Moral contagion effects in everyday interpersonal encounters

• Contact with moral transgressors induces experiences of immorality (i.e., guilt).
• Moral contagion can occur through indirect and direct interpersonal contact.
• Moral contagion is moderated by disgust sensitivity.

Are people's essences fully restricted to their physical forms, or can residues of their perceived character be transmitted to others by mere physical contact? The present research investigated the interpersonal effects of contagion in the context of immoral behavior. The findings from two experiments revealed that after participants came into both indirect and direct physical contact with a moral transgressor, they experienced more state guilt. Further, the effect was moderated by disgust sensitivity — namely, after touching an unethical person, those with high disgust sensitivity reported more guilt than those with low disgust sensitivity. This is the first research to demonstrate that physical contact with a morally tainted person can affect one's own immorality (i.e., guilt) and hence provides evidence for “moral transfer.” These findings further highlight disgust sensitivity as an important mechanism undergirding psychological contagion. Implications for daily life and directions for future research are discussed.