This Freakonomics Radio episode explores the nature and implications of disgust, featuring interviews with psychologists Paul Rozin and Val Curtis. The podcast examines the evolutionary origins of disgust, its various categories (including food, hygiene, and moral disgust), and its physiological and emotional manifestations. It discusses how incentives can influence disgust thresholds, highlighting experiments on insect consumption where higher payments led participants to seek information justifying the act. The episode also considers the potential benefits of reducing disgust in areas like water recycling and insect consumption for improved environmental sustainability and food security. Finally, it explores the challenges of introducing insect-based foods to the mainstream market, emphasizing the "ick factor" and the need for creative marketing strategies.
