Biological Theories of Attraction - Human Relationships Flashcards
Biological Theories of Attraction
The biological approach argues that human attraction has its roots in natural selection – that is, we are attracted to the traits that would have the greatest advantage for our potential offspring. They also argue that attraction is primarily a physiological response. These physiological responses include neurotransmitters, hormones, and potentially, pheromones.
Limitations of the Biological Theories of Attraction
Most of the research is correlational in nature
(Not possible to determine a cause-and-effect relationship)
Most research uses animals models
(Assumptions about the level to which we can compare human relationships to what is observed in animal kingdom)
characteristic of romantic love
Characteristic symptom of romanitc love: obsession with the loved one. Lovers aren’t able to turn off thoughts, so they spend most of their time thinking about their loved ones. E.j. daydreaming of said loved partner / constant texting of new partners. When a person is attracted to someone: they show features such as altered mental state with mood swings from depression to joy - depending on response of the loved one.
Characteristic of Romantic Love determined by Helen Fisher
Romantic love should be seen as motivation system
Shared with other mammals
Specific attraction system in the brain associated with dopamine-rich area
Attraction system evolved to attract mates and enable individuals to focus their mating energy on specific partner
System characterized as biochemical cocktail including neurotransmitters
Overwhelming sense of obsession with loved one and head spins and heart races
This is result of biochemical cocktail ← according to research by Fisher et al. (2005)
Neurotransmitters + 1 odd one out in love cocktail
Dopamine
Noradrenaline
Serotonin
Testosterone - NOT a neurotransmitter
dopamine
Feel-good neurotransmitter.
Responsible for motivation
Whenever you think of the person – dopamine is released
noradrenaline
Controls emotions and stress
Extra does in system: increases alertness and attentives to partner
Provides rush of excitment
Stimualted the production of adrenaline – heart races and palms sweaty
serotonine
Levels drop when in love
Low level in new love causes obsessive thinking and heightened mood extremes often expereince in new relationship
testosterone
Increases sexual desire toward new partner
Increases feeling of aggression – motivate you to actively pursue partner
Fisher et al. (2005)
neurotrasmitters bioloigcal theories of attraction
AIM: Investigate the neural mechanisms associated with romantic love.
PROCEDURE:
Participants: 10 women and 7 men, self-selected sample, intensely in love for an average of 7.4 months.
Participants underwent a semi-structured interview to establish the duration and intensity of their romantic feelings.
Completed the Passionate Love Scale (Likert scale questionnaire) to measure traits associated with romantic love and correlate these with brain activity.
During the fMRI scan:
Participants viewed a photograph of their beloved for 30 seconds.
Followed by a filler task to distract them.
Then viewed a neutral photograph for 30 seconds.
Repeated six times
FINDINGS:
Brain’s reward system was particularly active when participants looked at the photograph of their beloved.
Increased activity in areas of the brain with high levels of dopamine neurons.
Stronger activity in the reward system was correlated with higher passion scores from the Passionate Love Scale.
Fisher concluded that romantic love is not an emotion but a motivation system (a craving or need) designed to enable mating.
Dopamine drives intense motivation to pursue a specific mating partner, explaining symptoms like increased energy, obsessive following, sleeplessness, and loss of appetite.
evaluation points for fisher et al (2005)
Strengths:
Use of fMRI provided objective, reliable data on brain activity.
High level of control over experimental conditions (e.g., consistent stimuli and procedure).
Study supports existing theories of the brain’s reward system and dopamine’s role in motivation.
Limitations:
Small sample size and self-selected participants limit generalizability.
Lack of diversity (age, cultural background) in the sample.
Artificial nature of the task (viewing photographs) may not fully represent romantic love in real-life contexts (low ecological validity).
Potential for demand characteristics as participants knew the study involved romantic love.
Attachment
relationship developes over a couple moves from attraction to intimate relationship with feelings of comfort, security, and relatedness. Considered fundamental to keep 2 individuals together. Same for child and mother as it is for adult relationships
attachement behavior
innate attachment system that includes specific behaviors and physiological responses
Role of Vasopressin
Vasopressin is a hormone released during sex, potentially influencing long-term commitment.
Plays a significant role in male attachment and mating behavior in certain species.
Winslow et al. (1993)
Prairie Voles Study
Prairie voles form stable pair bonds and have frequent sex beyond reproductive purposes, similar to humans.
Male voles given a drug to suppress vasopressin effects:
Lost devotion to their mates.
Stopped protecting mates from rivals.
Conclusion: Vasopressin is important for pair bonding and protective behavior in male voles.
oxytocin
Hormone that plays a role in human mating. Released in both men and women during touching and sex. Intensifies feelings of attachement. Also released in childbirth → secure bond between mother and infant. Oxytocin suppresses the activity of amygdala and lowers feelings of anxiety and aggression. Allows intimacy and trust, increasing their bond
Ditzen et al (2009)
AIM: Investigate the role of oxytocin in communication patterns between couples during a discussion about a contentious issue.
PROCEDURE:
Participants: 47 heterosexual couples.
Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment.
Couples received either oxytocin or a placebo intranasally.
Each couple was videotaped while discussing a topic that would likely lead to conflict.
Cortisol levels (stress hormone) in saliva were measured repeatedly throughout the experiment.
FINDINGS:
Oxytocin group:
Showed improved communication patterns compared to the placebo group.
Had lower cortisol levels during the discussion.
Results suggest that oxytocin may play a role in facilitating positive communication and reducing stress in couples.
Findings align with animal studies showing oxytocin’s role in approach and pair-bonding behaviors.
evaluation points for ditzen et al (2009)
Strengths:
Double-blind placebo-controlled design minimized bias.
Study provides evidence supporting the potential role of oxytocin in improving communication and lowering stress.
Findings have potential implications for couple therapy and psychobiological approaches to relationship health.
Limitations:
Study only included heterosexual couples, limiting generalizability to other relationship types.
Conflict topics may not fully reflect real-life relationship dynamics (low ecological validity).
Oxytocin’s effects on relationships likely involve complex interactions with other biological and psychological factors.
Further research is needed to explore long-term effects and applications in therapy
Facial Symmetry and Health Indicators
Symmetry and features like prominent cheekbones and masculine chins in males are linked to androgen levels and overall health.
Good teeth may indicate lower exposure to parasites and better overall health.
MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) and Immune System
MHC genes are linked to immune system strength and may influence attraction through smell.
Mating with partners with diverse MHC genes enhances offspring’s immune system.
Pheremones and MHC
Researchers debate whether MHC is an example of human pheromones, influencing attraction subconsciously through smell.
Wedekind (1995)
AIM: Investigate influence of MHC genes on mate selection in females
PROCEDURE:
Quasi-experimental study, 49 females and 44 males
Female P. asked to report if using oral contraceptives, given nose spray to ensure nasal health, given a book to sensitize smell perception
Male P. asked to wear shirt for two nights in a row, keep the shirt in a plastic bag between nights, given scentless soap & detergent to ensure natural smell, asked not to partake in activities which may alter their scent, i.e. smoke, drink alcohol, engage in sexual activities etc.
When Female P. in second week after menstruation (when most sensitive to odor) P. were asked to rate odor of 7 shirts on intensity, sexiness and pleasantness
3 male P. with similar MHC genes, 3 with dissimilar MHC genes and 1 (unworn) control shirt
Shirts placed in a cardboard box → double blind study
FINDINGS:
Female P. not on oral contraceptives rated dissimilar MHC higher on pleasantness, vice versa for P. on oral contraceptives
Odors of MHC-dissimilar men reminded females of current/former mates
→ MHC diversity seems to influence mate selection supporting ToE (inc. survival)
As oral contraceptives imitate steroids naturally released during pregnancy, P. may prefer partners who can help them take care of the children
evaluation points wedekind
Strengths:
Controlled Variables:
Strict control of confounding factors, e.g., scentless soap/detergent, no alcohol or smoking, to ensure natural body odor was tested.
Female participants’ nasal health was maintained with a nose spray.
Double-Blind Design:
Neither participants nor researchers knew which shirts belonged to MHC-similar or MHC-dissimilar males, reducing bias.
Ecological Validity:
The study reflects real-life mate selection based on olfactory cues, making it relevant for understanding human behavior.
Biological Basis:
Provides evidence supporting the evolutionary theory of mate selection, linking MHC diversity to increased offspring survival.
Limitations:
Sample Size and Generalizability:
Limited sample size (49 females, 44 males) and cultural/geographic specificity may not represent global populations.
Quasi-Experimental Design:
Cannot establish causation between MHC genes and mate preference; only a correlation is observed.
Role of Oral Contraceptives:
Findings for participants on oral contraceptives suggest hormonal changes influence mate preferences.
Raises questions about the study’s applicability to women on contraceptives, a significant portion of the population.
Subjectivity of Ratings:
Participants rated shirts based on subjective perceptions of “pleasantness” and “sexiness,” which can be influenced by personal and cultural biases.
Reductionism:
Focuses narrowly on MHC genes and scent, potentially oversimplifying mate selection, which involves complex social, emotional, and cultural factors.
Ethical Concerns:
Possible discomfort for participants when rating personal smells, though no severe ethical breaches were reported.
