Exposure to female fertility pheromones influences men’s drinking.

Abstract

Research shows that humans consciously use alcohol to encourage sexual activity. The current study investigated whether decision-making about alcohol use and sex can be cued outside of awareness by recently revealed sexual signaling mechanisms. Specifically, we examined if males exposed without their knowledge to pheromones emitted by fertile females would increase their alcohol consumption, presumably via neurobehavioral information pathways that link alcohol to sex and mating. We found that men who smelled a T-shirt worn by a fertile female drank significantly more (non-alcoholic) beer, and exhibited significantly greater approach behavior toward female cues, than those who smelled a T-shirt worn by a non-fertile female. These findings reveal previously unknown influences on human alcohol consumption, augment the research base for pheromone cuing of sexual behavior in humans, and raise the possibility that other, as yet unknown, pathways of behavioral influence may be operating hidden from view.

Exposure to male sexual scents (androstenone) influences women’s drinking.

“…In contrast with the males in the previous study (Tan & Goldman, 2015), who actually seated themselves closer to the chair with the female cues after exposure to the scents of fertile females, the females in the present study did not locate themselves closer to the male cues (mean chair position for the androstenone exposed females = 2.13 [ SD = 0.69], and for the controls = 2.17 [ SD = 0.53]). The failure to find positioning differences in the two groups was not unanticipated for the reasons described in the introduction.…”

“…Emanating from evolutionary and alcohol expectancy theories, these studies tested whether olfactory mating pathways operating outside human awareness could activate information networks linking alcohol use to sexual encounters. We had previously shown that increases in male alcohol use could arise from female olfactory signals of fertility (Tan & Goldman, 2015). The present study examined the drinking behavior of women when exposed to a male scent.…”

Preliminary evidence of olfactory signals of women’s fertility increasing social avoidance behavior towards women in pair-bonded men

“…This is in line with Tan et al . 22 , who found higher approach behavior following exposure to women’s chemical signals of high fertility when the men believed they were intoxicated, an effect that might also occur in other settings with low resources for self-regulation 24 . In addition, men’s testosterone levels correlate positively with sexual arousal thresholds and sexual interest 39 – 41 .…”

“…It should be noted that the current findings contradict the findings of Tan et al . 22 who reported increased approach behavior among men following exposure to women’s odors during periods of high fertility. Given that the paradigm used by Tan and Goldman examined active approach toward women, no threat signaling was involved.…”

“…Thus, such behavior, and particularly the preferred inter-personal space, may be influenced by mating motivation, which in turn can be regulated by signals of women’s fertility. In a recent study, Tan and Goldman 22 demonstrated that exposure to women’s body odor from the days of ovulation increased men’s preference to sit in closer proximity to where they believed a woman would sit, a preference the researchers interpreted as a stronger tendency to approach other women.…”