Study links body odour sensitivity to a person’s political viewpoint

People drawn to authoritarian leaders are more likely to wrinkle their noses at unpleasant body smells, a study has found.

The more democratically minded appear to be less bothered by a bit of armpit odour. Donald Trump’s supporters fall into the first category, according to the Swedish researchers.

The findings are linked to a deep-seated instinct to avoid infectious diseases, which are associated with nasty smells, the psychologists believe. Lead author Dr Jonas Olofsson, from the University of Stockholm, said: “There was a solid connection between how strongly someone was disgusted by smells and their desire to have a dictator-like leader who can suppress radical protest movements and ensure that different groups ‘stay in their places’.

“That type of society reduces contact among different groups and, at least in theory, decreases the chance of becoming ill.”

“Disgust” is a recognised basic emotion that evolved for survival. Fundamentally it offers protection against potentially infectious and harmful things, such as rotten meat, vomit and excrement.

Dr Oloffson’s team theorised there may be a link between feelings of disgust and how a person wants society to be organised.

To test the idea, the researchers developed a scale that allowed study participants to rate their levels of disgust when exposed to body odours such as sweat.