Pheromones

• pheromones: substances that are released by an individual and are detected by another individual of the same species.
• Example of Pheromones:

  Androstenes: a form of steroid molecule that can be male or female

  Male: androstadienone (AND) a testosterone-derived pheromone present in semen and sweat

  Female: estratetranol (EST) an estrogen-derived pheromone present in sweat
• MHC genes:

  • MHC genes recognize pathogens.
  • The more diverse the MHC genes, the more pathogens it can recognize - strengthening the immune system.
  • It is beneficial for us to be able to recognize diverse genes in a mate, in order to make stronger offspring.
• What was the aim of Wedekind's 1995 study?

  To investigate MHC genes' effect on mate choice
• How many females participated in the study?

  49 females
• How many males were included in the sample?

  44 males
• Where were the participants from?

  University of Bern, Switzerland
• What was noted about the female participants?

  If they were taking contraceptives
• From which courses were the female participants selected?

  Psychology and biology
• From which courses were the male participants selected?

  Chemistry, physics, and geography
• Why were participants taken from different courses?

  To prevent them from knowing each other
• What was the aim of the study by Wedekind (1995)?

  To investigate whether MHC genes would affect mate choice
• How many females and males participated in the study?

  49 females and 44 males
• What was the procedure for the men in the study?

  Men asked to wear a t-shirt for 2 nights, but leave it in an open plastic during the day
• What were the men asked to avoid during the study?

  deodorant, perfume, spicy food, smoking, alcohol and sexual activity
• What were the women asked to do in the study?

  Women smelled the shirts through a 'smelling hole' in a box
• When did the women rate the shirts?

  2 weeks after menstruation (most odor sensitive)
• How did the women rate the shirts?

  They rated the 'intenseness' and 'pleasantness' of the shirts, out of 10, 5 being neutral
• How were the shirts organized for the women to smell?

  3 boxes had similar MHC genes, 3 boxes had dissimilar MHC genes, and 1 box ad a clean shirt (control)
• What were the results of the study?

  Women preferred the odors of men with dissimilar MHC genes, to the men who has similar MHC genes
• What was the conclusion of the study?

  Women preferred the odors of men with immune systems dissimilar to their own, which could increase the health of potential babies. This displays the evolutionary explanation of mate selection and how biology influences attraction.
• What were the key steps in the procedure of the Wedekind (1995) study?

  • Men wore t-shirts for 2 nights and left them in open plastic during the day
  • Men avoided deodorant, perfume, spicy food, smoking, alcohol, and sexual activity
  • Women smelled the shirts through a 'smelling hole' in a box
  • Women rated the 'intenseness' and 'pleasantness' of the shirts on a scale of 1-10
  • Shirts were organized into 3 boxes with similar MHC genes, 3 with dissimilar MHC genes, and 1 control
• What were the key findings and conclusions of the Wedekind (1995) study?

  • Women preferred the odors of men with dissimilar MHC genes compared to similar MHC genes
  • This suggests women are attracted to mates with immune systems dissimilar to their own, which could increase the health of potential offspring
  • The study provides an evolutionary explanation for how biology influences human mate choice and attraction
• What was the control condition in the Wedekind (1995) study?

  1 box had a clean shirt (control)
• How might the findings of the Wedekind (1995) study be used to inform or influence the field of evolutionary psychology?

  The study provides empirical evidence supporting the evolutionary theory that biological factors like MHC genes can influence human mate choice and attraction, which is a core focus of evolutionary psychology
• what were the women given to prevent colds?

  a nose spray