Wedekind et al

Year

1995

Aim

To investigate the influence of MHC genes on females ratings of attractiveness of male sweat odour

Participants

49 females and 45 male students (mean age of 25) typed for their MHC

Procedure

Females were asked if they were taking any oral contraceptives, the men were asked to wear a cotton t-shirt on sunday and Monday night.

The shirts were then given to female participants who were asked to rate the odour of 6 tshirts, 3 by MHC similar and 3 by MHC dissimilar.

Each top was placed in a box and women sniffed through a hole and rated on a scale of 1 to 10 for intensity and pleasantnes and sexiness

Results

Women who didn’t tale oral contraceptives rated MHC dissimilar men more pleasant than similar

woman who were taking contraceptives had a reversed tendency

Intensity ratings did not differ

Body odours of MHC dissimilar men reminded women of their own mates or ex mates

Conclusion

MHC Similarity may be a factor of attraction

Oral contraceptives imitate steroids that are naturally released during pregnancy, that could lead to reversal of odour preferences