All In The Mind Got the ick? Dating, disgust and evolutionary psychology
Dec 27, 2025
In this fascinating discussion, clinical psychologist Adam Horvath and Professor Gery Karantzas delve into the elusive phenomenon of 'the ick' in dating. They explore how this visceral feeling of disgust can affect mate selection and relationship dynamics. Adam reveals that young women often experience it, tied to evolutionary pressures and personal attachment styles, while Gery highlights how physical traits like clumsiness can trigger it. They also examine the societal impacts of dating apps and the psychological complexities behind this sudden rejection.
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Fedora Turned A Date Into A Dealbreaker
- Michaela describes swiping on a man who wore a Kangol and a felt fedora and felt immediate disgust when she saw the hat.
- She went on two dates but the hat became a symbolic reason she couldn't continue the relationship.
Evolutionary Roots Of The Ick
- Adam Horvath links the ick to the asymmetric cost of mating, explaining why women may be pickier.
- He argues women historically face higher reproductive costs, so they evolved stronger deselection mechanisms.
Clumsiness Signals Lower Mate Value
- Gery Karantzas suggests clumsiness or lethargy signals low vitality and may trigger disgust.
- Such signals could be interpreted as reduced ability to protect or reliably provide, reducing mate value.