Pheremones

Hormones and behaviour - Biological approach

studies

Zhou et al. (2014)- AND and EST influence on sexual behaviour

Doucet et al. (2009)- role of areolar glands in suckling behaviour in 3 day old infants

Intro paragraph → what are pheremones

A pheremone is a chemical substance produced and released into the environment by an animal affecting the behaviour or physiology of others of its own species. Although pheremones are known to play a significant role in signalling between members of the same species among animals to affect various behaviours, it is not clear that this is also true in humans. some psychologists have argued that pheremones may affect the menstrual cycle in groups of women, olfactory odours based on mood. Although there is some evidence, nothing is conclusive on whether or not humans have functional pheremones.

In animals, we see two types of pheremones. primer pheremones that cause slow, long-term physiological changes, such as hormonal effects; and signalling pheremones that produce rapid behavioural effects, such as mating. In humans, there is some evidence of primer pheremones. However, for all the published research that shows these effects, there is an equal number of studies showing that there are no effects. At this stage in the study of psychology, no human pheremone has yet been found.

Define AND and EST

AND = supposed sex pheremone androstadienone, an odorous steroid that is found in greater amount in men than in women, and which is supposed to signal male gender

EST = Supposed sex pheremone estrataenol, linked to female gender

Potential SAQs

Describe the roles of pheremones in human behaviour

Explain how pheremones may affect human behaviour

Describe 1 study that has investigated how pheremones may influence human behaviour

Potential ERQs

Contrast how hormones and pheremones affect human behaviour

Discuss the role of pheremones in human behaviour

To what extent do pheremones affect human behaviour

Evaluate the role of pheremones in human behaviour