Have you ever looked at someone during flu season and just felt they were sick—even before they said a word?
A new global study suggests that people around the world rely on their eyes and ears more than any other senses to detect illness in others, especially when trying to avoid getting sick themselves.
The study, led by University of Michigan psychology professor Josh Ackerman, asked over 19,000 people from 58 countries which of the five senses—sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste—they think is most useful for spotting illness.
The results were surprisingly consistent: sight came first, followed by hearing. Touch, smell, and taste were seen as less helpful.
Why do people place so much trust in sight and hearing?
Ackerman’s “safe senses” theory offers a clue. He believes people prefer to use senses that work from a distance to avoid the risk of catching germs.
For example, while smelling spoiled milk makes sense in a kitchen, we’re unlikely to lean in close to smell a sick person. The idea is that our brains are wired to keep us at a safe distance when there’s a risk of infection.
Ackerman, who studies how people think about germs, says our beliefs about illness can shape not only our daily behavior but also how we judge others and support certain rules or policies.
For instance, if we believe someone looks or sounds sick, we might avoid them—or even unfairly judge them—whether they’re actually sick or not.
His earlier work showed that Americans tend to rank sight and hearing highest when identifying sick people, with taste coming in last. This new study confirmed that this pattern holds true worldwide.
Cultural differences played only a small role. In some less wealthy countries or those with higher disease rates, hearing and touch were ranked closer together, but overall, the global agreement was striking.
One reason for this consistency may be that illness presents itself in similar ways everywhere, and over time, humans have developed shared beliefs that help us survive. But that doesn’t mean we’re always accurate.
For example, Ackerman’s earlier research found that people aren’t great at judging how sick someone is just by the sound of their cough or sneeze. Still, it’s often safer to assume the worst—just in case.
So, even though our senses can fool us, relying on sight and hearing from a distance may be a useful strategy.
These “safe senses” help us avoid close contact and may reduce the chances of getting sick—one cautious glance or sniffle at a time.
If you care about wellness, please read studies about nutrients that could combat inflammation in older people, and essential foods for healthy aging.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the link between processed foods and chronic diseases, and a simple diet change for a healthier life after 65.
Source: University of Michigan.
