Human social attitudes affected by androstenol

Studied the effect of a boar pheromone, androstenol, on social communication among humans. 24 male and female undergraduates were paid to rate photographs of people, animals, and buildings on 15 9-point bipolar category scales during 2 sessions and under 2 conditions. For each session, half the men and half the women wore a surgical mask impregnated with androstenol, while the other Ss wore a clean mask. Ss also were asked to assess their own moods before and after rating the photos. All androstenol-treated Ss (a) rated the photographed women as sexier and more attractive, (b) rated photographed men and women as warmer and sometimes more friendly, (c) judged all human photos as more interesting, and (d) felt friendlier and more elated at the start of the session than at the end. A factor analysis was used to assess the pattern of changes caused by androstenol; factorially distinct judgments of Aggressive-Defensive showed an effect specific to the sex of the S. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)