Have you ever wondered why some people are risk-averse while others eagerly jump into the unknown? What generates our rejection of certain foods, situations or even people?
Aversion is a complex emotion that we have all experienced, whether it is a knot in the stomach, an intense repulsion that comes from deep within, or even an overwhelming desire to flee the site. Why do we feel so uncomfortable with certain stimuli or situations? What drives this powerful emotional response? And, above all: how we can manage it so that it does not become an obstacle and does not acquire pathological overtones.
What is aversion exactly?
Aversion is an intense feeling of disgust or rejection towards something or someone. It is an emotional and physical response deeply rooted in human experience that can manifest itself in different contexts, whether in response to physical objects, in certain social situations, with some people or even in response to certain thoughts or emotions.
The biological mechanisms underlying aversion
Aversion is not a mere psychological response, it also originates in our biological processes. A study conducted in the early 1970s, for example, revealed that early learning experiences can shape our food preferences and repulsions. Those scientists discovered that we tend to show aversions to foods that we associate with physical discomfort during childhood, suggesting that learned links become engraved in our brains and can trigger the aversive response later in life.
In fact, aversion is closely related to survival. In evolutionary terms, our ability to notice and avoid potentially dangerous stimuli has been crucial to our survival as a species. For this reason, aversion can be considered a protective mechanism that alerts us to possible threats to safeguard our safety or well-being.
When something disgusts us or greatly displeases us, there is an activation of the autonomic nervous system, which controls our automatic responses to stress and danger. During this experience, our body experiences important physiological changes that are part of the fight or flight response, such as increased heart rate, sweating, and muscle tension.
In fact, a study conducted at New York University found that presenting stimuli previously associated with aversive experiences activates brain regions linked to emotional processing, such as the amygdala and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. What does that mean? That in these conditions an emotional hijacking can occur that prevents us from thinking clearly.
Aversion is also a social and cultural phenomenon
On a psychological level, aversion can also be influenced by past experiences, beliefs, values and social norms. For example, we may develop an aversion to certain foods just because they are not common in our culture.
A study carried out at Duke University found that social prejudices and stereotypes can contribute to developing an aversion towards specific groups of people. These researchers found that people tend to experience greater aversion toward those they perceive as different or threatening to their group identity, which can lead to dehumanizing them.
Without a doubt, the processes of social categorization and intergroup prejudice contribute to the social dynamics that facilitate aversion toward what is unknown or perceived as too different. Why? Simply because those other people, groups or customs are perceived as a threat to social cohesion or group identity. In such cases, aversion acts as a kind of “defense mechanism.”
Obviously, at the base of these aversions is socialization. We are exposed from a young age to a series of cultural norms and values through family, education, the media and other social institutions. During this process we internalize certain attitudes and behaviors that we consider appropriate and we learn to identify those that are inappropriate.
These cultural and social norms end up influencing our perception of what is acceptable or unacceptable, which in the long run can generate an aversion towards certain behaviors or social groups.
The aversion that saves us can become pathological
Aversion is a biopsychosocial mechanism that can be very beneficial in certain cases:
1.Protection and survival. One of the main benefits of aversion is its ability to protect and guarantee our safety and well-being. It alerts us to possible threats, helping us avoid dangerous or potentially harmful situations. For example, an aversion to certain foods can protect us from ingesting toxic or spoiled substances, while an aversion to certain animals or dangerous environments can prevent injuries or accidents.
2. Guidance and decision making. Aversion can also serve as a compass when making decisions, helping us prioritize our actions and resources based on our needs and goals. For example, risk aversion can motivate us to avoid situations that cause us significant discomfort or that may become a source of conflict, facilitating the search for safer or more rewarding alternatives.
3. Emotional regulation. Aversion plays an important role in emotional regulation, allowing us to process and manage difficult or disturbing experiences. By identifying and avoiding stimuli that trigger negative emotions, we can protect ourselves from stress, anxiety and emotional distress, which can ultimately promote our psychological and emotional well-being.
However, aversion creates also problems, to the point of becoming a pathological state:
1. Excessive sensitivity and avoidance. Although aversion can be beneficial in certain contexts, exaggerated sensitivity or extreme avoidance tendencies can cause significant problems in everyday life. Excessive aversion to social situations, for example, can lead to isolation and loneliness, limiting opportunities for interaction and the development of meaningful and satisfying relationships.
2. Perpetuation of prejudices and stereotypes. Aversion can also contribute to perpetuating prejudices and stereotypes towards certain social groups. When based on irrational beliefs or misperceptions, it can lead to discrimination or cause us to treat marginalized people or communities unfairly. This form of aversion ends up undermining social cohesion and contributes to cultural divisions and conflicts.
3. Limitation of experiences and opportunities. Aversion can also significantly limit our experiences and opportunities for personal and professional growth as it restricts our willingness to explore and take on new challenges. Risk aversion, for example, prevents us from facing unknown or uncertain situations, so we can end up missing valuable opportunities.
5 keys to better manage aversion
When aversion is not managed properly, it can become a problem that limits our experiences and interpersonal relationships, so it is important to keep that natural response within healthy limits.
1. Recognize the aversion
When a food disgusts us, it is easy to notice it, but social aversion is a more subtle sensation that can go under the radar of our consciousness. However, recognizing the reactions and emotions it generates is key if we want to learn to manage it.
When we take note of what we are feeling, instead of rejecting or running away from it, we can begin to explore that aversion more constructively. We will also be able to analyze our emotional responses in a more balanced and objective way, asking ourselves if they are really proportionate or if we are getting them out of control.
2. Identify underlying causes
Aversion does not arise out of nowhere, so it is essential to explore its underlying causes. This way we can understand why we react in a certain way to some stimuli, situations or people. Often that involves an inner journey to explore the factors and experiences that are contributing to our emotional response, from our beliefs and values to past experiences and expectations that influence our perception and reaction to what happens.
When we understand what drives us to feel aversion, we can address the problem at its root and develop more effective coping strategies. For example, if we discover that our aversion is related to a negative past experience, we can work on the distress and anxiety it generates to deactivate those psychological triggers.
3. Practice gradual exposure
Systematic desensitization is a psychological technique that consists of gradually exposing ourselves to stimuli that generate aversion in order to reduce the emotional response they generate. Instead of completely avoiding situations that cause us discomfort, we can face them in a controlled way to learn to tolerate discomfort through habituation.
Additionally, gradual exposure gives us the opportunity to learn new coping strategies and better manage our emotional reactions. As we face our aversions, we can feel empowered and expand our world, gaining self-confidence.
4. Challenge irrational thoughts
Many times aversion is accompanied by negative and distorted thoughts that influence our perception of what is happening. It is important to question its validity because changing many of these irrational beliefs will allow us to modify our emotional response and reduce the intensity of rejection.
For example, if we experience aversion to social situations due to fear of rejection, we might challenge the irrational thought that others will judge us negatively. This way we can also replace those irrational thoughts with more realistic and adaptive ideas, which will help us better manage aversion and broaden our perspective.
5. Cultivate self-acceptance and self-compassion
Self-acceptance and self-compassion are essential to managing aversion in a healthy way. Instead of judging ourselves harshly for feeling dislike, we can cultivate an attitude of kindness and compassion toward ourselves. Recognizing our limitations and mistakes allows us to handle aversion with greater calm and emotional balance.
Self-compassion involves developing a kind attitude towards ourselves, especially in times of emotional discomfort. Instead of judging ourselves harshly for our emotional reactions, we should accept them and ourself kindly. This change in the way we relate to ourselves will generate a shock wave of serenity that will help us counteract emotions such as anxiety, anguish or anger that aversion often generates.
References:
Harris, L. T., & Fiske, S. T. (2011) Dehumanized perception: A psychological means to facilitate atrocities, torture, and genocide? Zeitschrift Für Psychologie; 219(3): 175–181.
Phelps, E. A. et. Al. (2001) Activation of the left amygdala to a cognitive representation of fear. Nature Neuroscience; 4(4): 437–441.
Rozin, P., & Kalat, J. W. (1971) Specific hungers and poison avoidance as adaptive specializations of learning. Psychological Review; 78(6): 459–486.
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