Pheromones: What Makes Us Attracted to Others?

Is it purely looks and personality, that attracts one person to another or is it something more scientific, such as pheromones? Pheromones are the sex hormones all humans have that triggers a response in behavior or physiology in the opposite sex. It can't be pheromones alone, or we would lust without preference. Pheromone research is still very two sided. A PhD on the subject published a study in 1971 that proved that women living together would synchronize their menstrual cycles, due to pheromone activities. There has even been speculation that at at certain point in a woman's cycle she releases more or perhaps stronger pheromones and will notice extra attention, especially from men. Perhaps this happens during a females fertile days to increase chances of a mating. Scientist have tried to manufacture pheromone perfumes as aphrodisiacs and there are many available but are they near as good as the real thing? It is doubtful. Although they were defined in 1959, serious pheromone research was not done until 1996 so there is much to learn. Animal sexuality is based on olfactory senses but not many realize how much us humans are also at the mercy of our noses. Researchers believe that mammals have at least two types of pheromones, primer and releaser pheromones.

There is no denying that certain smells can be a turn on for both men and women. Some are more affected than others and every individual has their preferences. Some liking synthetic fragrances and others preferring more natural scents. Pheromones are said to escape from sweat glands. These are odorless but recognized by the brain which in turn will respond. Another theory has it's root in social science, claiming that we are simply attracted to those we are around alot. Humans are comfortable and attracted to familiarity and thus feel an attraction to what they know the most and are most comfortable. This might explain some cases of a woman being married to brothers. Some sociologist suggest that attraction comes from similarity as well. For example you may be attracted to someone sub-consciously because you are of the same religion or because they have the same style of dress. If this is so, why are there so many cases of opposites attract?

In any case, be it social or instinctual, conscience or not it is most certainly rather shallow. Looks are almost always a factor. It is a sad but true fact that people associate beauty with smarts, goodness and right. It is most likely that attraction is a mixture of social habits, things in common and the pheromones that trigger brain responses. Of course, whichever theory is believed there will be exceptions.

www.apa.org/monitor/oct02/pheromones.html

www.apa.org/monitor/jan98/phero.html