The newest TikTok viral trend around eating is called the ‘chicken ick’, however for once it is actually backed up by psychological experts.
This may come as a surprise to anyone who’s ever seen a social media eating trend, with viral ones ranging from a man eating entire blocks of cheese whole to couples using hot honey during sex (this one is slightly less about the food but is still dangerous).
The ‘chicken ick’ however is about people who, midway through a delicious bite of chicken, decide their food is actually disgusting to them.
One TikToker asked whether it was a ‘universal experience’ to worry that a ‘bad piece of chicken might ruin it for you for a month’, and the answer is that whilst it’s not universal it is far more widespread than you’d think.
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Dr Lorenzo Stafford, Associate professor in psychobiological psychology at the University of Portsmouth, has been investigating how our senses link to our general behaviour.
Writing in The Conversation Dr Stafford revealed the psychological basis for this, saying it relates to how our body deals with our disgust response.
These can be broken down into a few reasons as to why chicken and certain other foods can switch on the turn of a dime.
The first he stated was about presentation.
This might be that the chicken ‘tasted, smelled or looked different’ to how you’re used to.
Due to the mismatch from what your brain expects to what you actually get, your feelings can suddenly shift on it.
The second listed by Dr Stafford is about ingredients, as minor changes can totally change the smell or flavour profile even if we aren’t actively perceiving that it tastes or smells that different.
Third and arguably most surprising however is that your doomscrolling habits may actually be your downfall here.
He said in the article that what you are doing before you prepare the dish might be a huge factor in triggering a disgust response, adding: “If you were scrolling on social media looking at unappetising meals before starting to cook your own meal, this can influence the way you subsequently feel about your own food.
“If you were preparing the dish near someone who expressed disgust (even if they only made a face), this can influence your own disgust response.”
This effect is something called ‘emotional contagion’ the unconscious way in which we can catch emotions from others due to the ‘human tendency to mimic others via mirror neurons’.
The UK-based doctor surprisingly revealed that, actually, research has shown this is even more sensitive when it’s with people we date, making it more likely to get the ‘chicken ick’.
Ultimately it’s about managing how and when we are cooking chicken, with the psychological expert stating that there are two ways to come back after experiencing the ‘chicken ick’.
One of these is to prepare the chicken different the next time you eat it to see if it is linked to the specific way it was prepared, whether that be due to a doomscroll on TikTok pre-bite or a change in the smell.
The easiest way however to get over it? Next time have someone else prepare it for you, whether it be a friend, a partner, or the chef at Nandos.
Topics: Food And Drink, TikTok
Michael Slavin