Introduction: This article, The search for human pheromones: the lost decades and the necessity of returning to first principles, written by Wyatt, Tristram D. explains the possibility and probability of the existence of human pheromones. The author describes the study of human pheromones as a “waste of scientific effort”, considering we not made progress on the study in the past 40 years (Wyatt). The author suggests, “We should restart the search for human pheromones from scratch using the techniques well established for other organisms” (Wyatt). The author gives us perspective on the dilemma, and explains all sides of the debate on the existence and future research of human pheromones.
Key Ideas: “Pheromones are chemical signals that have evolved for communication with other members of the same species” (Wyatt). There have been several successful studies of pheromones in other animals closely related to humans. This research has shown that pheromones create a signal that causes a specific reaction, an “innate” psychological response (Wyatt). These reactions to male and female pheromones are very prevalent in other animals. Therefore, I believe we can assume pheromones are also prevalent
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humans. In class we recently discussed the male and female reproductive systems. During puberty our bodies internally and externally change. Our skin glands change into apocrine glands, which are believed to be related to pheromone release. Adolescents experience hair growth in pubic and armpit areas, which is also believed to help release pheromones. The author mentions comparison of secretions from adult and pre-pubertal humans as a method of study for potential molecules involved in sexual behavior (Wyatt). In one of Darwin’s studies, he noted that male mammals have characteristic strong odors during breeding season (Wyatt). This gives animals a better chance for mating and repopulation. It is believed that humans have a similar characteristic odor. Humans have an individual smell; it differs in each person due to genetics, diet and activity level. It is believed that we have “genetic compatibility” with the ones were attracted to. This attractiveness is due to genetic make-up, physical characteristics and possible immune system compatibility (Wyatt). I believe it is important to educate our students on sex in human life and health. I was disappointed to read that research on physiology is little funded, especially since human health is such a big part of our culture (Wyatt). In class, I learned important details about the process of reproduction, the menstrual cycle and contraceptive methods. These topics should be discussed more often so students become aware of their options, responsibilities and consequences of their actions. Summary: Due to lack of research, there is not much evidence supporting the claim that the four steroid molecules are human pheromones.
Common problems with this study include small sample sizes, overestimation, publication bias and lack of replication (Wyatt). The author explains, “…if we are to find human pheromones, we need to treat ourselves as if we were a newly discovered mammal…” (Wyatt). Meaning, we need to test human pheromones using a similar method we use to test other animals. Identifying human pheromones relies on the study of “odor-mandated behavioral or psychological response” (Wyatt). The author mentions that one promising human pheromone is nipple secretion from the areola glands produced by lactating mothers, which stimulates suckling by any baby
(Wyatt). Critiques: I liked how the author gave the reader background information about the topic before he introduced the debate. The author did a good job of explaining the problematic history of the study of human pheromones along with positive methods for restarting research on human pheromones. I liked how the author defined problems and gave the reader solution ideas. While the author explained the pros and cons for human pheromone study, I could still recognize his opinions. I like to know where the author stands in scientific dilemmas and debates.
Searching through different internet directories for the pheromone formulas that works, I came across Marilyn Miglin Women Pheromone Parfum which promotes to achieve the opposite sex attraction desired by women.
The article '' love: the right chemistry'' by Anastasia Toufexis efforts to explain the concept of love from a scientific aspect in which an amateur will understand. Briefly this essay explains and describe in a scientific way how people's stimulation of the body works when you're falling in love. The new scientific researches have given the answer through human physiology how genes behave when your feelings for example get swept away. The justification for this is explained by how the brain gets flooded by chemicals. The author expresses in one point that love isn't just a nonsense behavior nor a feeling that exhibits similar properties as of a narcotic drug. This is brought about by an organized chemical chain who controls different depending on the individual. A simple action such as a deep look into someone's eyes can start the simulation in the body that an increased production of hand sweat will start. The tingly feeling inside your body is a result of a scientific delineation which makes the concept of love more concretely and more factually mainly for researchers and the wide...
Perfume is important for a woman because its emphasize the style and mood that woman’s wear. A quote by Joybell C, “You are never fully dressed without perfume.” The ideal woman is an assortment of beauty, love, and attraction. Dior and Lanvin produce famous print ads that advertise women’s perfume. In Dior ad, it showed their new perfume called, “‘Miss Dior Blooming Bouquets.” which Natalie Portman partially clad in a wedding dress and she wear a black sexy body suit behind it. The white round shape words are in the middle of the ads, and the pink bottle of perfume is at the bottom. Lanvin’s perfume is called, “Marry Me”. A couple riding a bicycle together having a good time and staring at each other’s eyes which represent love
The advertisement entitled “Morning After Pillow” by The AXE Company would like for their customers to believe that love or sex can be easily attained by purchasing a product that smells good. However, experience should indicate that there are many factors that attribute to these rewards.
The meaning of a picture results in different opinions from many viewers. These images, such as artwork and advertisement, have become a source of communication in this new age of society. The advertisement I chose was a Coach perfume advertisement, a popular brand marketed towards women. This advertisement has a combination of physical features: lighting, text, and camera angles. These provoke an emotional appeal received by pampering with the perfume and gathering a sensation of love and peace, causing the audience to buy this product. A woman is born a nurturing loving creature. The world can make a woman harsh and intimidating, but when wearing this perfume it brings out the natural essence and reminds women of their true power but also
Pheromones are substances emitted by an organism to elicit any response to the other members of the same species. In order for the substance to be classified as a pheromone, the response elicited should be innate and not learned. It serves as a communication means to inform other animals regarding things related to territory, reproduction and rearing of offspring, presence of danger or even the presence of rivals.
Psychophysiological stimulation can affect the apocrine, eccrine, and sebaceous glands altering body odor and the ways others perceive us. The apocrine glands are the source of human pheromones activated by emotions. This explains why there is a higher correlation of correct assessments between adults of the opposite sex due to pheromones not being active before puberty. Association ability originates early in human development and plays a major role in social interactions such as: the i...
Vasopressin has long been implicated in the memory of faces and is thus useful for research on recall and recognition of faces. Because of the role vasopressin plays in relationships, it is important to consider its value in affecting romantic relationships and perception of romantic partner's faces. In a study by Thompson and colleagues (2004) researchers looked at how vasopressin administration affects responses to happy, angry and neutral faces in terms of attention, and arousal and physiological measures like corrugator supercilii electromyograms (EMG), heart rate and skin conductance (Thompson, Gupta, Miller, Mills, & Orr, 2004). This was based on previous experiments with the effect of oxytocin on facial perception. Neutral faces were found to elicit higher responses in the EMG. They argued that because the faces were ambiguous having been taken from Paul Ekman's series of faces, vasopressin may have lead participants to view those neutral faces in a more aggressive way causing that increased EMG response. This study demonstrates that there is a link between vasopressin and facial recognition responses and further studies have added on to this. In a follow up study in 2006, they looked at vasopressin effects on perception of friendliness for both men and women on pictures of same sex faces. They found that the results of vasopressin depended on the gender as women were friendlier when presented with same sex faces (Thompson, George, Walton, Orr, & Benson, 2006). Interestingly, they did not repeat the study to see the effect of vasopressin between both sexes seeing opposite sex pictures. In men, however, the familiarity of the romantic partner when combined with insecurity would decrease the per...
The psychoanalytic theory says that our childhood experiences and unconscious desires influence behavior (Sigelman & Rider, 2009; pg.36). Our personalities have memories, beliefs, urges, drives, and instincts that we are not always aware of, and make up the unconscious. The major driving force behind Freud’s instinctual theory is the concept of Libido. Libido is a natural energy source that fuels the mechanisms of the mind. When this libidinal energy is stuck or fixated at various stages of psychosexual development, conflicts can occur that have lifelong effects.
Pheromones are natural scents, which play an important role in sexual communication. Animals and humans release masses of biological chemicals in tears, saliva and perspiration. These aromas convey signals relating to mood, status, drive and health to the subconscious awareness of the female. The dominant male will exude more of these biological attractants than his submissive counterpart, consequently he inevitably attracts more females and enjoys more conquests. This philosophy holds well in the animal world, pheromones are consciously detected over considerable distances and serve at times in place of spoken communication. They help animals mark territory, recognize mates, and signal sexual interest. For example, female dogs in heat leave their pheromone and can attract male dogs over a mile away (5).
From laundry detergent to perfume, room sprays to breath mints, everything now has a chemically produced scent to disguise the natural; modern culture has declared the embarrassment linked with body odor. On a night out or at a first date, men and women are both spritzing cologne and perfume and popping in chewing gum in an effort to smell pleasant and non-verbally communicate a message to the other. They are attempting to present themselves in a way they believe will appeal to the other and enhance the relationship. However, this very act proves that odors have the capability to affect our mood, perception, and
It may seem obvious to some why people mate, however there are many facets to human mating. Psychology has shown that reasons for mating have gone beyond the scope of love and physical attractiveness. People may search for mates who resemble archetypical images of the opposite-sex parent, mates with characteristics that are either complementary or similar to one's own qualities, or mates with whom to make an exchange of valuable resources (Buss 238). Although these theories play a key role in understanding patterns in human mating preferences, evolutionary psychology and sexual selection theory provide more concrete frameworks for explaining human mating.
The activation of men’s sexual organs would be androgen hormones. Androgens are a major contributor in male’s sexual hormones. Testosterone is the most commonly known active and abundant androgen hormone. Androsterone is an inactive androgen that is made by the metabolism of testosterone and is developed in the male testes. Androgens have the ability to influence several different actions and desires within men. Usually, androgens are known as the masculine hormones although they are also found in women as well. Although not an androgen, many studies observe cortisol along with androgens because cortisol is a response to stress, also known as the "get-up-and-go" hormone. It gives men bravery to overcome challenges to reach their goals. It appears that men pride themselves in having high levels of androgens because it makes a man, a “macho man.” But what happens to androgen levels when these masculine men are exposed to situations in which they are expected to act graciously? What happens to these levels when they are preforming a task that is thought of as un-masculine? For instance, do androgen hormones levels rise or fall when men are in a relationship or become fathers? It is hypothesized that androgen levels would be lower in men who are in a committed relationship and/or in men who are fathers. Perhaps this is caused by the stress obtained or lack thereof from being in a relationship or from being a father. In this paper, we will discuss the effects of stress on men and their androgen levels, determine how being in a committed relationship can effect androgen levels, determine whether or not sexual orientation is a factor in these effects, and lastly we will be looking at how being a father or desiring to be a father can effe...
Sexual attraction is an everyday part of life that has different effects on each person. In the following paper I am going to discuss the different types of sexual attraction for adolescences ages 12-20, early adulthood ages 20-30, mature adulthood 30-65, and older adults age 65 and older.
It’s no secret that fragrance matters to us. It is a huge part of how we experience the products we use and the world at large. For this reason, it’s a deal breaker when it comes to our beauty and personal care products, especially if it’s a product that you leave on the hair and skin or a fragrance that lingers. Many of us have given up products that worked well because we could not stand the smell or because our significant other complained. The fact that fragrance affects not just us but those around us is something we often tend to overlook. Fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker of Sex and the City once said this about fragrance "It 's immediately communicating more than your clothes, which we think tell our story, right? But clothes don 't invade anybody else 's space.” That’s so true. You can look away if a coworker is wearing something you don’t like, but you can’t hold your breath all day, now can you? Fragrance can even linger in a space long after the wearer has gone or linger on your close, long after you hugged your best friend. Fragrance has such a