Washing Away Your Sins: Threatened Morality and Physical Cleansing
@article{Zhong2006WashingAY, title={Washing Away Your Sins: Threatened Morality and Physical Cleansing}, author={C. Zhong and Katie A. Liljenquist}, journal={Science}, year={2006}, volume={313}, pages={1451 - 1452} }
Physical cleansing has been a focal element in religious ceremonies for thousands of years. The prevalence of this practice suggests a psychological association between bodily purity and moral purity. In three studies, we explored what we call the “Macbeth effect”—that is, a threat to one's moral purity induces the need to cleanse oneself. This effect revealed itself through an increased mental accessibility of cleansing-related concepts, a greater desire for cleansing products, and a greater… Expand
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