The relative effect of ''field'' and ''observer'' perspective on the experience of disgust

Several researchers have studied the relative effects of 'field' and 'observer' perspectives on the experience of emotions such as social anxiety, anger, depression and trauma. A review of existing literature revealed that the effect of imagery shift on disgust has not been taken into account. The aim of this exploratory study is to investigate the effect of imagery perspective on experience of disgust. It was hypothesized that disgust level and imagery perspective would be associated with levels of imagination difficulty, disgust, unpleasantness run away and urge for neutralization, and accordingly, it was hypothesized that field perspective would predict higher levels of imagination difficulty, disgust, unpleasantness run away and urge for neutralization. 120 participants (22 male and 98 female) were recruited for the present study and were randomly assigned to four different experimental conditions which are High Disgust Stimuli-Field Perspective, High Disgust Stimuli-Observer Perspective, Neutral Disgust Stimuli-Field Perspective, and Neutral Disgust Stimuli-Observer Perspective groups. In order to examine pretest conditions and differences between groups prior to experimental manipulations, they were asked to complete self-report ratings. Then, they completed the visual analog scale following the imagination phase and picture presentation. The interaction between imagery perspective and disgust level was examined by using between subjects analysis of variances. Results indicate that there is a significant difference between high and neutral disgust stimuli regarding disgust reactions while there is no association found between participants' imagery perspective and experience of disgust. The findings also reveal that neither field nor observer perspective could differentiate imagination difficulty, unpleasantness, disgust, run away and urge for neutralization level. Although no significant effect of imagery perspective was found in this study, it is a pioneering study that focuses on the disgust, and imagery perspective. The results are discussed in terms of potential weaknesses and possible significance forfuture studies.