30 September 2009

Shock research discovers that meeting pretty women makes men feel good

According to the Telegraph researchers found that just being in the presence of a pretty member of the opposite sex causes a temporary boost in levels of testosterone and cortisol. However hanging around with other men has the opposite affect – reducing the levels of both substances in the body.

The researchers at the University of California carried out the study to see if humans replicated the boost found in animals known as the “mating response”. They recruited 149 male students aged between 18 and 24 with a third interacting with a male researcher of 25 and the others talking to one of seven young female undergraduates aged 18 to 22.

After the short five minute sessions the men were asked to rate the physical attractiveness of the women between one and seven. The average was 5.83 showing they found them alluring.
The participants then swished with mouthwash before providing a sample of saliva into a collection vial which was tested within 20 to 40 minutes of exposure to the women.

Psychologists found that just a five minute talk with an attractive women raised the levels of testosterone by 14 per cent and the anti-stress hormone cortisol by 48 per cent. Spending the same time with men saw the hormones drop two per cent and seven per cent respectively.

Dr Leslie Knapp, a biological anthropologist at the University of Cambridge, said the response was evolutionary and was to do with finding and competing for possible mates. “It all boils down to sex,” she said. “High levels of testosterone are associated with boosting sexual performance whereas cortisol helps focus your energy and helps you deal with anxiety.”

Err why am I not surprised! The researchers should have observed this overweight, talentless loser last year at a picnic in Versailles with several talented, charming and beautiful Iranian women.... or dinner with six talented, charming and beautiful Iranian women and a Finnish dancer. They could have seen the testosterone and cortisol fountaining from the top of my head through a reopened fonatnelle!

24 comments:

A Doubtful Egg said...

In more shock research, scientists discover that eating food helps keep you alive! (Did they do a similar test with women, though?)

jams o donnell said...

Talking to men probably depressed them!

Stephanie, Mama Dramatist said...

People get funding for this??!!

I cannot tell my husband. He'll retreat into a den of depression as deep as the earth's core.

*FUNK*

jams o donnell said...

I suppose it was useful to measure quantitative increases in endocrine levels but the conclusion that men feel beter in female company was a little beit like finding water makes you wet!

jmb said...

LOL. I would have thought however that the level would rise amongst males when together as they try to outdo each other. Just goes to show. Lucky there are people who are quantifying this and keeping us straight about it. :)

Claude said...

I've given this serious thought.This has been going on from the beginning of times. If males were not like that, there would be nobody on Earth to be tested. The high level of testosterone and cortisol, at certain hours, makes men irresistible to women. It ensures the survival of the human race. Men's reaction to other males is necessary to beat the competition.
When the battle is won, men return to normal chemical levels, and become boring again.Oops! I mean quieter.

All the best, Jams.

OldTrumptonian said...

It would have been more interesting if they had used a group of ugly women to compare with the pretty ones to see how the mens reactions differed.
Not enough volunteers maybe?

JennyMac said...

Another valuable use of funds. LOL.

James Higham said...

Gosh, Jams, I'd never have come to that conclusion.

jams o donnell said...

Absolutely JMB!

Looking at this seriously you are right Claudia

That would be an interesting control Tumptonian

Priceless Jenny!

jams o donnell said...

Ah James I'm sure with a grant and dosens of nubile ladies you would have found this out!

Ellee Seymour said...

So what's new here? You would have thought our clever Cambridge scientists had already sussed this out.

CherryPie said...

Steady on you won't be allowed out on your own again ;-)

jams o donnell said...

Perhaps the testosterone addled their mental faculties Ellee!

Fear not Cherie. It's a strict case of Window Shop away but if I sample the goods the not wife would tear my nuts off and feed them to the cats!

Knatolee said...

Good God, imagine, everything boils down to sex. How much money did they spend to figure that out.

And Jams, I suggest you avoid annoying not-wife!

jams o donnell said...

Imagine my surprise too! I assure you I value the family jewels too much to annoy her!

Claude said...

I'm so glad you're behaving, Jams. Otherwise, I would worry about what your poor cats might be eating!

jams o donnell said...

I realise that it;s in my best interest Claudia!

SnoopyTheGoon said...

He he. Another doctoral degree from the connoisseurs of research of the obvious.

I hope they have done enough field work. If not...

jams o donnell said...

At our age Snoopy it may be fatal but we will die with a smile on our faces!

Liz Hinds said...

And people get paid money to find these things out!!

jams o donnell said...

Makes me wish I had contined on to do a PhD now Liz!

Bengbeng said...

they need to do research to find this out? i thought it was obvious :)

jams o donnell said...

I know Bengbeng. Still it was fun to find out!