Contamination in Trypophobia: investigating the role of disgust

Figures & data

Table 1. Questionnaire descriptive statistics.

Measure/Max score	Trypophobic Group		Control Group
	Mean (SD)	Range	Mean (SD)	Range
TQ /85	45.8 (11.3)*	32–83	21.0 (4.0)	17–31
Total DS-R /4	2.5 (0.6)*	1.2–3.7	2.2 (0.6)	0.7–3.6
Core /4	2.8 (0.6)*	1.4–3.8	2.4 (0.7)	0.5–3.8
Animal remind. /4	2.7 (0.8)*	0.3–4.0	2.3 (0.9)	0.1–4.0
Contamination /4	1.6 (0.8)*	0.0–3.4	1.2 (0.7)	0.0–3.0

Note: Trypophobic: N = 85; Control: N = 206.

*p < .001.

Table 2. Three-way ANOVA emotion ratings across all object categories.

Effect	F	df	p	ηp^2
Group	10.35	1, 121	.002	.08
Object Category	67.32	3, 119	<.001	.36
Emotion	101.48	1, 121	<.001	.46
Object Category × Group	8.85	3, 119	<.001	.07
Object Category × Emotion	38.58	3, 119	<.001	.24
Emotion × Group	0.29	1, 121	.593	.00
Object Category × Emotion × Group	42.41	3, 119	.58	.01

Note: N = 123.

Figure 1. (a) Interaction effect object category × group: emotion ratings pencil#1 for each object category and group (M and SE). (b) Interaction effect object category × emotion: emotion ratings pencil#1 for each object category (M and SE)

Figure 2. Emotion ratings for natural and human-made trypophobic objects by group (M and SE).

Table 3. Frequency of agreement with statements by group.

	Trypophobic group	Control group
	Percentage (Frequency)	Percentage (Frequency)
Can’t see what’s in there	92 (57)*	72 (44)
Something gross in there	87 (54)*	51 (31)
Holes are different sizes	86 (53)	74 (45)
Too many holes	82 (51)*	31 (19)
Something is hiding in there	77 (48)	64 (39)
Germs or bacteria on object	76 (47)	79 (48)
Holes too close together	69 (43)*	18 (11)
Holes too deep	66 (41)*	34 (21)
Something dangerous in there	58 (36)	44 (27)
Could get bitten/stung when touching	52 (32)	46 (28)
Something liquid/slimy in there	47 (29)**	28 (17)
Dirt in holes	47 (29)	59 (36)
Curious what’s in there	32 (20)	46 (28)
Could get poisoned when touching	16 (10)	8 (5)

Note: Trypophobic: N = 62; Control: N = 61.

*p < .001.

**p = .03.