It’s not you, it’s my hormones Testosterone Influences | Lisa Welling | TEDxOaklandUniversity

Summary

Dr. Lisa Welling explores the science of attraction, delving into how hormones and evolutionary traits shape human preferences. She explains how physical attractiveness, including features like facial symmetry and sexual dimorphism, influence romantic and sexual attraction. Welling also discusses the role of hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone in shaping attraction, with a particular focus on how these hormones impact preferences during different phases of the menstrual cycle. The research highlights how physical traits, despite being subconscious, play a significant role in social interactions and mate selection.

Takeaways

• 😀 Attraction is influenced by evolutionary biology, with physical traits signaling genetic fitness, as seen in animals like birds and chimpanzees.
• 😀 Human physical attractiveness is not solely subjective; cross-cultural research shows general agreement on what traits are considered attractive, such as health and symmetry.
• 😀 Sexually dimorphic features, like feminine traits in women and masculine traits in men, are considered more attractive due to their association with health and genetic fitness.
• 😀 While symmetrical features tend to be viewed as more attractive, both men and women also prioritize other factors when choosing partners, such as personal 'market value' or traits beyond physical attractiveness.
• 😀 Hormones, such as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, influence attraction, and these hormones are involved in the development of secondary sexual characteristics that impact perceived attractiveness.
• 😀 Women's preferences for masculine traits in men are higher around ovulation, a phase when conception is more likely, suggesting that hormones like testosterone play a key role in these preferences.
• 😀 Testosterone also influences men's preferences for feminine traits in women, and both genders exhibit varying attraction based on their hormonal levels, such as in response to competition or age-related changes.
• 😀 Despite claiming physical attractiveness is unimportant, studies show that people's behavior is often influenced by physical appearance, with attractive individuals receiving preferential treatment in various settings.
• 😀 Physical attractiveness impacts human interactions and decisions, such as relationship initiation, career advancement, and even how much care individuals receive in medical settings.
• 😀 Advanced computer software allows researchers to objectively measure and manipulate facial features, helping to study the effects of sexual dimorphism and hormonal influences on attraction.
• 😀 Hormones influence attraction in subtle yet significant ways, shaping preferences and even romantic outcomes, emphasizing the complex biological foundation of human relationships.

Q & A

What does Dr. Lisa Welling aim to explore in her talk?

Dr. Lisa Welling explores the science behind human attraction, examining how our preferences for physical traits have been shaped by millions of years of evolution and how hormones influence these preferences.

How do animals demonstrate attraction, and how is this related to human attraction?

In animals, like birds and chimpanzees, attraction is often linked to physical traits that signal genetic fitness, such as brightly colored feathers or sexual swellings. Similarly, in humans, physical traits often signal health, fertility, and genetic fitness, which influence attraction.

What is sexual dimorphism, and how does it relate to attraction?

Sexual dimorphism refers to physical differences between the sexes, such as feminine traits in women and masculine traits in men. These traits are often considered more attractive because they signal genetic fitness and health, which are advantageous for reproduction.

How do symmetrical features affect human attractiveness?

Research shows that people with symmetrical features are generally considered more attractive than those with asymmetrical features. Symmetry is often associated with better health and genetic fitness, which are important for mate selection.

What role do hormones play in human attraction?

Hormones, especially estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone, influence human attraction by affecting our preferences for certain physical traits. For example, women tend to prefer more masculine traits when they are most fertile, which is driven by hormonal changes throughout their menstrual cycle.

How does the menstrual cycle affect women's attraction to masculine traits?

During the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle (near ovulation), women’s preferences for masculine traits, such as a strong jawline or angular features, increase. This is likely because higher levels of estrogen and testosterone enhance attraction to traits associated with genetic fitness.

What is the significance of testosterone in both men and women regarding attraction?

Testosterone plays a key role in attraction for both men and women. In women, higher testosterone levels increase attraction to masculine traits. In men, higher testosterone levels lead to a stronger preference for feminine traits, particularly in romantic or sexual contexts.

How do researchers measure attraction to different physical traits?

Researchers use advanced computer graphics software to manipulate facial features and create feminized or masculinized versions of faces. This allows them to objectively measure preferences for different physical traits, such as sex typicality, across various experimental conditions.

How does winning or losing in a competitive task affect men’s attraction preferences?

Men’s testosterone levels fluctuate based on the outcome of competitive tasks. Winning increases testosterone, which in turn increases their preference for feminine faces. Conversely, losing a competition lowers testosterone and decreases preference for feminine traits.

Can physical attractiveness influence social and personal outcomes in life?

Yes, physical attractiveness can significantly influence social interactions, dating, employment, and even political outcomes. Attractive people are often more likely to be hired, receive promotions, and experience greater success in romantic relationships.