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Weirich M, Simpson AP, Knutti N. Effects of testosterone on speech production and perception: Linking hormone levels in males to vocal cues and female voice attractiveness ratings. Physiol Behav 2024; 283:114615. [PMID: 38880296 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
This study sets out to investigate the potential effect of males' testosterone level on speech production and speech perception. Regarding speech production, we investigate intra- and inter-individual variation in mean fundamental frequency (fo) and formant frequencies and highlight the potential interacting effect of another hormone, i.e. cortisol. In addition, we investigate the influence of different speech materials on the relationship between testosterone and speech production. Regarding speech perception, we investigate the potential effect of individual differences in males' testosterone level on ratings of attractiveness of female voices. In the production study, data is gathered from 30 healthy adult males ranging from 19 to 27 years (mean age: 22.4, SD: 2.2) who recorded their voices and provided saliva samples at 9 am, 12 noon and 3 pm on a single day. Speech material consists of sustained vowels, counting, read speech and a free description of pictures. Biological measures comprise speakers' height, grip strength, and hormone levels (testosterone and cortisol). In the perception study, participants were asked to rate the attractiveness of female voice stimuli (sentence stimulus, same-speaker pairs) that were manipulated in three steps regarding mean fo and formant frequencies. Regarding speech production, our results show that testosterone affected mean fo (but not formants) both within and between speakers. This relationship was weakened in speakers with high cortisol levels and depended on the speech material. Regarding speech perception, we found female stimuli with higher mean fo and formants to be rated as sounding more attractive than stimuli with lower mean fo and formants. Moreover, listeners with low testosterone showed an increased sensitivity to vocal cues of female attractiveness. While our results of the production study support earlier findings of a relationship between testosterone and mean fo in males (which is mediated by cortisol), they also highlight the relevance of the speech material: The effect of testosterone was strongest in sustained vowels, potentially due to a strengthened effect of hormones on physiologically strongly influenced tasks such as sustained vowels in contrast to more free speech tasks such as a picture description. The perception study is the first to show an effect of males' testosterone level on female attractiveness ratings using voice stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Weirich
- Institute for German Linguistics, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.
| | - Adrian P Simpson
- Institute for German Linguistics, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
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2
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Zetzsche M, Weiß BM, Kücklich M, Stern J, Birkemeyer C, Widdig A, Penke L. Combined perceptual and chemical analyses show no compelling evidence for ovulatory cycle shifts in women's axillary odour. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232712. [PMID: 39043247 PMCID: PMC11265918 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Although men's attraction to women's body odour has been suggested to vary over the ovulatory cycle, peaking around the fertile window, we still lack methodologically robust evidence corroborating this effect. Further, the chemical underpinnings of male preference for the odour of ovulating women remain unknown. Here, we combined perceptual and chemical analyses to investigate the axillary odour of naturally cycling women over 10 days, covering the gradual change in fertility across the ovulatory cycle with a focus on fertile days. The fertile state was confirmed by urinary ovulation tests as well as salivary oestradiol and progesterone levels. Men rated the scent of unfamiliar women, resembling a first encounter. We used multivariate analyses to relate variation in both odour ratings and chemical composition to female conception probability, temporal distance to ovulation and ovarian hormone levels. Our results provide no evidence that males prefer the odour of fertile women. Furthermore, the volatile analysis indicated no link between axillary odour composition and current fertility status. Together, our results showed no convincing support for a chemical fertility cue in women's axillary odour, questioning the presence of olfactory fertility information that is recognizable during first encounters in modern humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madita Zetzsche
- Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Talstraße 33, Leipzig04103, Germany
- Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, Leipzig04103, Germany
| | - Brigitte M. Weiß
- Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Talstraße 33, Leipzig04103, Germany
- Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, Leipzig04103, Germany
| | - Marlen Kücklich
- Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Talstraße 33, Leipzig04103, Germany
- Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, Leipzig04103, Germany
| | - Julia Stern
- Personality Psychology and Psychological Assessment, Department of Psychology, University of Bremen, Grazer Straße 2c, Bremen28359, Germany
| | - Claudia Birkemeyer
- Research Group of Mass Spectrometry, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 3, Leipzig04103, Germany
| | - Anja Widdig
- Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Talstraße 33, Leipzig04103, Germany
- Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, Leipzig04103, Germany
| | - Lars Penke
- Biological Personality Psychology, Georg Elias Müller Institute of Psychology, Georg August University Göttingen, Goßlerstraße 14, Göttingen37073, Germany
- Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Göttingen37073, Germany
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Lara LADS, Pereira JMDL, de Paula SRC, de Oliveira FFL, Cunha AM, Lerner T, Villar Y, Antoniassi GPR, Benetti-Pinto CL. Challenges of prescribing testosterone for sexual dysfunction in women: Number 7 - 2024. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE GINECOLOGIA E OBSTETRÍCIA 2024; 46:e-FPS07. [PMID: 39176198 PMCID: PMC11341187 DOI: 10.61622/rbgo/2024fps07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Alves da Silva Lara
- Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de São Paulo Ribeirão PretoSP Brazil Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Stany Rodrigues Campos de Paula
- Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de São Paulo Ribeirão PretoSP Brazil Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | | | - André Marquez Cunha
- Universidade Federal de Goiás GoiâniaGO Brazil Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Théo Lerner
- Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de São Paulo Ribeirão PretoSP Brazil Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Yara Villar
- Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de São Paulo Ribeirão PretoSP Brazil Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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Krumpholz C, Quigley C, Fusani L, Leder H. Vienna Talking Faces (ViTaFa): A multimodal person database with synchronized videos, images, and voices. Behav Res Methods 2024; 56:2923-2940. [PMID: 37950115 PMCID: PMC11133183 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-023-02264-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Social perception relies on different sensory channels, including vision and audition, which are specifically important for judgements of appearance. Therefore, to understand multimodal integration in person perception, it is important to study both face and voice in a synchronized form. We introduce the Vienna Talking Faces (ViTaFa) database, a high-quality audiovisual database focused on multimodal research of social perception. ViTaFa includes different stimulus modalities: audiovisual dynamic, visual dynamic, visual static, and auditory dynamic. Stimuli were recorded and edited under highly standardized conditions and were collected from 40 real individuals, and the sample matches typical student samples in psychological research (young individuals aged 18 to 45). Stimuli include sequences of various types of spoken content from each person, including German sentences, words, reading passages, vowels, and language-unrelated pseudo-words. Recordings were made with different emotional expressions (neutral, happy, angry, sad, and flirtatious). ViTaFa is freely accessible for academic non-profit research after signing a confidentiality agreement form via https://osf.io/9jtzx/ and stands out from other databases due to its multimodal format, high quality, and comprehensive quantification of stimulus features and human judgements related to attractiveness. Additionally, over 200 human raters validated emotion expression of the stimuli. In summary, ViTaFa provides a valuable resource for investigating audiovisual signals of social perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Krumpholz
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010, Vienna, Austria
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cliodhna Quigley
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leonida Fusani
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Helmut Leder
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010, Vienna, Austria.
- Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Stern J, Ostermann S, Penke L. Investigating cycle shifts in women's clothing style and grooming. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 63:378-402. [PMID: 37646294 DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
In contrast to some non-human primate species, human females do not show overt cues to fertility. Previous research argued that women still show systematic changes in their appearance across their ovulatory cycle to enhance their mating success when fertile. We report five studies investigating whether women's clothing style and grooming behaviour change across the ovulatory cycle. All studies were large (with N = 157 in Study 1, N = 109 in Study 2, N = 257 in Studies 3-5), longitudinal studies with four testing sessions per participant. They involved salivary hormone samples and luteinizing hormone tests to validate conception risk estimates. Across all studies, our results suggest no compelling evidence for cycle shifts in clothing style and grooming. Rather, two studies suggest effects in the opposite direction as hypothesized, as women wore more skin-revealing clothes when non-fertile. One study suggests small effects of wearing necklaces more and eyeglasses less often when fertile. However, these effects were not robust across all studies. Our results are in line with other recent null replications and suggest that, if existent, cues to fertility might be even more subtle than previously assumed. We discuss the need for testing competing theories that explain the evolution of concealed ovulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Stern
- Department of Psychology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Department of Psychology, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Sabine Ostermann
- Department of Psychology, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Lars Penke
- Department of Psychology, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Goettingen, Germany
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Martínez-Ramírez J, Puts D, Nieto J, G-Santoyo I. Effects of facial skin pigmentation on social judgments in a Mexican population. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0279858. [PMID: 38032952 PMCID: PMC10688750 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
People quickly and involuntarily form impressions of others based on their facial physical attributes, which can modulate critical social interactions. Skin pigmentation is one of the most variable and conspicuous facial traits among human populations. Empirical evidence suggests that these variations reflect ancestral ecological selective pressures balancing cutaneous vitamin D synthesis with the protection of the dermis from ultraviolet radiation. Nevertheless, skin pigmentation may currently be subject to additional selective pressures. For instance, the colonial era in Central and South America developed a highly stratified society based on ethnic origins, and light skin pigmentation became associated with higher social status and deference. This association could have originated through historical social learning that promoted favorable social perceptions towards individuals with lighter skin color and unfavorable perceptions towards individuals with darker skin color, which could still be present in the perception of current populations. Facial skin pigmentation is also sexually dimorphic, with males tending to exhibit darker skin than females, a difference that could be driven by sexual selection. To explore whether social learning and sexual selection represent additional selective pressures on skin pigmentation, we tested how this facial trait influences fundamental social perceptions in a Mexican population (N = 700, 489 female). We sampled facial images of eight European American males with natural lighter facial skin and eight males from an indigenous pre-Columbian community from Mexico, the Me'Phaa, with natural darker facial skin. We produced stimuli from these images by varying the skin pigmentation while preserving the facial shape. Stimuli were rated on attractiveness, trustworthiness, perceived health, dominance, aggressiveness, and femininity/masculinity. We found that the natural light-skinned faces were perceived as more attractive, trustworthy, and healthy but less dominant than the natural dark faces. Furthermore, by varying the facial skin color in these original groups, we altered the perceptions of them, mainly their attractiveness. These results partially support the hypothesis that dark facial skin color may help males compete for mates. Also, the results strongly support the view that lighter facial skin color became associated with social benefits through social learning in this Mexican population. Our findings, when viewed through the lens of cultural evolution, align with previous research in social psychology and anthropology. They hold the potential to offer a comprehensive understanding of the origin of this social phenomenon of cultural transmission, which currently plays a role in the formation of racial attitudes, stereotyping, and racial inequality in Mexican and other Latin American populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaaziel Martínez-Ramírez
- Faculty of Psychology, Neuroecology Laboratory, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - David Puts
- Department of Anthropology and Center for Human Evolution and Diversity, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, College Township, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Javier Nieto
- Faculty of Psychology, Laboratory of Learning and Adaptation, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Isaac G-Santoyo
- Faculty of Psychology, Neuroecology Laboratory, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
- Unidad de Investigación en Psicobiología y Neurociencias, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
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Tieo S, Dezeure J, Cryer A, Lepou P, Charpentier MJ, Renoult JP. Social and sexual consequences of facial femininity in a non-human primate. iScience 2023; 26:107901. [PMID: 37766996 PMCID: PMC10520438 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans, femininity shapes women's interactions with both genders, but its influence on animals remains unknown. Using 10 years of data on a wild primate, we developed an artificial intelligence-based method to estimate facial femininity from naturalistic portraits. Our method explains up to 30% of the variance in perceived femininity in humans, competing with classical methods using standardized pictures taken under laboratory conditions. We then showed that femininity estimated on 95 female mandrills significantly correlated with various socio-sexual behaviors. Unexpectedly, less feminine female mandrills were approached and aggressed more frequently by both sexes and received more male copulations, suggesting a positive valuation of masculinity attributes rather than a perception bias. This study contributes to understand the role of femininity on animal's sociality and offers a framework for non-invasive research on visual communication in behavioral ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Tieo
- CEFE, University Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Jules Dezeure
- Projet Mandrillus, Fondation Lékédi pour la Biodiversité, Bakoumba BP 52, Gabon
| | - Anna Cryer
- Projet Mandrillus, Fondation Lékédi pour la Biodiversité, Bakoumba BP 52, Gabon
| | - Pascal Lepou
- Projet Mandrillus, Fondation Lékédi pour la Biodiversité, Bakoumba BP 52, Gabon
| | - Marie J.E. Charpentier
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM), UMR5554 - University of Montpellier/CNRS/IRD/EPHE, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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Williams MN, Lee Apicella C. A test of multimodal communication in humans using 881 judgements of men and women's physical, vocal, and olfactory attractiveness. Heliyon 2023; 9:e16895. [PMID: 37342575 PMCID: PMC10277517 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Human mate value is assessed on numerous variables including, reproductive potential and disease resistance. Many of these variables have been correlated with judgments of physical, vocal, and odor attractiveness. While some researchers posit that attractiveness judgments made across different sensory modalities reflect the same underlying variable(s) (i.e., the information is redundant), others suggest that judgments made in different modalities reflect different variables. Previous studies of human attractiveness indicate that attractiveness judgments of others' faces, bodies, and voices are intercorrelated, which is suggested to support the redundancy hypothesis. Less is known about body odor attractiveness. Only one study has simultaneously investigated the relationships between judgments of body odor, face, and voice attractiveness finding weak positive associations, but small effect sizes. In this study, we empirically investigate the correlation between different modalities of attractiveness in men and women in the largest sample to date (N = 881 ratings). For men, we find no correlations between modalities of attractiveness. However, for women we find odor, face, and voice attractiveness are weakly correlated. Moreover, a general attractiveness factor (i.e., a common underlying variable) modestly contributed to the observed correlations between modality-specific attractiveness judgments, providing some evidence for the redundancy hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Nicole Williams
- University of Pennsylvania, Solomon Laboratories, 3720 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 09104, USA
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Coren Lee Apicella
- University of Pennsylvania, Solomon Laboratories, 3720 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 09104, USA
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Galindo-Caballero ÓJ, Alzate-Pamplona FA, Gangestad SW, Cruz JE. A review and p-curve analysis of research on the menstrual cycle correlates of consumer preferences and economic decisions. Horm Behav 2023; 150:105317. [PMID: 36731300 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
A number of studies have been claimed to show that ovarian hormones, whose levels fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle, affect consumer preferences and financial decisions. The present article aims to critically analyze the literature examining associations between the phases of the menstrual cycle (peri-ovulatory vs. non-ovulatory) with particular consumer preferences (especially regarding clothing choices) and economic decisions (especially in regards to economic games and risk-taking). A search for studies was conducted in Web of Science and Scopus between 2004 and 2022, by combining keywords of the menstrual cycle, consumer preferences, and economic decisions. Once articles were selected, we identified the main findings, the characteristics of the population, and the methods for determining the phases of the cycle. We performed a p-curve analysis on previously reported statistically significant effects. These analyses find evidence for associations between peri-ovulatory status and specific consumer preferences, most strongly for appearance-enhancing products. They yield no compelling evidence for associations between peri-ovulatory status and financial decisions and risk-taking. We offer provisional conclusions and call for additional studies that possess sufficient statistical power to detect true meaningful effects, especially in the domain of financial decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Julio Eduardo Cruz
- Departamento de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
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Relationship of Estradiol and Progesterone with Partnership and Parity Among Bangladeshi and British Women of European Origin. HUMAN NATURE (HAWTHORNE, N.Y.) 2023; 34:1-24. [PMID: 36882630 DOI: 10.1007/s12110-023-09442-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies in social endocrinology have explored the effects of social relationships on female reproductive steroid hormones-estradiol and progesterone-investigating whether they are suppressed in partnered and parous women. Results have been mixed for these hormones although evidence is more consistent that partnered women and women with young children have lower levels of testosterone. These studies were sequential to earlier research on men, based on Wingfield's Challenge Hypothesis, which showed that men in committed relationships, or with young children, have lower levels of testosterone than unpartnered men or men with older or no children. The study described here explored associations between estradiol and progesterone with partnership and parity among women from two different ethnicities: South Asian and white British. We hypothesized that both steroid hormones would be lower among partnered and/or parous women with children ≤3 years old, regardless of ethnicity. In this study we analyzed data from 320 Bangladeshi and British women of European origin aged 18 to 50 who participated in two previous studies of reproductive ecology and health. Levels of estradiol and progesterone were assayed using saliva and/or serum samples and the body mass index calculated from anthropometric data. Questionnaires provided other covariates. Multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the data. The hypotheses were not supported. We argue here that, unlike links between testosterone and male social relationships, theoretical foundations for such relationships with female reproductive steroid hormones are lacking, especially given the primary role of these steroids in regulating female reproductive function. Further longitudinal studies are needed to explore the bases of independent relationships between social factors and female reproductive steroid hormones.
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Do humans agree on which body odors are attractive, similar to the agreement observed when rating faces and voices? EVOL HUM BEHAV 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
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Dinh T, Emery Thompson M, Gangestad SW. Ovarian hormones in relation to naturally cycling women's conception risk: Empirical evidence and implications for behavioral endocrinology. Horm Behav 2022; 146:105276. [PMID: 36356458 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
A substantial body of literature has examined how women's psychology and behavior vary as a function of conception risk across the ovarian cycle. These effects are widely believed to be outcomes of hormonal regulation, in particular effects of estrogens (E) and progesterone (P). Increasingly, researchers have sought to test predictions about how psychological processes or behavior vary as a function of conception risk by examining associations with estrogen (e.g., estradiol) and progesterone levels. Yet issues regarding how best to assess these associations arise. Should hormone levels be log-transformed? Do hormone ratios best capture their joint effects? How important are hormone interactions? How should outliers be treated? Across two large datasets, we examined hormonal predictors of conception risk, estimated from day of a luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. Log-transformed E and P levels predicted conception risk better than raw E and P levels did. The raw E/P ratio was a relatively poor predictor, whereas the log-transformed ratio (ln[E/P]) was a relatively good predictor. E × P interactions were detected but weak. Outliers were frequent, especially in distributions of raw hormone levels. Hormone measures predicted two psychological outcomes in these datasets-sexual desire and preferences for strength and muscularity-in parallel to how strongly they predicted conception risk. These results give rise to several recommendations regarding treatment of hormone measures and their use in analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tran Dinh
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87111, United States of America.
| | - Melissa Emery Thompson
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87111, United States of America.
| | - Steven W Gangestad
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87111, United States of America.
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Schleifenbaum L, Stern J, Driebe JC, Wieczorek LL, Gerlach TM, Arslan RC, Penke L. Men are not aware of and do not respond to their female partner's fertility status: Evidence from a dyadic diary study of 384 couples. Horm Behav 2022; 143:105202. [PMID: 35661968 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how human mating psychology is affected by changes in female cyclic fertility is informative for comprehending the evolution of human reproductive behavior. Based on differential selection pressures between the sexes, men are assumed to have evolved adaptations to notice women's within-cycle cues to fertility and show corresponding mate retention tactics to secure access to their female partners when fertile. However, previous studies suffered from methodological shortcomings and yielded inconsistent results. In a large, preregistered online dyadic diary study (384 heterosexual couples), we found no compelling evidence that men notice women's fertility status (as potentially reflected in women's attractiveness, sexual desire, or wish for contact with others) or display mid-cycle increases in mate retention tactics (jealousy, attention, wish for contact or sexual desire towards female partners). These results extend our current understanding of the evolution of women's concealed ovulation and oestrus, and suggest that both might have evolved independently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Schleifenbaum
- University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Goettingen, Germany.
| | - Julia Stern
- University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | | | | | - Tanja M Gerlach
- University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Goettingen, Germany; Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Ruben C Arslan
- University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Penke
- University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Goettingen, Germany
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Galasinska K, Szymkow A. Enhanced Originality of Ideas in Women During Ovulation: A Within-Subject Design Study. Front Psychol 2022; 13:859108. [PMID: 35756251 PMCID: PMC9222335 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.859108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The signaling theory suggests that creativity may have evolved as a signal for mates. Indeed, its aesthetic value might not have been necessary for survival, but it could have helped to attract a mate, fostering childbearing. If we consider creativity as such a signal, we should expect it will be enhanced in the context related to sexual selection. This hypothesis was tested mainly for men. However, both men and women display physical and mental traits that can attract a mate. Previous studies showed that women can be more creative during their peak fertility. We advanced these findings in the present study, applying reliable measures of menstrual cycle phases (examining saliva and urine samples) and the highly recommended within-subject design. We also introduced and tested possible mediators of the effect. We found women’s ideas to be more original during ovulation compared to non-fertile phases of the ovulatory cycle. The results are discussed in the context of signaling theory and alternative explanations are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Galasinska
- Center for Research on Biological Basis of Social Behavior, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Szymkow
- Center for Research on Biological Basis of Social Behavior, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland
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15
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Earl AD, Kimmitt AA, Yorzinski JL. Circulating hormones and dominance status predict female behavior during courtship in a lekking species. Integr Comp Biol 2022; 62:9-20. [PMID: 35467712 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icac018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Female competitive behaviors during courtship can have substantial fitness consequences yet we know little about the physiological and social mechanisms underlying these behaviors - particularly for females of polygynous lek mating species. We explored the hormonal and social drivers of female intersexual and intrasexual behavior during courtship by males in a captive population of Indian peafowl. We investigated whether (1) female non-stress induced circulating estradiol (E2) and corticosterone (CORT) levels or (2) female dominance status in a dyad predict female solicitation behavior. We also tested whether female circulating E2 and CORT predict dominant females' aggressive behaviors toward subordinate females in the courtship context. Our findings demonstrate that females with higher levels of circulating E2 as well as higher levels of circulating CORT solicit more courtships from males. Dominant females also solicit more courtships from males than subordinate females. Female intrasexual aggressive behaviors during courtship, however, were not associated with circulating levels of E2 or CORT. Overall, we conclude that circulating steroid hormones in conjunction with social dominance might play a role in mediating female behaviors associated with competition for mates. Experimental manipulation and measures of hormonal flexibility throughout the breeding season in relation to competitive and sexual behaviors will be necessary to further examine the link between hormonal mechanisms and female behavior in polygynous lekking systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis D Earl
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843, USA.,Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, 10027, USA
| | - Abigail A Kimmitt
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Jessica L Yorzinski
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843, USA
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16
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Voice Changes Across the Menstrual Cycle in Response to Masculinized and Feminized Man and Woman. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-022-00190-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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17
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Mei M, Grillot RL, Abbey CK, Emery Thompson M, Roney JR. Does scent attractiveness reveal women's ovulatory timing? Evidence from signal detection analyses and endocrine predictors of odour attractiveness. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220026. [PMID: 35259990 PMCID: PMC8905178 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Odour cues associated with shifts in ovarian hormones indicate ovulatory timing in females of many nonhuman species. Although prior evidence supports women's body odours smelling more attractive on days when conception is possible, that research has left ambiguous how diagnostic of ovulatory timing odour cues are, as well as whether shifts in odour attractiveness are correlated with shifts in ovarian hormones. Here, 46 women each provided six overnight scent and corresponding day saliva samples spaced five days apart, and completed luteinizing hormone tests to determine ovulatory timing. Scent samples collected near ovulation were rated more attractive, on average, relative to samples from the same women collected on other days. Importantly, however, signal detection analyses showed that rater discrimination of fertile window timing from odour attractiveness ratings was very poor. Within-women shifts in salivary oestradiol and progesterone were not significantly associated with within-women shifts in odour attractiveness. Between-women, mean oestradiol was positively associated with mean odour attractiveness. Our findings suggest that raters cannot reliably detect women's ovulatory timing from their scent attractiveness. The between-women effect of oestradiol raises the possibility that women's scents provide information about overall cycle fecundity, though further research is necessary to rigorously investigate this possibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Mei
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Rachel L. Grillot
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Craig K. Abbey
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | | | - James R. Roney
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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18
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Shirazi TN, Self H, Rosenfield KA, Dawood K, Welling LLM, Cárdenas R, Bailey JM, Balasubramanian R, Delaney A, Breedlove SM, Puts DA. Low Perinatal Androgens Predict Recalled Childhood Gender Nonconformity in Men. Psychol Sci 2022; 33:343-353. [PMID: 35191784 PMCID: PMC8985219 DOI: 10.1177/09567976211036075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The contributions of gonadal hormones to the development of human behavioral sex differences are subjects of intense scientific and social interest. Isolated gonadotropin-releasing-hormone deficiency (IGD) is a rare endocrine disorder that can reveal a possible role of early gonadal hormones. IGD is characterized by low or absent gonadal hormone production after the first trimester of gestation, but external genitalia and hence gender of rearing are concordant with chromosomal and gonadal sex. We investigated recalled childhood gender nonconformity in men (n = 65) and women (n = 32) with IGD and typically developing men (n = 463) and women (n = 1,207). Men with IGD showed elevated childhood gender nonconformity, particularly if they also reported undescended testes at birth, a marker of low perinatal androgens. Women with IGD did not differ from typically developing women. These results indicate that early androgen exposure after the first trimester contributes to male-typical gender-role behaviors in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heather Self
- Department of Anthropology, The
Pennsylvania State University
| | | | - Khytam Dawood
- Department of Psychology, The
Pennsylvania State University
| | | | | | | | | | - Angela Delaney
- Reproductive Physiology and
Pathophysiology Group, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
Maryland
| | | | - David A. Puts
- Department of Anthropology, The
Pennsylvania State University,David A. Puts, The Pennsylvania
State University, Department of Anthropology
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19
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Palmer-Hague JL, Geniole SN. Perceptions of threat track self-reported social, but not physical, aggression in women's faces. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.111264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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20
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Stern J, Arslan RC, Penke L. Stability and validity of steroid hormones in hair and saliva across two ovulatory cycles. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2022; 9:100114. [PMID: 35755924 PMCID: PMC9216405 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Steroid hormones are often assessed via saliva samples, as they are noninvasive and easy to collect. However, hormone levels in saliva can fluctuate from moment-to-moment, are influenced by factors such as momentary emotional states and food intake, and some vary strongly across women's ovulatory cycle. In contrast, hormone levels in hair seem to be more robust against these influences and were previously suggested to be a good alternative to obtain women's baseline hormone levels. In the current study, we investigated whether hormone levels are stable across multiple assays and whether hormone levels from saliva and hair samples correlate. We collected saliva and hair samples from N = 155 naturally cycling women across two ovulatory cycles. All samples were analyzed for progesterone, testosterone and cortisol levels via mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results showed that both averaged saliva and hair hormone levels were moderately stable across cycles. Hair progesterone levels showed higher stability than the respective levels from saliva. Saliva and hair levels for progesterone and testosterone were moderately correlated, whereas cortisol levels from saliva and hair were only weakly correlated. Results suggest that the type of sample from which baseline hormone levels are assessed and the cycle phase in which saliva samples are collected may have a high impact on the obtained results. Implications for future studies are suggested. Testosterone, progesterone, and cortisol were analyzed from repeated saliva and hair samples via LC-MS/MS. Hormone levels are moderately stable in both saliva and hair samples. Progesterone levels are significantly more stable in hair samples as compared to saliva samples. Hair and saliva hormone samples correlate moderately for progesterone and testosterone, but only weakly for cortisol.
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21
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Gouni O, Jarašiūnaitė-Fedosejeva G, Kömürcü Akik B, Holopainen A, Calleja-Agius J. Childlessness: Concept Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031464. [PMID: 35162484 PMCID: PMC8834711 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this concept analysis is to explore childlessness and provide understanding to professionals involved in the field of infertility. Walker and Avant's method was used to identify descriptions, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents of the concept. A model with related and contrary cases was developed. The analysis was based on the definition of the term in major dictionaries in the Greek, Lithuanian, Finnish, Maltese, and Turkish languages, while further literature searches utilized the Web of Science, PubMed, PsychInfo, Medline, Google Scholar, and National Thesis Databases. The literature search was limited to papers/books published in the authors' national languages and English. As a result, childlessness is defined as the absence of children in the life of an individual, and this can be voluntary or involuntary. However, the deeper analysis of the concept may be preceded and amplified through cultural, psychological, biological, philosophical, theological, sociological, anthropological, and linguistic aspects throughout history. These elements presented challenges for childless individuals, ultimately influencing their choices to resort to alternative ways of becoming parents, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), surrogacy, adoption, or other forms of childbearing. Historically, childlessness has been viewed with negative connotations due to its potential impact on the survival of the human species. This negativity can be directed even to individuals who may decide to opt to voluntarily remain childfree. The long-term impact of the experience, both on an individual and collective level, continues to cause pain to those who are involuntarily childless. In conclusion, health professionals and other stakeholders who have a deep understanding of childlessness, including the antecedents and attributes, can minimize the potential negative consequences of those factors contributing to childlessness, whether voluntary or involuntary. In fact, they can capitalize on a powerful impact of change adaptation by providing support to those in their practice to recover the lost homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Gouni
- Cosmoanelixis, 104 37 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Burcu Kömürcü Akik
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Languages and History-Geography, Ankara University, Ankara 06100, Turkey;
| | - Annaleena Holopainen
- Department of Clinical Child and Family Studies, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Jean Calleja-Agius
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta;
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22
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Welling LL, Wysocki A, Orille A, Mitchell VE. Development and assessment of the Partner Exploitation Inventory. CURRENT RESEARCH IN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crbeha.2022.100074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
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23
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Jones BC, Jones AL, Shiramizu V, Anderson C. What Does Women's Facial Attractiveness Signal? Implications for an Evolutionary Perspective on Appearance Enhancement. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2022; 51:67-71. [PMID: 33733308 PMCID: PMC8858290 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-01955-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Benedict C Jones
- School of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0LN, Scotland.
| | - Alex L Jones
- Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales
| | - Victor Shiramizu
- Institute of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Claire Anderson
- Textile Design Programme, Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London, London, England
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24
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Changes in Facial Shape throughout Pregnancy—A Computational Exploratory Approach. Symmetry (Basel) 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/sym13101944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Facial cognition serves an important role in human daily interactions. It has been suggested that facial shape can serve as a signal for underlining biological condition, and that it is correlated with, among others, health, fertility, and attractiveness. In this study, 14 women were photographed during three consecutive trimesters of pregnancy, and the levels of their facial sexual dimorphism, asymmetry, and averageness were computed. Facial sexual dimorphism in first trimester was higher than in the second trimester (F(2, 22) = 5.77; p = 0.01; ηp2 = 0.34, post-hoc Tukey HSD test p = 0.007). Similar pattern was visible for asymmetry (F(2, 22) = 3.67; p = 0.04; ηp2 = 0.25, post-hoc Tukey HSD test p = 0.05). No statistically significant changes in measurement of averageness were observed. Results from Bayesian complementary analyses confirmed the observed effects for sexual dimorphism. The evidence for trimester differences in asymmetry and averageness was inconsequential. Based on the preliminary results of this exploratory study, we suggest that previously found decrease in observed facial attractiveness during pregnancy can be related to the decrease in computed facial femininity (possibly mediated by the changes in facial adiposity).
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25
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Shirazi TN, Self H, Dawood K, Welling LLM, Cárdenas R, Rosenfield KA, Bailey JM, Balasubramanian R, Delaney A, Breedlove SM, Puts DA. Evidence that perinatal ovarian hormones promote women's sexual attraction to men. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 134:105431. [PMID: 34601343 PMCID: PMC8957625 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian estrogens may influence the development of the human brain and behavior, but there are few opportunities to test this possibility. Isolated GnRH deficiency (IGD) is a rare endocrine disorder that could provide evidence for the role of estrogens in organizing sexually differentiated phenotypes: Unlike typical development, development in individuals with IGD is characterized by low or absent gonadal hormone production after the first trimester of gestation. Because external genitalia develop in the first trimester, external appearance is nevertheless concordant with gonadal sex in people with IGD. We therefore investigated the effects of gonadal hormones on sexual orientation by comparing participants with IGD (n = 97) to controls (n = 1670). Women with IGD reported lower male-attraction compared with typically developing women. In contrast, no consistent sexuality differences between IGD and typically developing men were evident. Ovarian hormones after the first trimester appear to influence female-typical dimensions of sexual orientation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talia N Shirazi
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, Carpenter Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Heather Self
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, Carpenter Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Khytam Dawood
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, Moore Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Lisa L M Welling
- Department of Psychology, Oakland University, 212 Pryale Hall, Rochester, MI 48309, USA
| | - Rodrigo Cárdenas
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, Moore Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Kevin A Rosenfield
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, Carpenter Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - J Michael Bailey
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Swift Hall 303B, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | | | - Angela Delaney
- Reproductive Physiology and Pathophysiology Group, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - S Marc Breedlove
- Neuroscience Program and Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, 240 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - David A Puts
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, Carpenter Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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26
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Roth TS, Samara I, Kret ME. Multimodal mate choice: Exploring the effects of sight, sound, and scent on partner choice in a speed-date paradigm. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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27
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Schleifenbaum L, Driebe JC, Gerlach TM, Penke L, Arslan RC. Women feel more attractive before ovulation: evidence from a large-scale online diary study. EVOLUTIONARY HUMAN SCIENCES 2021; 3:e47. [PMID: 37588547 PMCID: PMC10427307 DOI: 10.1017/ehs.2021.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
How attractive we find ourselves decides who we target as potential partners and influences our reproductive fitness. Self-perceptions on women's fertile days could be particularly important. However, results on how self-perceived attractiveness changes across women's ovulatory cycles are inconsistent and research has seldomly assessed multiple attractiveness-related constructs simultaneously. Here, we give an overview of ovulatory cycle shifts in self-perceived attractiveness, sexual desirability, grooming, self-esteem and positive mood. We addressed previous methodological shortcomings by conducting a large, preregistered online diary study of 872 women (580 naturally cycling) across 70 consecutive days, applying several robustness analyses and comparing naturally cycling women with women using hormonal contraceptives. As expected, we found robust evidence for ovulatory increases in self-perceived attractiveness and sexual desirability in naturally cycling women. Unexpectedly, we found moderately robust evidence for smaller ovulatory increases in self-esteem and positive mood. Although grooming showed an ovulatory increase descriptively, the effect was small, failed to reach our strict significance level of .01 and was not robust to model variations. We discuss how these results could follow an ovulatory increase in sexual motivation while calling for more theoretical and causally informative research to uncover the nature of ovulatory cycle shifts in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Schleifenbaum
- Georg August University, Goettingen, Germany
- Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Goettingen, Germany
| | | | - Tanja M. Gerlach
- Georg August University, Goettingen, Germany
- Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Lars Penke
- Georg August University, Goettingen, Germany
- Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Ruben C. Arslan
- Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Goettingen, Germany
- University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
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28
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Marcinkowska UM, Jones BC, Cai H, Contreras-Garduno J, Onyishi IE, Orjiakor CT, Prasai K, Pazhoohi F, Taniguchi H, Lee AJ. An exploratory, cross-cultural study on perception of putative cyclical changes in facial fertility cues. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16911. [PMID: 34413430 PMCID: PMC8377019 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96454-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Although many researchers have argued that facial traits evolved as honest cues to women's current fertility (possibly via changes in facial femininity), evidence that women's facial attractiveness is significantly, positively related to probability of conception throughout menstrual cycle is mixed. These mixed results could reflect differences among studies in the methods used to assess facial attractiveness (i.e., forced choice versus rating-scale methods), differences in how fertility was assessed, differences in perceiver characteristics (e.g., their own attractiveness), and facial preferences possibly being moderated by the characteristics of the living environment. Consequently, the current study investigated the putative effect of cyclical changes in fertility on women's facial attractiveness and femininity (1) using forced choice and rating-scale method, (2) conducting both ovulation tests and repeated daily measures of estradiol assessing the conception probability, (3) based on a culturally diverse sample of perceivers, while (4) controlling for inter-individual variation. Although we found some limited evidence that women's faces became more attractive when conception probability increased, these effects differed depending on the methods used to assess both attractiveness and fertility. Moreover, where statistically significant effects were observed, the effect sizes were extremely small. Similarly, there was little robust evidence that perceivers' characteristics reliably predicted preferences for fertility cues. Collectively, these results suggest that mixed results in previous studies examining cyclical fluctuation in women's facial attractiveness are unlikely to reflect inter-cultural differences and are more likely to reflect differences in the methods used to assess facial attractiveness and fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benedict C Jones
- School of Psychology, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Huaijan Cai
- Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Ike E Onyishi
- Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Farid Pazhoohi
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Anthony J Lee
- Division of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, UK
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29
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Humphrey S, Manson Brown S, Cross SJ, Mehta R. Defining Skin Quality: Clinical Relevance, Terminology, and Assessment. Dermatol Surg 2021; 47:974-981. [PMID: 34148998 PMCID: PMC8231670 DOI: 10.1097/dss.0000000000003079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Flawless skin is one of the most universally desired features, and demand for improvements in skin quality is growing rapidly. Skin quality has been shown to substantially impact emotional health, quality of life, self-perception, and interactions with others. Although skin quality improvements are a common end point in studies of cosmeceuticals, they are rarely assessed in clinical studies of other aesthetic treatments and products. Descriptive terminology for skin quality parameters also varies considerably within the aesthetic field, relying on a range of redundant and occasionally contradictory descriptors. In short, skin quality has not been clearly defined. OBJECTIVE The goal of this review is to highlight the importance of skin quality to patients and physicians, explore known and unknown factors comprising skin quality, and provide clarity regarding terminology, descriptors, and evaluation tools for assessing skin quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS A review of the literature on skin quality was performed without limitation on publication date. Relevant articles are presented. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION We propose a framework of attributes contributing to skin quality rooted in 3 fundamental categories-visible, mechanical, and topographical-with the aim to provide information to help guide clinicians and inform future clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Humphrey
- Humphrey Cosmetic Dermatology, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | | | - Rahul Mehta
- Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie Company, Irvine, California
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30
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Krems JA, Claessens S, Fales MR, Campenni M, Haselton MG, Aktipis A. An agent-based model of the female rivalry hypothesis for concealed ovulation in humans. Nat Hum Behav 2021; 5:726-735. [PMID: 33495572 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-020-01038-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
After half a century of debate and few empirical tests, there remains no consensus concerning why ovulation in human females is considered concealed. The predominant male investment hypothesis states that females were better able to obtain material investment from male partners across those females' ovulatory cycles by concealing ovulation. We build on recent work on female competition to propose and investigate an alternative-the female rivalry hypothesis-that concealed ovulation benefited females by allowing them to avoid aggression from other females. Using an agent-based model of mating behaviour and paternal investment in a human ancestral environment, we did not find strong support for the male investment hypothesis, but found support for the female rivalry hypothesis. Our results suggest that concealed ovulation may have benefitted females in navigating their intrasexual social relationships. More generally, this work implies that explicitly considering female-female interactions may inspire additional insights into female behaviour and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaimie Arona Krems
- The Oklahoma Center for Evolutionary Analysis (OCEAN), Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Scott Claessens
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.,Interdisciplinary Cooperation Initiative, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Melissa R Fales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Center for Behavior, Evolution, and Culture, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Marco Campenni
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.,Interdisciplinary Cooperation Initiative, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.,Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Martie G Haselton
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Center for Behavior, Evolution, and Culture, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Communication, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Athena Aktipis
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA. .,Interdisciplinary Cooperation Initiative, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA. .,Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA. .,Arizona Cancer Evolution Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA. .,Biodesign Center for Biocomputation, Security and Society, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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Oleszkiewicz A, Suhle P, Haehner A, Croy I. Prior exposure to Hedione, a model of pheromone, does not affect female ratings of male facial attractiveness or likeability. Physiol Behav 2021; 238:113458. [PMID: 34033848 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The existence of pheromones in humans is controversial, partly because of definitional difficulties and partly because of the question of possible chemical substances. The synthetic compound Methyl dihydrojasmonate (Hedione) is potent to bind to vomeronasal-type 1 receptors (VN1R1s) and activate limbic areas of the brain in a sex-specific manner. However, one of the most important definitional points for a human pheromone effect has not yet been investigated, i.e., whether smelling Hedione, a model of pheromone, has a behavioral effect. We tested in females whether Hedione leads to altered perception of male social stimuli. Each of the included women were sensitive to Hedione and were tested around the time of ovulation in three consecutive sessions, during each they were exposed to either Hedione or Phenylethyl alcohol or Odorless air. We measured the speed of male face recognition (implicit priming task) and collected ratings of facial attractiveness and likeability of men (explicit task). Only about half of the women tested were sensitive to Hedione. Those women did not show any effect of Hedione exposure in the implicit priming task and moderate, but non-significant effects in the explicit task. We therefore assume that Hedione is not a potent model of pheromone in humans and this observation may be due to the fact that the artificially produced substance is not suited for signaling the proximity of other humans. Furthermore, the high rate of Hedione-specific anosmia leads to the hypothesis that a substantial proportion of individuals has a poor V1NR1 receptor expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Oleszkiewicz
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Germany; Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Paulina Suhle
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Antje Haehner
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany; Department of Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
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The More Fertile, the More Creative: Changes in Women's Creative Potential across the Ovulatory Cycle. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18105390. [PMID: 34070114 PMCID: PMC8158362 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Creative thinking is a defining human feature. It provides novel solutions and as such undoubtedly has contributed to our survival. However, according to signaling theory, creativity could also have evolved through sexual selection as a potential fitness indicator. In our study, we tested one implication of this theory. Specifically, we hypothesized that if creativity can serve as a signal of women’s fitness, then we should observe an increase in creative thinking in the fertile phase of the ovulatory cycle compared to other non-fertile phases. In our study (N = 751), we tested creative potential throughout the ovulatory cycle. We found a positive correlation between the probability of conception and both creative originality and flexibility. Importantly, we also tested the mediating role of arousal in the relationship between the probability of conception and creative thinking. The results of our study are discussed in terms of signaling theory, through which women advertise their fitness with their creativity.
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Arantes J, Pinho M, Wearden J, Albuquerque PB. "Time Slows Down Whenever You Are Around" for Women but Not for Men. Front Psychol 2021; 12:641729. [PMID: 33889113 PMCID: PMC8056007 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.641729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
What happens when we unexpectedly see an attractive potential partner? Previous studies in laboratory settings suggest that the visualization of attractive and unattractive photographs influences the perception of time. The major aim of this research is to study time perception and attraction in a realistic social scenario, by investigating if changes in subjective time measured during a speed dating are associated with attraction. The duration of the dates was variable and participants had to estimate the time that passed. Among other measures, participants also rated the potential partners in terms of their physical attractiveness before and after the dates and reported if they would like to exchange contact with them. Results showed that, in a real speed dating situation, when there is a perception of the partner as being physically more attractive, women tend to overestimate the duration of that meeting, whereas men tend to underestimate its duration. Such changes may reflect evolutionary adaptations which make the human cognitive system more responsive in situations related to reproductive fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Arantes
- School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | | | - John Wearden
- School of Psychology, Keele University, Keele, United Kingdom
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Seyedtabib M, Mahjub H, Mahmoudi M, Moghimbeigi A. Investigating the effect of behavioral and demographic characteristics of Iranian women on the number of children ever born. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2021; 35:38. [PMID: 34211940 PMCID: PMC8236082 DOI: 10.47176/mjiri.35.38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The number of children ever born (CEB) to a woman, as an index of her fertility behavior, are interesting for the governments and demographer policymakers. In recent years, a notable reduction of fertility and population aging in Iran has caused concern among politicians, and it has led to starting new changes in demographic policies. Therefore, to adopting new demographic and health policies programs, identification of factors that affecting CEB is essential.
Methods: To evaluate determinant factors on CEB, information of 20093 married Iranian women aged between 15 and 54 years has been analyzed from the Iranian National Institute of Health Research survey. Based on the structure of data and the possible influential unobserved population heterogeneity on CEB in each city and province, a multilevel count regression model was applied. The analysis was performed using the ‘R’ software (version 3.5) with a significant level of 0.05.
Results: Findings show that the mean and median number of CEB was 2.82 and 2.00 for all women, respectively. Meanwhile, these values were 4.56 and 4.00 for the women who reached menopause. There was a significant unobserved heterogeneity affecting CEB in each province (σp=0.018). Also, the results of the multilevel model show that living in an urban area (RR=0.90), higher age at first marriage (RR=0.96), higher education (RR=0.84, RR=0.81), and exposure to mass media (RR=0.87) decrease the risk ratio of the number of CEB (p <0.001).
Conclusion: It seems that the tendency of women to academic education and their access to mass media has a significant effect on reducing childbearing. Therefore, in future planning, attention to these two factors can be useful and helpful to move to increase fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Seyedtabib
- Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Hossein Mahjub
- Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mahmood Mahmoudi
- Department of Health Services, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Moghimbeigi
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Research Center for Health, Safety and Environment, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
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Lã FMB, Polo N, Granqvist S, Cova T, Pais AC. Female Voice-Related Sexual Attractiveness to Males: Does it Vary With Different Degrees of Conception Likelihood? J Voice 2021; 37:467.e19-467.e31. [PMID: 33678535 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Previous investigations have found that female voice-related attractiveness to males increases when both conception likelihood (CL) and voice fundamental frequency (fo) are elevated. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a perceptual experiment where 78 heterosexual males rated sexual attractiveness of 9 female voice samples, recorded at menstrual, follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle under two double-blinded randomly allocated conditions: a natural menstrual cycle (placebo condition) and when using an oral contraceptive pill (OCP condition). The voice samples yielded a total of 54 stimuli that were visually sorted and rated using Visor software. Concentrations of estrogens, progesterone and testosterone were analyzed, and measurements of speaking fundamental frequency (sfo) and its standard deviation (sfoSD), fo derivative (dfo) and fo slope were made. A multilevel ordinal logistic regression model nested in listeners and in females, and adjusted by phase and condition, was carried out to assess the association between ratings and: (1) phases and conditions; (2) sex steroid hormonal concentrations; and (3) voice parameters. A high probability of obtaining high ratings of voice sexual attractiveness was found for: (1) menstrual phase of placebo use and follicular phase of OCP use; (2) for low estradiol to progesterone ratio and testosterone concentrations; and (3) for low dfo. The latter showed a moderate statistical association with ratings of high attractiveness, as compared with the small association found for the remaining variables. It seems that the voice is a weak cue for female CL. Female sexual attraction to males may be a consequence of what females do in order to regulate their extended sexuality across the menstrual cycle rather than of estrus cues, the use of paralinguistic speech patterns being an example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa M B Lã
- Faculty of Education, National University of Distance Learning, Madrid, Spain; Centre of Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Nuria Polo
- Faculty of Philology, National University of Distance Learning, Madrid, Spain
| | - Svante Granqvist
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), Department of Biomedical engineering and Health systems, Karolinska University Hospital, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska Institute, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Division of Speech and Language Pathology, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tânia Cova
- Coimbra Chemistry Center, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Alberto C Pais
- Coimbra Chemistry Center, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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Habel U, Regenbogen C, Kammann C, Stickel S, Chechko N. Male brain processing of the body odor of ovulating women compared to that of pregnant women. Neuroimage 2021; 229:117733. [PMID: 33484852 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.117733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Female chemical signals underlie the advertising of sexual receptivity and fertility. Whether the body odor of a pregnant woman also has a signaling function with respect to male behavior is yet to be conclusively established. This study examines how the body odors of ovulating and pregnant women differentially affect the behavior of heterosexual men. Body odor samples were collected from 5 pregnant women and 5 matched controls during ovulation. In a double-blind functional magnetic resonance imaging design, 18 heterosexual men were exposed to female body odors during ovulation (OV) and pregnancy (PRG) while being required to indicate the attractiveness of concurrently presented female portrait images. The participants were also required to indicate whether they assumed a depicted woman was pregnant. While neither OV nor PRG altered the perceived attractiveness of a presented face, the men tended to identify the women as pregnant while exposed to a PRG body odor. On the neural level, OV activated a network of the frontotemporal and limbic regions, while PRG activated the superior medial frontal gyrus. The results suggest that the detection of sexual availability activates the male brain regions associated with face processing and reward/motivation, whereas sensing pregnancy activates a region responsible for empathy and prosocial behavior. Thus, the female body odor during pregnancy likely helps foster circumstances conducive to the future care of offspring while the body odor advertising sexual availability promotes mating behavior. The brains of heterosexual men may be capable of unconsciously discriminating between these two types of olfactory stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ute Habel
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine: JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship (INM 10), Research Center Jülich, Wilhelm-Johne Strasse, 52425 Jülich, Germany.
| | - Christina Regenbogen
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine: JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship (INM 10), Research Center Jülich, Wilhelm-Johne Strasse, 52425 Jülich, Germany; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Catharina Kammann
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Susanne Stickel
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine: JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship (INM 10), Research Center Jülich, Wilhelm-Johne Strasse, 52425 Jülich, Germany.
| | - Natalia Chechko
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine: JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship (INM 10), Research Center Jülich, Wilhelm-Johne Strasse, 52425 Jülich, Germany.
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de Figueiredo BGD, Rezende MTC, dos Santos NA, de Andrade MJO. Mapping changes in women's visual functions during the menstrual cycle: narrative review. SAO PAULO MED J 2021; 139:662-674. [PMID: 34787299 PMCID: PMC9634831 DOI: 10.1590/1516-3180.2020.0474.r2.03052021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This article systematically updates the literature on changes in visual functions during the phases of the normal menstrual cycle in women. OBJECTIVES To update Guttridge's 1994 review of visual structures and functions associated with the menstrual cycle and broaden the search through psychophysical, neuroimaging and neurobehavioral measurements covering 1994-2020. DESIGN AND SETTING Narrative review conducted in a neurosciences and behavior laboratory in Brazil. METHODS The PubMed, Cochrane Clinical Answers and Google Scholar databases were searched. After screening and applying the eligibility criteria, 32 articles were examined. Through this analysis, the following information was extracted: (1) geographical distribution of the study; (2) sample size (according to age and phase of the menstrual cycle); (3) type of measurements according to psychophysical, neuroimaging and neurobehavioral instruments; (4) vision testing model; (5) visual subcategory evaluated; (6) categories of processed visual stimuli; and (7) main findings. RESULTS The menstrual phases give rise to significant changes in visual functions, including in relation to orientation and spatial attention, visual campimetry and visual sensitivity. These relate specifically to the follicular and luteal phases. CONCLUSIONS These findings theoretically expand the effects of menstrual cycles on visual functions found by Guttridge (1994). Despite some inconsistencies in the studies analyzed, it was found that visual processing during the follicular and luteal phases of the normal menstrual cycle of healthy women can explain physiological, cognitive, behavioral and social modulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Gabrielli Damascena de Figueiredo
- Psychology Student, Neurosciences and Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology Perception, Universidade Federal da Paraiba (UFPB), João Pessoa (PB), Brazil.
| | - Maria Thalita Cardoso Rezende
- Psychology Student, Neurosciences and Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology Perception, Universidade Federal da Paraiba (UFPB), João Pessoa (PB), Brazil.
| | - Natanael Antonio dos Santos
- PhD. Full Professor, Neurosciences and Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychology Perception, Universidade Federal da Paraiba (UFPB), João Pessoa (PB), Brazil.
| | - Michael Jackson Oliveira de Andrade
- PhD. Associate Professor, Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chronobiology and Sleep Psychology, Department of Psychology, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais (UEMG), Divinópolis (MG), Brazil.
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Shirazi TN, Levenberg K, Cunningham H, Self H, Dawood K, Cárdenas R, Ortiz TL, Carré JM, Breedlove SM, Puts DA. Relationships between ovarian hormone concentrations and mental rotations performance in naturally-cycling women. Horm Behav 2021; 127:104886. [PMID: 33202246 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Circulating gonadal hormones have been linked to variation in the structure and function of the adult human brain, raising the question of how cognition is affected by sex hormones in adulthood. The impacts of progestogens and estrogens are of special interest due to the widespread use of hormone supplementation. Multiple studies have analyzed relationships between ovarian hormones and mental rotation performance, one of the largest known cognitive sex differences; however, results are conflicting. These discrepancies are likely due in part to modest sample sizes and reliance on self-report measures to assess menstrual cycle phase. The present study aimed to clarify the impact of progestogens and estrogens on visuospatial cognition by relating mental rotation task performance to salivary hormone concentrations. Across two studies totaling 528 naturally-cycling premenopausal women, an internal meta-analysis suggested a small, positive effect of within-subjects changes in progesterone on MRT performance (estimate = 0.44, p = 0.014), though this result should be interpreted with caution given multiple statistical analyses. Between-subjects differences and within-subject changes in estradiol did not significantly predict MRT. These results shed light on the potential cognitive effects of endogenous and exogenous hormone action, and the proximate mechanisms modulating spatial cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talia N Shirazi
- Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Kate Levenberg
- College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Heather Cunningham
- College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Heather Self
- Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Khytam Dawood
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Rodrigo Cárdenas
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Triana L Ortiz
- Department of Psychology, Nippissing University, North Bay, Ontario, Canada
| | - Justin M Carré
- Department of Psychology, Nippissing University, North Bay, Ontario, Canada
| | - S Marc Breedlove
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - David A Puts
- Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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Crowley PH. Self-Deception about Fecundity in Women : Modeling the Burley Hypothesis. HUMAN NATURE (HAWTHORNE, N.Y.) 2020; 31:421-442. [PMID: 33538980 DOI: 10.1007/s12110-020-09384-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Concealed fecundity and extended female sexual receptivity have evolved in some primates, including humans, conferring advantages both within primarily monogamous relationships (e.g., benefits from paternity assurance) and from extrapair liaisons (e.g., better access to good genes). As humans evolved the intellectual capacity for decision-making, women became capable of altering their own fertility. In some circumstances, they may choose to ameliorate risks and responsibilities associated with pregnancy by reducing sexual motivation near the perceived most fecund time of their menstrual cycle. But three findings-a general inability of women to accurately recognize their own intervals of fecundity, high variability in ovulation timing, and unconscious transmission and reception of cues associated with fecundity-constitute a physiological and behavioral syndrome that can be considered self-deception. In this study, I develop a descriptive model to determine implications of the hypothesis that these features of female and male physiology and behavior have been shaped by natural selection in response to female decision-making. My analysis shows that consensus motivation for coitus between partners influences both the importance of variable ovulation date and the probability of conception, under the influence of self-deception. It also identifies priorities for future empirical work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip H Crowley
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA.
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Żelaźniewicz A, Nowak J, Pawłowski B. Birth size and morphological femininity in adult women. BMC Evol Biol 2020; 20:102. [PMID: 32799803 PMCID: PMC7429686 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-020-01670-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women's morphological femininity is perceived to develop under the influence of sex hormones and to serve as a cue of estradiol level, fertility and health in mating context. However, as the studies on direct relationship between femininity and sex steroid levels have reported mixed results, it is still not well understood what factors contribute to inter-women variation in morphological femininity. Epidemiological studies show that indicators of adverse conditions during intrauterine growth and development in utero, such as low birthweight or relative thinness at birth, influence women's physiology ovarian functioning and may be associated with life-time exposure to estradiol in women. Thus, here we tested if birth parameters are also related with the level of morphological femininity in adult women. RESULTS One hundred sixty-five healthy women of mean age 28.47 years (SD = 2.39) participated in the study. Facial femininity was estimated based on facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) and facial shape sexual dimorphism measured in the photos. Body femininity was estimated based on waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and breast size. Birth weight and birth length were obtained from medical records and ponderal index at birth was calculated. No relationship between birth parameters and facial or body femininity in women of reproductive age was found, also when controlled for adult sex steroid levels and BMI. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that, although previous research showed that birth parameters predict reproductive development and adult oestradiol level, they do not explain the variance in morphological femininity in women of reproductive age, trait that is thought to be a cue of a woman's estradiol level and fertility in mating context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Żelaźniewicz
- Department of Human Biology, University of Wrocław, ul. Kuźnicza 35, 50-138, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Judyta Nowak
- Department of Human Biology, University of Wrocław, ul. Kuźnicza 35, 50-138, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Bogusław Pawłowski
- Department of Human Biology, University of Wrocław, ul. Kuźnicza 35, 50-138, Wrocław, Poland
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Danel DP, Kalinowski K, Nowak-Szczepanska N, Ziomkiewicz-Wichary A, Apanasewicz A, Borysławski K, Kozieł S, Kornafel D, Fedurek P. Shifts in Female Facial Attractiveness during Pregnancy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17145176. [PMID: 32709046 PMCID: PMC7400433 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17145176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
It has been proposed that women’s physical attractiveness is a cue to temporal changes in fertility. If this is the case, we should observe shifts in attractiveness during pregnancy—a unique physiological state of temporal infertility. The aim of this study was to examine how women’s facial attractiveness changes during the subsequent trimesters of pregnancy and how it compares to that of nonpregnant women. Sixty-six pictures of pregnant women (22 pictures per trimester) and 22 of nonpregnant women (a control group) were used to generate four composite portraits, which were subsequently assessed for facial attractiveness by 117 heterosexual men. The results show considerable differences between facial attractiveness ratings depending on the status and progress of pregnancy. Nonpregnant women were perceived as the most attractive, and the attractiveness scores of pregnant women decreased throughout the course of pregnancy. Our findings show that facial attractiveness can be influenced by pregnancy and that gestation, even at its early stages, affects facial attractiveness. Considerable changes in women’s physiology that occur during pregnancy may be responsible for the observed effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariusz P. Danel
- Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (N.N.-S.); (A.Z.-W.); (A.A.); (S.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-71-343-86-75
| | | | - Natalia Nowak-Szczepanska
- Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (N.N.-S.); (A.Z.-W.); (A.A.); (S.K.)
| | - Anna Ziomkiewicz-Wichary
- Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (N.N.-S.); (A.Z.-W.); (A.A.); (S.K.)
- Department of Anthropology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Apanasewicz
- Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (N.N.-S.); (A.Z.-W.); (A.A.); (S.K.)
| | - Krzysztof Borysławski
- Department of Anthropology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 51-631 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Sławomir Kozieł
- Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (N.N.-S.); (A.Z.-W.); (A.A.); (S.K.)
| | - Danuta Kornafel
- Department of Human Biology, University of Wroclaw, 50-138 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Pawel Fedurek
- Division of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA Stirling, UK;
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Schäfer L, Sorokowska A, Sauter J, Schmidt AH, Croy I. Body odours as a chemosignal in the mother-child relationship: new insights based on an human leucocyte antigen-genotyped family cohort. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190266. [PMID: 32306871 PMCID: PMC7209942 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Mothers are able to identify the body odour (BO) of their own child and prefer this smell above other BOs. It has hence been assumed that the infantile BO functions as a chemosignal promoting targeted parental care. We tested this hypothesis and examined whether children's BOs signal genetic similarity and developmental status to mothers. In addition, we assessed whether BOs facilitate inbreeding avoidance (Westermarck effect). In a cross-sectional design, N = 164 mothers participated with their biological children (N = 226 children, aged 0-18 years) and evaluated BO probes of their own and four other, sex-matched children. Those varied in age and in genetic similarity, which was assessed by human leucocyte antigen profiling. The study showed not only that mothers identified and preferred their own child's BO, but also that genetic similarity and developmental status are transcribed in BOs. Accordingly, maternal preference of their own child's odour changes throughout development. Our data partly supported the Westermarck effect: mothers' preference of pubertal boys' BOs was negatively related to testosterone for the own son, but not for unfamiliar children. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Olfactory communication in humans'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Schäfer
- Department of Psychosomatics, Technische Universität, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Agnieszka Sorokowska
- Department of Psychosomatics, Technische Universität, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Smell and Taste Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, pl. Dawida 1, 50-527, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | - Alexander H. Schmidt
- DKMS, Kressbach 1, 72072 Tübingen, Germany
- DKMS Life Science Lab, St. Petersburger Straße 2, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Psychosomatics, Technische Universität, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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Klatt WK, Mayer B, Lobmaier JS. Content matters: Cyclic effects on women's voices depend on social context. Horm Behav 2020; 122:104762. [PMID: 32353446 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Women's voices reportedly sound more attractive during the fertile days compared to the non-fertile days of their menstrual cycle. Here we investigated whether the speech content modulates the cyclic changes in women's voices. We asked 72 men and women to rate how interested they were in getting to know the speaker based on her voice. Forty-two naturally cycling women were recorded once during the late follicular phase (high fertility) and once during the luteal phase (low fertility) while speaking sentences of neutral and social content. Listeners were more interested in getting to know the speakers when hearing sentences with social content. Furthermore, raters were more interested in getting to know the speakers when these were recorded in the late follicular than in the luteal phase, but only in sentences with social content. Notably, levels of reproductive hormones (EP ratio) across the cycle phases did not significantly predict the preference for late follicular voices, but echoing the perceptual ratings, there was a significant EP ratio x speech content interaction. Phonetic analyses of mean fundamental frequency (F0) revealed a main effect of menstrual cycle phase and speech content but no interaction. Employing an action-oriented task, the present study extends findings of cycle-dependent voice changes by emphasising that speech content critically modulates fertility effects.
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Not All Progestins are Created Equally: Considering Unique Progestins Individually in Psychobehavioral Research. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-020-00137-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Marcinkowska UM, Holzleitner IJ. Stability of women's facial shape throughout the menstrual cycle. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20192910. [PMID: 32259474 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.2910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Facial characteristics can serve as a cue for judgements of multiple human traits, from maternal tendencies, overall fertility to sexual openness. In this study, we tested previously found fluctuations in facial shape throughout the menstrual cycle. With methods more robust than those formerly used (larger sample size and detailed hormonal assessments determining the timing of the ovulation), we did not find significant changes in either of the three facial measurements conducted: symmetry, averageness and sexual dimorphism (all F ≤ 0.78, all partial η2 ≤ 0.01, all p ≥ 0.542). After narrowing the sample to cycles that had a higher probability of being ovulatory (based on daily measurements of luteinizing hormone and oestradiol), the results remained non-significant (all F ≤ 1.20, all partial η2 ≤ 0.03, all p ≥ 0.315). Our results (i) suggest that the previously found increased facial attractiveness of women in the most fertile phase of the menstrual cycle is not driven by changes in facial shape, but might instead stem from other changes in facial appearance, such as a more attractive skin tone; and (ii) underline the importance of replication of studies with new methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- U M Marcinkowska
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, USA.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Poland
| | - I J Holzleitner
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK
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Craig LK, Gray PB. Women's use of intimate apparel as subtle sexual signals in committed, heterosexual relationships. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230112. [PMID: 32168340 PMCID: PMC7069627 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Current literature on women’s sexual signaling focuses on modes of attracting potential, new sexual partners, but says little about women’s subtle sexual signals in committed, romantic relationships. Subtle sexual signals are inherently private and are only visible to the intended audience; a woman might use these signals to elicit or accept a sexual response from her partner or to increase her overall attractiveness, or attractivity. In this study, we sought to identify women’s use of intimate apparel as a proceptive or receptive behavior as well as the effects of relative mate value, relationship commitment, relationship satisfaction, and sexual functioning. A total of N = 353 women in the United States aged 25–45 who were in committed, heterosexual relationships completed the survey; 88.7% of the sample indicated wearing or having worn sexy underwear. Results indicate that women report wearing sexier underwear the day taking the survey if they anticipate sexual activity that same day. However, during the most recent sexual activity, women did not report wearing sexier underwear if they initiated (proceptive) that activity. While relative mate value was not directly related to sexiness of intimate apparel, women who report higher mate value tend to wear sexier underwear. Women’s use of intimate apparel might be viewed as a method of increasing attractivity and underlying receptivity to aid relationship maintenance, though caveats regarding measures and alternative interpretations are also discussed. Findings suggest that these women use intimate apparel to feel sexy, desired, aroused, and to prepare for sex with their partners. This study is the first to examine intimate apparel in relationships and as a subtle sexual signal of proceptivity and receptivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyndsey K. Craig
- Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Peter B. Gray
- Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, United States of America
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Does women's anxious jealousy track changes in steroid hormone levels? Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 113:104553. [PMID: 31881502 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Findings for progesterone and anxiety in non-human animals led to the hypothesis that women's interpersonal anxiety will track changes in progesterone during the menstrual cycle. There have been few direct tests of this hypothesis, however. Consequently, we used a longitudinal design to investigate whether interpersonal anxiety (assessed using the anxious jealousy subscale of the relationship jealousy questionnaire) tracked changes in salivary steroid hormones during the menstrual cycle in a large sample of young adult women. We found no evidence for within-subject effects of progesterone, estradiol, their interaction or ratio, testosterone, or cortisol on anxious jealousy. There was some evidence that other components of jealousy (e.g., reactive jealousy) tracked changes in women's cortisol, however. Collectively, these results provide no evidence for the hypothesis that interpersonal anxiety tracks changes in progesterone during the menstrual cycle.
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What Makes a Partner Ideal, and for Whom? Compatibility Tests, Filter Tests, and the Mating Stability Matrix. Behav Sci (Basel) 2020; 10:bs10020048. [PMID: 32024253 PMCID: PMC7071359 DOI: 10.3390/bs10020048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We introduce a typological characterization of possible human heterosexual couples in terms of the concordance-opposition of the orientations of their active and receptive areas as defined by the tie-up theory. We show that human mating incentives, as characterized by widely adopted approaches, such as Becker’s marriage market approach, only capture very specific instances of actual couples thus characterized. Our approach allows us to instead explore how super-cooperation among partners vs. convenience vs. constriction may be regarded as alternatives modes of couple formation and cohesion, leading to very different types of couples with different implications in terms of stability and resilience. Our results may have interesting implications for future experimental research and for individual and family counseling.
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Cartei V, Banerjee R, Garnham A, Oakhill J, Roberts L, Anns S, Bond R, Reby D. Physiological and perceptual correlates of masculinity in children's voices. Horm Behav 2020; 117:104616. [PMID: 31644889 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Low frequency components (i.e. a low pitch (F0) and low formant spacing (ΔF)) signal high salivary testosterone and height in adult male voices and are associated with high masculinity attributions by unfamiliar listeners (in both men and women). However, the relation between the physiological, acoustic and perceptual dimensions of speakers' masculinity prior to puberty remains unknown. In this study, 110 pre-pubertal children (58 girls), aged 3 to 10, were recorded as they described a cartoon picture. 315 adults (182 women) rated children's perceived masculinity from the voice only after listening to the speakers' audio recordings. On the basis of their voices alone, boys who had higher salivary testosterone levels were rated as more masculine and the relation between testosterone and perceived masculinity was partially mediated by F0. The voices of taller boys were also rated as more masculine, but the relation between height and perceived masculinity was not mediated by the considered acoustic parameters, indicating that acoustic cues other than F0 and ΔF may signal stature. Both boys and girls who had lower F0, were also rated as more masculine, while ΔF did not affect ratings. These findings highlight the interdependence of physiological, acoustic and perceptual dimensions, and suggest that inter-individual variation in male voices, particularly F0, may advertise hormonal masculinity from a very early age.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robin Banerjee
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Alan Garnham
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Jane Oakhill
- Equipe Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle, ENES/CRNL, CNRS UMR5292, INSERM UMR_S 1028, University of Lyon, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Lucy Roberts
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Sophie Anns
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Rod Bond
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - David Reby
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK; Equipe Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle, ENES/CRNL, CNRS UMR5292, INSERM UMR_S 1028, University of Lyon, Saint-Etienne, France
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