Presentation Schedule
Pathogen Avoidance and Political Orientation: Are Conservatives or Liberals More Concerned About Pathogen Threats? (105529)
Tuesday, 24 March 2026 16:00
Session: Poster Session 3
Room: Orion Hall (5F)
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a robust literature suggested that trait pathogen avoidance—an evolutionary motivational tendency to be concerned about pathogen threats—was positively associated with conservatism, including in the United States. During the pandemic, however, conservatives in the United States became increasingly hesitant to accept CDC recommendations. Given the threat posed by COVID-19, we hypothesized that this sociocultural shift may have changed the association between trait pathogen avoidance and conservatism. In Study 1, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies (k=71) on the association between pathogen avoidance and political orientation, using time as a moderator. Time significantly moderated the association. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, pathogen avoidance was associated with conservatism; but after the COVID-19 pandemic, pathogen avoidance was associated with liberalism. In Study 2 (N=1829) we found that pathogen avoidance was also associated with liberal health care attitudes, and voting for liberal over conservative candidates in the 2020 and 2022 U.S. elections. In Study 3 (N=696), we found that liberals were more likely to be concerned about, and pay attention to, information about the 2025 measles outbreaks in the U.S. We also tested whether this shift may be due to socially desirable responding to trait pathogen avoidance instruments. In Study 4 (data collection in progress), participants instead listened to clips of coughing/sneezing. We hypothesize that conservatives will be more disgusted by the coughs/sneezes. Our research can inform political leadership about how and why pathogen threats are perceived differently depending on one’s political orientation.
Authors:
Marius Unnvik, University of Arkansas, United States
Anastasia Makhanova, University of Arkansas, United States
About the Presenter(s)
Marius Økland Unnvik, PhD student in experimental psychology at the University of Arkansas.
Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marius-unnvik-b43998226/
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