Threats to moral self-perceptions trigger obsessive compulsive contamination-related behavioral tendencies

Background and objectivesObsessive compulsive (OC) phenomena such as contamination fears may lead to significant impairment in daily functioning. In this research, we examined whether threat to moral self-perceptions can trigger contamination-related behavioral tendencies.MethodThree experiments examined the influence of subtle priming of morality-related information on contamination-related behavioral tendencies.ResultsSubtle suggestions of incompetence in the morality self-domain led to heightened OC-related behavioral tendencies. These effects were specific to self-relevant (versus other-relevant), negative (versus positive) information about the morality domain (versus a morality-irrelevant domain). Findings were not related to pre-existing variations in self-esteem, stress, anxiety, or depression, and were not explained by mood fluctuations.LimitationsOur studies were conducted with non-clinical samples.ConclusionsSelf-sensitivities in the moral domain may be causally linked with contamination-related concerns. Treatments addressing such sensitivities may prove useful when treating obsessive compulsive phenomena.

► Self-sensitivities may be causally linked with obsessive compulsive (OC) phenomena.
► Threat to the moral self-domain heightened contamination behavioral tendencies.
► Effects were specific to self-relevant, negative information about morality.
► Effects were not related to pre-existing variations in self-esteem and mood.
► Addressing such sensitivities in treatments of OC phenomena may prove useful.