Pheromones

What are pheromones?

Pheromones are exogenous chemical signals acting between individuals that may influence behavior, though evidence remains inconclusive.

What is an example of this?

identifying genetically suitable partners my smell

What study explores this?

Wedekind et al 1995

What is the aim, method, result, and conclusion of Wedekind et al. 1995

Aim: to investigate whether women prefer the body odor of men with different major hostocompatibility complex genes (MHC) and see if pheromones influence mate preference.

Method:

• 44 male university students wore the same T-shirt for two nights while avioding strong odors.

• MHC compatibility was determined via blood tests

• 49 female university student blindly smelled and rated six T-shirts, 3 with similiar MHC and 3 with different MHC, for pleasentness and intensity.

• oral contraceptive use among women was noted.

Results: women who werent taking contraceptive pills prefered odor from MHC-dissimilair men, the opposite preference were noted for women on contraceptive pills.

Conclusion: Human mate preference may be influcned by pheromones detechtion of MHC genes although hormonal contraceptives alter this natural attraction mechanism. This supports evolitionary thoeries that MHC dissimiliary promotes genetic fitness in offspring.

How might pheromones affect human behaviour?

Pheromones may have a limited and debated influence on human behavior, as evidence is limited and contested; for example, Doty 2010 argues that there is insufficient support for human pheromones.