Interpersonal distance modulation by facial disease cues: Gender differences and increased avoidance

The distance we keep between ourselves and others without feeling uncomfortable is called interpersonal distance (IPD). It has been suggested that IPD is implicated in pathogen avoidance, as keeping greater distances from those who are (or are perceived as) sick can decrease contamination risk. While some studies have started to investigate this hypothesis, no study to date has used conspicuous disease-connoting cues in faces, highly relevant sources of social information. Thus, the present study sought to explore whether commonly found facial disease cues (i.e., flu-like appearance and facial rash) could modulate participants’ IPD behavior. In a computerized version of the paper-and-pencil IPD task, participants (N = 70) were asked to indicate, by moving a virtual silhouette representing themselves, the distance they would be comfortable taking in social interaction with a male or female stranger that could display (or not) a facial disease cue. Results showed that, on average, participants assumed greater distances toward stranger avatars when they were associated with facial disease cues, compared to control avatars. Furthermore, whilst male avatars were associated with a greater IPD across conditions, female avatars suffered a greater IPD increase when exposed to facial disease cues, compared to the former. These findings support the defensive role of the behavioral immune system and highlight the relationship of the latter with gender stereotypes. Implications regarding how the threat of contagion can lead to aversive responses towards those who bear facial “disfigurements” are also discussed.