A new study showed a link between strong right-wing views and fear of disease and increased concern about hygiene.
The study showed that people who are more offended by bad odors are more likely to support authoritarian leaders, such as Donald Trump.
In the past, disgust at bad odors was important for survival. The scientists suggested that the disgust at unfamiliar odors may be linked to a desire to keep apart from "culturally unfamiliar" groups.
[...] In the new study, 160 people were rated on their aversion to bodily odours on a scale to one five and their responses compared to their political views. It found that each point higher on the disgust scale was associated with feeling 7.5 points more positive towards authoritarian leaders.
[...] It showed that people who were more disgusted by smells were also more likely to vote for Donald Trump than those who were less sensitive.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 01 2018, @02:40PM
The article is about being grossed out by bad smells. It is not about the sensitivity of the smeller. This is similar to the idea that jews are not grossed out by anything we humans are grossed out by, even though they may have similar sense of smell. They do smell how bad their odor is; they are just not grossed out by it. It is natural to them... like rats on a garbage dump.