Biochemistry of Lust, Attraction and Attachment

Question 1

Lust

Answer 1

to seek sexual union with any appropriate member of the species
- predominant hormones are testosterone and estrogen
- basic human drive to procreate offspring

Question 2

Attraction

Answer 2

select partners and focuses attention on genetically appropriate individuals, saving mating time and energy
- predominant hormones are dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin

Question 3

Attachment

Answer 3

sustain affiliative connections long enough to complete parental duties
- predominant hormones are vasopressin and oxytocin

Question 4

Testosterone Functions

Answer 4

• for male pubertal development and aggression/competition
• increases sex drive

Question 5

Estrogen Functions

Answer 5

• for female pubertal development
• learning/memory and brain development
• increases the release of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) - important for neuron survival and growth
• increases sex drive

Question 6

Norepinephrine Functions

Answer 6

• arousal, attention, concentration and learning
• kicks off fight or flight response
• causes increase glucose uptake and hyperfocus on the object of attraction, increasing attentiveness

Question 7

Dopamine Functions

Answer 7

• functions are motor control, pleasure, reward, motivation, compulsion and perseveration
• importance for attraction in terms of sexual motivation and copulation

Question 8

Serotonin Functions

Answer 8

• functions are mood, memory processing, sleep and cognition
• suppressed during attraction
• antidepressants that upregulate serotonin also decrease sex drive

Question 9

Vasopressin Functions

Answer 9

• kidney function, scent marking, aggression, analgesia
• critical factor in the monogamous pair bonding of males

Question 10

Oxytocin Functions

Answer 10

• functions include labour and lactation, maternal behaviours and prosocial behaviours
• critical factor in the monogamous pair bonding of females

Question 11

Desire for Variety

Answer 11

Males - more partners = more offspring - more likely to pass genes to subsequent generations

Females - higher quality of output = more time and energy into offspring - increase access to resources to raise offspring

Question 12

Gouldian Finch

Answer 12

• prefer to mate with birds that are genetically compatible
• having genetically incompatible mate increases female birds stress hormone levels

Question 13

Chimpanzee Variety

Answer 13

• promiscuous mating with each other especially when there is greater access to food resources
• alpha males tend to father offspring more than non-alphas

Question 14

Biological Roles of Vasopressin and Oxytocin

Answer 14

Oxytocin - Female pair bonding
- childbirth
- lactation
- maternal behaviour

Vasopressin - male pair bonding
- aggression
- analgesia
- territory marking

Question 15

Allele 334

Answer 15

• changes expressions of vasopressin
• bonding scores were negatively correlated with allele 334
• experiences of marital crisis or threat of divorce was higher in people with one or two 334 alleles
• 0 or 1 allele were more likely to be married

Question 16

CRF from HPA Axis

Answer 16

• corticotrophin releasing factor
• fight or flight
• prepares body to shut down stress response

Question 17

Purpose of Releasing Cortisol

Answer 17

to counteract stress, causing depression and heart disease etc

Question 18

Recovery from release too much Cortisol

Answer 18

• remove reminders, triggers
• negative reappraisal - negative aspects of previous partner, remove rewards
• social support and time

Question 19

Effect of Norepinephrine on Physiological Arousal

Answer 19

causes pupils to dilate, heart rate to increase, increase glucose uptake (more energetic)

• brain also focusses on object of attraction and makes us more attentive

Question 20

Noradrenaline

Answer 20

Another name for norepinephrine