Ultimately, this study enhances our understanding of how music preferences correlate with emotional processing, particularly in the context of disgust.

Source: Personality and Individual Differences

DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2025.113281

Authors: Albert Wabnegger, Anne Schienle

Institutions: University of Graz, BioTechMed-Graz

Language: English

Topic: Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,170