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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behavioral immune system | 3/3 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_immune_system | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T15:10:05.621127+00:00 | kb-cron |
=== Compensatory === In the absence of an immediate pathogen threat, the PIS and BIS may not be complimentary, but compensatory. For example, in an experiment that stimulated release of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1b, TNF-alpha) collected from healthy individuals, were not related to self-reported germ aversion, but in-vivo IL-6 levels were negatively correlated to germ aversion and perceived longevity. This research may highlight the function of the BIS for long-term health by decreasing proinflammatory responses (function of IL-6), linked to diseases of aging. Research also indicates that immune-relevant interventions which target pathogen transmission can interrupt behavioral responses. For example, receiving a flu vaccination or washing one's hands can reduce the extent of negative interpersonal and intergroup attitudes elicited by disease cues and concerns.
== Sickness behavior == The large body of literature on the behavioral immune system is focused on behaviors triggered by pathogen cues in the environment and the role disgust plays in mitigating exposure before infection. However, the emotion associated with being sick, lassitude, that is triggered by an active infection may also act as behavioral defense mechanism against pathogens. One study suggests that lassitude may help fight against an active infection by:
reducing energetically expensive movement to make more energy available to the immune system. reducing exposure to additional infections and injuries that would increase the immune systems' workload. promoting thermoregulatory behaviors that facilitate immunity. regulating food consumption to be beneficial for the host but detrimental to pathogens. deploying strategies that elicit caregiving behavior from social allies.
== COVID-19 == The behavioral immune system's prediction of ingroup favoritism and ethnocentric beliefs has been applied to individual beliefs during the global pandemic, COVID-19. In several studies, individuals who scored higher in dispositional worry about disease reported stronger preference for restrictive travel bans on several regions of Asia. One study found that as COVID-19 cases increased, individuals reported higher concern about contracting the virus and showed greater levels of Right-Wing Authoritarianism, including conservatism and traditionalism. Experimental increase of pandemic salience also increased support of travel bans on high risk nation (China and Italy), but not on low risk nations like Canada and Mexico. Another study measuring individual perceived vulnerability to disease (PVD) and responses to COVID-19 found that higher PVD was positively associated with stronger reactions to the threat of COVID-19, including increased anxiety, perceptions that people should alter their typical behavior, and self-reported importance of social distancing.
== References ==
== External links == Behavioral immune system publications on Mark Schaller's website "Is Patriotism a Subconscious Way for Humans to Avoid Disease," Discover magazine "You Can Blame the Bugs," Newsweek magazine