Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: the5thforce on 08/03/2017 11:42:10

Title: Are pheromone effects real, or is the apparent effect just reinforcement?
Post by: the5thforce on 08/03/2017 11:42:10
I just read an article on human pheromones being a myth which I disagree with, under the best circumstances where the mother and father are both present and provide a positive influence on the childs life we learn to associate male and female scents with whatever (hopefully healthy) early intimate interactions we had with our parents and siblings carrying into adulthood
Title: Re: Pheromones or reinforcement?
Post by: zx16 on 10/03/2017 18:03:50
I just read an article on human pheromones being a myth which I disagree with, under the best circumstances where the mother and father are both present and provide a positive influence on the childs life we learn to associate male and female scents with whatever (hopefully healthy) early intimate interactions we had with our parents and siblings carrying into adulthood
This is a good question that you raise.  What human pheromones does a baby experience at birth?  In the distant past,  I mean like in the Stone Age,  births would take place in a cave. Or some other dwelling with natural "earthy" smells .  In this contained, intimate, environment, both males and females were hanging around.  In close proximity to the baby.
 The baby thus acquired immediate contact with natural male and female smells.  And this "primed" the baby, instinctively, for a differentiation between "male" and "female".
 But in modern times, it's different.  Most births take place in big hospitals.  In these the smell is artificial disinfectant, which imparts a pungent and disturbing feeling. 
 Anyone who's been to a hospital notices the distinctive and unnatural smell.  Could this smell affect babies who are born in hospitals?