This research finds that past behaviors with positive implications can be dispersed by hand washing. This is illustrated by applying two previously well-discussed phenomena endowment effect and embodiment. Embodiment describes fact that cognitive evaluations depend on physiological processes. Endowment effect is concerned with the phenomenon; individuals attach higher value to objects they own than to objects that are not in their possession. Detaching the ties of psychological ownership and

more »

... s aversion by physical cleansing, the present study offers embodiment of hand washing as a possibility to redeem the endowment effect. Research in the domain of embodiment provides evident support for the effect of embodied processes on our cognitive valuations. Physical cleansing influences moral transgressions and postdecisional dissonance. For the first time this study examines the impact of hand washing in the domain of decision-making on the basis of the endowment effect. While previous research focused on the dispersing effect physical cleansing has on negative traces of behavior the actual study provides evidence for the dispersing impact on positive traces in the domain of psychological ownership. In an experiment (n=105) participants were endowed each with one of two equally evaluated objects. The results show that the endowment was eliminated by the treatment of hand washing. Thus, this study provides clear support for the impact of hand washing on psychological ownership and identifies embodiment as a primary motor of loss aversion and the endowment effect. Results are discussed with regards to future research in human decision-making.