O cabo de guerra entre a evitação de patógenos e o comportamento sexual em um cenário pandêmico

Abstract

Since the immune defense against pathogens is expensive and merely reactive, human anti- pathogen defense is also characterized by proactive behavioral mechanisms that inhibit contact with pathogens. This behavioral immune system (BIS) comprises psychological processes that reduce the risk of contagion by responding to environmental cues through the activation of aversive behaviors. These processes have important effects on human social cognition and social behavior, including implications for sexual behavior, especially sociosexuality. This is particularly important when new infectious diseases (eg. COVID-19) spread through the population. In our work, we present theoretical concepts about the behavioral immune system, sociosexuality and individual differences. Empirically, we seek to understand, from an evolutionary perspective, whether SBS is related to sociosexual response and anxiety and whether these variables manifest themselves in different ways, according to the sex and sexual orientation of individuals. The research used a set of online questionnaires: sociodemographic questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Perceived Vulnerability to Illness Questionnaire, Pathogen Disgust Subscale, and Short Version of the Sociosexuality Inventory. We had the participation of 274 volunteers, from all regions of the country, aged between 18 and 64, heterosexual and non-heterosexual. In study 1, men had higher levels of sociosexuality, especially in the domains of behavior and desire, but not in attitude; women, on the other hand, showed more significant levels of aversion to pathogens and anxiety. We found negative correlations between BIS and sociosexuality and a positive correlation between BIS and anxiety. Only the behavior domain of sociosexuality was correlated with anxiety. In study 2, non-heterosexual participants scored higher on the sociosexuality questionnaire, being characterized as more sexually unrestrained, while the heterosexual audience scored higher on the moral aversion and germinal aversion scales, although no general differences were found on the total BIS scale. Our data reveal a tension between sexual behavior and the tendency to avoid cues considered potentially pathogenic, indicating that these two aspects are in constant interaction or conflict.