I wondered what exactly causes this? For example when I look at clusters of holes (trypophpbia) or nasty mold I have a feeling like my skin is crawling, it’s almost itchy.
In: 114
We are thought to have developed some evolutionary defences against things like ticks and bugs which attack us through our skin. One of them is an itchiness or desire to scratch (dislodging or removing such bugs). [Here is one paper on it](https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2021.0376)
Specific types of revulsion / disgust seems to trigger those itchy / skin crawling sensations, usually when the thing we are disgusted by would attract or represent bugs. EG: looking at small holes (where bugs hide), seeing decay or mold (which attracts bugs), seeing spider webs, etc. It is a group of sensations that makes you want to touch and rub your skin. That feeling of ‘disgust’ that accompanies it may similarly be an evolutionary avoidance defence.
Other types of stimula instead trigger other defence mechanisms, IE seeing spoiled food usually instead triggers nausea (our defence after eating bad food), seeing something sudden and scary can trigger shouting/screaming (posturing defence against predators / attacking animals).
Latest Answers