A proximity effect in adults' contamination intuitions

摘要: Magical beliefs about contagion via contact (Rozin, Nemeroff, Wane, & Sherrod, 1989) may emerge when people overgeneralize real-world mechanisms of contamination beyond their appropriate boundaries (Lindeman Aarnio, 2007). Do similarly overextend knowledge airborne mechanisms? Previous work has shown that very young children believe merely being close to a source can contaminate an item (Springer Belk 1994); we asked whether this same hyper-avoidant intuition is also reflected in adults’ judgments. In two studies, measured ratings the desirability object had made with contamination, nearby no contaminant, and far away contact. Adults showed clear proximity effect, wherein objects near were perceived be less desirable than those away, even though separate group adults unanimously acknowledged contaminants could not possibly have either or far-away (Study 1). The effect remained robust third was explicitly told contaminating particles at any time 2). We discuss implications our findings for extending scope magical effects principle, understanding persistence intuitive theories despite broad acceptance science-based theories, constraining interpretations developmental on beliefs.