Ecological validity in the study of human pheromones

Tamsin K. Saxton; Anthony C. Little; S. Craig Roberts

doi:10.1007/978-0-387-73945-8_10

Ecological validity in the study of human pheromones

Tamsin K. Saxton, Anthony C. Little, S. Craig Roberts

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Several constituents of human axillary secretions have been proposed as candidate human pheromones, but their influence on human behaviour remains controversial. Here we briefly review the literature on the behavioural effects of candidate compounds, noting that inconsistencies in findings could be due in part to the variation in experimental context and potential lack of ecological validity. We also report results of a pilot study which attempts to overcome these limitations in an ecologically-valid experimental paradigm: a speed-dating event. We tested the effects of 4,16-androstadien-3-one within a single speed-dating evening with 25 female and 22 male participants. We found a significant effect of androstadienone on female judgments of male attractiveness, which is consistent with the proposal that androstadienone could act as a modulatory pheromone in humans.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Chemical signals in vertebrates 11
Editors	Jane L. Hurst, Robert J. Beynon, S. Craig Roberts, Tristram D. Wyatt
Place of Publication	New York
Publisher	Springer
Pages	111-120
Number of pages	9
ISBN (Electronic)	9780387739458
ISBN (Print)	9780387739441, 9781441925398
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73945-8_10
Publication status	Published - 2008
Event	Chemical Signals in Vertebrates - University of Chester, Chester, United Kingdom Duration: 24 Jul 2006 → 27 Jul 2006 Conference number: 11

Conference

Conference	Chemical Signals in Vertebrates
Country	United Kingdom
City	Chester
Period	24/07/06 → 27/07/06

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Saxton, T. K., Little, A. C., & Roberts, S. C. (2008). Ecological validity in the study of human pheromones. In J. L. Hurst, R. J. Beynon, S. C. Roberts, & T. D. Wyatt (Eds.), Chemical signals in vertebrates 11 (pp. 111-120). New York: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73945-8_10

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title = "Ecological validity in the study of human pheromones",

abstract = "Several constituents of human axillary secretions have been proposed as candidate human pheromones, but their influence on human behaviour remains controversial. Here we briefly review the literature on the behavioural effects of candidate compounds, noting that inconsistencies in findings could be due in part to the variation in experimental context and potential lack of ecological validity. We also report results of a pilot study which attempts to overcome these limitations in an ecologically-valid experimental paradigm: a speed-dating event. We tested the effects of 4,16-androstadien-3-one within a single speed-dating evening with 25 female and 22 male participants. We found a significant effect of androstadienone on female judgments of male attractiveness, which is consistent with the proposal that androstadienone could act as a modulatory pheromone in humans.",

author = "Saxton, {Tamsin K.} and Little, {Anthony C.} and Roberts, {S. Craig}",

note = "This volume presents the proceedings of {"}Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 11{"}, hosted by the University of Liverpool and held July 25 - 28, 2006 at the University of Chester in the United Kingdom; Chemical Signals in Vertebrates ; Conference date: 24-07-2006 Through 27-07-2006",

year = "2008",

doi = "10.1007/978-0-387-73945-8_10",

language = "English",

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T1 - Ecological validity in the study of human pheromones

AU - Saxton, Tamsin K.

AU - Little, Anthony C.

AU - Roberts, S. Craig

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PY - 2008

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N2 - Several constituents of human axillary secretions have been proposed as candidate human pheromones, but their influence on human behaviour remains controversial. Here we briefly review the literature on the behavioural effects of candidate compounds, noting that inconsistencies in findings could be due in part to the variation in experimental context and potential lack of ecological validity. We also report results of a pilot study which attempts to overcome these limitations in an ecologically-valid experimental paradigm: a speed-dating event. We tested the effects of 4,16-androstadien-3-one within a single speed-dating evening with 25 female and 22 male participants. We found a significant effect of androstadienone on female judgments of male attractiveness, which is consistent with the proposal that androstadienone could act as a modulatory pheromone in humans.

AB - Several constituents of human axillary secretions have been proposed as candidate human pheromones, but their influence on human behaviour remains controversial. Here we briefly review the literature on the behavioural effects of candidate compounds, noting that inconsistencies in findings could be due in part to the variation in experimental context and potential lack of ecological validity. We also report results of a pilot study which attempts to overcome these limitations in an ecologically-valid experimental paradigm: a speed-dating event. We tested the effects of 4,16-androstadien-3-one within a single speed-dating evening with 25 female and 22 male participants. We found a significant effect of androstadienone on female judgments of male attractiveness, which is consistent with the proposal that androstadienone could act as a modulatory pheromone in humans.

U2 - 10.1007/978-0-387-73945-8_10

DO - 10.1007/978-0-387-73945-8_10

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 9780387739441

SN - 9781441925398

SP - 111

EP - 120

BT - Chemical signals in vertebrates 11

A2 - Hurst, Jane L.

A2 - Beynon, Robert J.

A2 - Roberts, S. Craig

A2 - Wyatt, Tristram D.

PB - Springer

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T2 - Chemical Signals in Vertebrates

Y2 - 24 July 2006 through 27 July 2006

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Access to Document

10.1007/978-0-387-73945-8_10