From decay to delight: Disgust processing among extreme metal enthusiasts

Disgust is a basic emotion that likely evolved as a protective mechanism to steer humans away from potential sources of disease. This study investigated the relationship between an inclination toward the music genre ‘extreme metal’ (EM), which is associated with themes of core disgust (death and decay)—and the evaluation of disgust elicitors across various domains and modalities. We compared emotional responses to generally disgusting and EM-related stimuli across three different paradigms (songs/sounds, album covers/images, written lyrics) between 116 extreme metal fans and 116 fans of other music genres matched for sex, age, and education (68 male, mean age = 32 years, mean years of education = 13 years). EM fans consistently rated both general and EM-specific disgust stimuli lower than other music fans across all paradigms. Moreover, they reported lower overall disgust propensity. This finding suggests that lower disgust propensity may predispose individuals to EM music or that repeated exposure to such content leads to desensitization. Additionally, the presentation of disgust in an artistic format may offer unconventional aesthetics, allowing fans to connect with the music on a deeper level. Ultimately, this study enhances our understanding of how music preferences correlate with emotional processing, particularly in the context of disgust. • Extreme metal fans are characterized by reduced disgust propensity • Extreme metal fans showed lower disgust ratings for general and EM-specific stimuli. • People with low disgust may prefer disgust-themed EM or become desensitized to it. • EM music's portrayal of disgust may link music preferences to emotional processing.