Comparing the roles of washing and non-washing behaviour in the reduction of mental contamination

• We investigated whether mental contamination can be reduced by washing behaviour.
• Mental contamination decreased even without washing behaviours.
• Washing behaviours are no more effective than waiting without washing.

Background and objectivesMental contamination is the experience of feelings of dirtiness without direct physical contact with a contaminant. Imagining a non-consensual kiss from an immoral man (Dirty Kiss task) can evoke feelings of mental contamination in non-clinical female participants. We investigated whether feelings of mental contamination evoked by the Dirty Kiss task are reduced by washing behaviours.MethodsForty-eight female participants were split into two groups: washing (n=24; asked to wash their hands and mouth after the Dirty Kiss task) and non-washing (n=24; asked to wait without engaging in any behaviour after the Dirty Kiss task). Indices of mental contamination were administered before, immediately after, 5 min after, and 20 min after the task.ResultsMental contamination scores did not significantly differ between the groups at any point. However, in both groups, scores immediately after the Dirty Kiss task were significantly higher than those 5 or 20 min later.LimitationsThe long-term effects of washing behaviour on mental contamination were not clarified.ConclusionsMental contamination can be reduced by washing behaviour, although no more effectively than waiting without washing.