phereomones and behavior Flashcards
phereones intro
Pheromones are chemicals that stimulate reaction, change behaviour
Suggested as a type of chemical communication
Understainding whether or not pheromones affect human behavior could be important in treating peole with disorders and mental illnesses, and could offer suggestions for medication
Localisation of function:
pheromones/ its smells are processed differently from regular smells.
- processed differently
evidence on animals to process special chemicals and scent in a dedicated area in brain (VNO)
human fetus have it but it disappears after birth
animals have it
but studies that support pheromones on animals may not work on humans BIG PROBLEM
cutler friedman and mcoy
Cutler, Friedmann, McCoy (1998) full study
Aim- to investigate whetehr there was a pheromone to improve sociosexual behaviour of men
Method
Ppt (men recruited/ were willing volunteers who were told they would ‘test whether male pheromone added to aftershave lotion would increase romance in their lives) bring aftershave lotion
Ppt were men, heterosevual, 25-42
Ppt were screened with personality questionaires, anyone with strong personality traits that too strongly deviated not used
Ppt split into 2 groups (double blind)
Ppt asked to use aftershave at least 3 times a week throughout study period
Ppt given behaioural calender (fill out daily with behaviours including:
Petting, affection, kiissing
Sleeping next to partner
Sex
Informal dates
Formal dates
Masturbation
After 2 weeks of doing the baseline activity before experiment, ppt went back to lab and technician (double blind) had to
add ethanol or ethanol + pheromone to aftershave
Pheromone was a synthesized version of naturally occuring pheromone secreted by men
Ppt used aftershave for 6 weeks
Results
pheromone increased more than placebo in first four behaviours (47% vs 9.5%) : petting / affection / kissing, sleeping next to romantic partner, sexual interocorse, informal dates (not planned before day)
NOT increase formal dates (prearranged), masturbation
Researchers concluded applying synthetic pheromone increased sociosexual behaviors in which ‘the willingness of female partner plays major role’
Masturbation not increases tken as evidence synthetic human pheromone didnt just increase libido, but also attractiveness of men to women
