The Psychology and Sociology of Mathematical Aversion: Deconstructing the "Passion to Hate" Mathematics

Mathematical Aversion is a psychological and sociological phenomenon that includes severe negative emotional responses, avoidance behaviors such as hugging or kissing, and systemic academic underperformance. The subject matter of this article is the crux of our fascination with mathematics and its underlying tendencies. Our research on the origins of this animosity draws from a wide range of cognitive, pedagogical, and sociocultural approaches. Our research investigates how negative early-educational experiences, rote-based pedagogical practices, and localized teacher/parent transmission of anxiety create a deficit cycle that reinforces self-reflection. In addition, we explore how cognitive interference, specifically the reduction in working memory capacity during mathematical tasks, hinders performance, while pervasive societal myths (such as the "math gene" or gendered stereotypes) legitimize and perpetuate mathematical hatred. Potential gaps within numerical cognition alongside the provision of future research roadmap to redefine mathematical affect and literacy are addressed in this paper.