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What are pheromones?
Chemical signals that are produced and released by an organism into the environment.
What are pheromones used for?
These signals are used for communication and can elicit a response from other members of the same species.
Detected By?
Pheromones are detected by the MOB
What is the Main Olfactory Bulb
The main olfactory bulb is a brain structure located in the forebrain that plays a key role in the sense of smell.
How does the MOB detect Pheromones?
The MOB receives input from the olfactory receptors located in the nose and processes this information to create a representation of the odour.
Inside the MOB responsible for detecting pheromones?
The vomeronasal organ is specialized olfactory organ found in most mammals, including humans, that is responsible for detecting pheromones. It is located in the nasal cavity and communicates with the MOB.
Controversy with pheromones?
Researcher who conduct human pheromones studies are often commercially interested.
What does this commercial interest cause?
Publication bias - with researcher publishing only supporting evidence and failing to publish unsuccessful research.
Human sex pheromone? (male sweat)
Androstadienone has been found to influence the behaviour and physiology of both women and men.
What is Androstadienone?
a chemical compound that is found in high concentrations in the sweat of mean. It is debated as a potential pheromone.
Human sex pheromone? (female)
Studies have shown the Estratetraenol can affect the mood and physiological processes of both men and women.
What is Estratetraenol?
a steroidal chemical compound found primarily in the urine of women. It is close chemical relative of androstadienone.
What do these pheromones do?
The detection of these pheromones may oppose sympathetic arousal which refers to the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is part of the body's fight or flight response.
What does it mean to oppose the sympathetic nervous system?
Meaning that individual’s may become more relaxed, exhibited through decreased heart rate, lower blood pressure etc.
Zhou et al. year
2014
Zhou et al.
To investigate the effect of AND and EST on gender perception in hetero and homosexual men and women.
Method
True Laboratory Experiment
Design
Repeated Measures
Sampling Strategy
Purposive: 96 participants, 24 of both men and women gay or not gay
IV
Mixture of cloves with or without AND or EST
DV
People’s tendency to distinguish between male and female stick figures
Procedure 1
Stick figure walking on a screen and discriminate gender
Point-Light motion displays
1st condition
Cloves + AND
2nd Condition
Cloves + EST
3rd Condition
Only Cloves
Findings 1
Straight Male = EST - more likely to perceive the motion as feminine
Findings 2
Straight f and gay men = AND - more likely to perceive the motion as masculine
Findings
Gay f = did not show significant effect
Conclusion 1
Pheromones:
Influence human perception of gender based on orientation
Play a role in subconscious social communication
Evaluation: Methodological Strengths
Double-blind = high internal validity
Repeated measures = reduced participants variability
Evaluation: Methodological Weaknesses
PLMDs do not replicate real-life = low ecological validity
All western culture ppts - sample limitations
What study to pair with Zhou in ERQ question on Pheromones
Saxton et al.
Saxton et al. Year
2008
Aim
To investigate the effect of AND on attractions ratings of male faces by females in a speed-dating context
Method
True lab experiment
Design
Repeated measures
Sampling Strategy
Convenience
IV
Whether they took AND or Placebo
DV
Rating of attractiveness
Procedure 1:
F ppts applied a cotton wool pad under nose
Speed-dating session
Rated the attractiveness of each male
Different sessions - different substances
Findings 1:
AND = rated men as more attractive
Stronger for women who were in fertile phase
Conclusion 1
AND enhances attracting ratings of men by women, particularly in fertile women
Biological role of pheromones in human mate selection
Evaluation: Methodological Strengths
Realistic social setting - ecological validity
Double-blind = high internal validity
Evaluation: Methodological Weaknesses
Only female participants - limited generalisability
speed-dating ppts may not represent global preferences - Cultural Bias
