Pheremones Flashcards
pheremones main discussion
The role of pheromones in human behavior and communication has been a subject of increasing interest within the field of psychology. Pheremones are chemical signals that carry stimulation. They play a part in animal behaviour(mating). Pheremones usually have a smell. In mammals they are processed in the VNO. Its believed they are also found in humans. Through bodily fluids( sweat,urine,tears). They play a role in social and sexual interactions This is up for debate!! Many studies
Cutler et al
Research done in 1998 by Cutler et al supports the role of pheremones in human attraction. Cutler investigated whether synthesized male pheremones increase sociosexual behaviour. Done via field experiment. 38 male participants recruited through newspaper ad as volunteers. the aim was to test whether a male pheremone(AND) added to their afterlotion would increase romance in their lives. sample consisted of hetrosexual 25-42 y/o with good health,regular appereance, having basic social skills with women and shaved regularly. Personalitues screened. Double blind study. Divided into 2 groups. After shaved was instructed to be used atleast 3 times a week as well to complete behevarioul calender tracking: petting,kissing sex,informal/formal dates,masturbation and sleeping in same bed as partner. 2 weeks later ethanol or ethonal with pheremone was added to aftershave. and process was repeated for 6 mire weeks. The results showed more men had an increase in 4 behaviours part of the pheromone group. 47% had increase in sex and 9.5 in placebo. No difference for masturbation amd formal dates. The conclusion was that AND increaesed sociosexual behaviours. used as evidence of libido and atractivness of men to women.
By demonstrating a measurable effect of synthesized pheromones on sociosexual behavior, Cutler’s research provides a link between the theoretical concept of pheromones and their practical impact on human behavior, shedding light on the interplay between biology and social dynamics in the realm of attraction.
Evaluation of Cutler
High ecological validity since field experiment takes place in natural enviromnet. Control group increases validity ,comparissions can be drawn. researchers Operationalize attraction with specific behaviours so higher validity. Information may not ve valid since partcipants can lie. Low replicability because pheremone formula isnt revealed. Sample size too low and wont be representative so low genersability. No cause and effect relationship established as well asd reseracher bias..
Hare et al ( challenging research)
To show that AND or other pheremones it needs to be shown it signals gender. In 2017 Hare et al invsestigated whether AND and EST signal gender and affct mate perception and attractivness. This was a laboratory experiment. Heterosexual participants completed two computer based tasks during two days. On the first day they were exposed to either AND or EST masked with clove oil. the other day it was just control scent,clove oil. It was counterbalanced. The first task involved showing 5 gender neutral facial morphs and they had to indicate gender. Second day participants saw gender opposite photos and ranked them. Results showed no difference in both tasks. between groups. so it was concluded that pheremones do not have act as signals for attractivness so dont qualigy for sex pheremones.
Evaluation of Hare et al
Strength particpants wwere unaware of hypothesis so no bias,no favourable behaviour.. Laboratory experimnet so highly controllled enviroment so high internal validity. Double blind increases validity of findings since less researcher and particpant bias. Limitation low ecolgical validity because ammounts of AND/EST not re[resentative. Low popultaion validity due to nature. Repeated mesuarres may help particpants understand aim thereforr bias..
