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Member Information
Paul Rozin, PhD
Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Professor, Department of Psychology
Office Phone: 215-898-7632
Office Fax: 215-898-1982
Email: rozin@psych.upenn.edu
Website(s):
Education: AB 1956, University of Chicago ; PhD 1961, Harvard University - Biology and Psychology
Keywords: psychology, contagion, disgust, food, culture
Research and/or Clinical Interests:
Magical thinking, beliefs about contagion, disgust, acquisition of food preferences, attitudes to food, biological and cultural perspectives.
Summary:
I take biological, psychological, and cultural perspectives on the problem of the role of food in human life. This includes study of the acquisition of food preferences, attitudes to food and health, the nature of disgust, and magical thinking, especially beliefs about contagion. The latter work makes my work relevant to lay conceptions of AIDS re contagion, ideas of contamination, etc. I also study "moralization," the attribution of moral values to activities such as smoking, eating high fat foods, and behaviors that put one at risk for contracting AIDS.
Representative Publications:
Rozin, P., Markwith, M., & McCauley, C. R. (1994). The nature of aversion to indirect contact with other persons: AIDS aversion as a composite of aversion to strangers, infection, moral taint and misfortune. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 103, 495-504.
Nemeroff, C., & Rozin, P. (1994). The contagion concept in adult thinking in the United States : Transmission of germs and interpersonal influence. Ethos, 22, 158-186.
Rozin, P., Nemeroff, C., Horowitz, M., Gordon, B., & Voet, W. (1995). The borders of the self: Contamination sensitivity and potency of the mouth, other apertures and body parts. Journal of Research in Personality, 29, 318-340.
Rozin, P. (1997). Moralization. In A. Brandt & P. Rozin (Eds.). Morality and health (pp. 379-401) ( New York : Routledge).
Rozin, P. (1998). Towards a psychology of food choice. Danone Chair Monograph. Brussels , Belgium : Institut Danone. (collection of Rozin reprints and two brief original articles).
