The science of attraction - Dawn Maslar

TED-Ed
8 May 201404:33
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe script unravels the scientific intricacies behind romantic attraction, debunking the myth of spontaneous feelings. It explains how our brain swiftly calculates attraction, with all five senses playing a crucial role. Visual cues, pheromones, voice pitch, and touch all contribute to our assessment of potential mates. The first kiss, a pivotal moment, can make or break attraction. Once confirmed, norepinephrine floods the system, heightening senses and creating a focused, memorable experience. The narrative reminds us that our bodies are sophisticated matchmakers, blending biology and chemistry in the quest for a suitable partner.

Takeaways
  • 🧠 Romantic feelings are not just spontaneous but are the result of complex brain calculations that determine attraction.
  • 👀 The eyes play a crucial role in attraction, with visual cues such as youth, fertility, and health being universally appealing.
  • 👃 The nose is sensitive to pheromones, which convey genetic information and can trigger physiological responses, influencing attraction.
  • 👩‍❤️‍👨 Women's sense of smell is particularly attuned to MHC molecules, preferring men with different MHC profiles for potential genetic diversity in offspring.
  • 🎶 Men tend to prefer high-pitched, breathy voices in women, while women prefer low-pitched voices in men, which may correlate with body size.
  • 👂 The ears also contribute to attraction by responding to vocal cues that suggest certain physical characteristics.
  • 🤝 Touch is a key factor in romantic attraction, with experiments showing that the temperature of an object held can influence perceptions of a person's personality.
  • 💏 The first kiss is a critical moment in attraction, involving a rich exchange of tactile and chemical cues that can make or break a potential relationship.
  • 🚨 Once attraction is confirmed, the body releases norepinephrine, activating the fight or flight response and creating a focused state of heightened awareness.
  • 🕰️ Norepinephrine can cause a sort of tunnel vision, enhancing memory and possibly altering the perception of time, which may explain the memorable nature of first kisses.
  • 🧬 While the idea of attraction being influenced by chemicals and evolutionary biology may seem unromantic, it's a testament to the complex interplay of senses and biology in human relationships.
Q & A

  • What role does the brain play in determining romantic attraction?

    -The brain is responsible for running a complex series of calculations within seconds to determine attraction, despite the feelings being perceived as spontaneous and coming from the heart.

  • How do our senses contribute to the process of attraction?

    -All five senses play a role in attraction by either voting for or vetoing a budding attraction, including visual cues, chemical signals like pheromones, auditory preferences, and tactile experiences.

  • What are some visual beauty standards that are commonly associated with attraction?

    -Visual beauty standards that are often associated with attraction include long, lustrous hair, and smooth, scar-free skin, which are signs of youth, fertility, and good health.

  • How do pheromones influence romantic attraction?

    -Pheromones are natural chemical signals that convey important physical or genetic information and can activate a physiological or behavioral response in the recipient, potentially influencing attraction.

  • What was the outcome of the study involving women's T-shirts and male volunteers' testosterone levels?

    -In the study, male volunteers who smelled a T-shirt worn by an ovulating woman had an increase in testosterone levels, which may encourage them to pursue a woman they might not have otherwise noticed.

  • Why are women particularly attuned to MHC molecules when it comes to attraction?

    -Women are attuned to MHC molecules because they are used to fight disease, and preferring the odors of men with different MHC molecules can result in offspring with a greater variety of immunities, providing a survival advantage.

  • What preferences do men and women have regarding voice pitch and formant spacing in terms of attraction?

    -Men tend to prefer high-pitched, breathy voices with wide formant spacing, while women prefer low-pitched voices with narrow formant spacing, which are associated with different body sizes.

  • How does the experiment with holding hot or iced coffee cups influence participants' perceptions of a person's personality?

    -Participants who held a hot cup of coffee perceived the hypothetical person in the story as happier and more social, while those who held an iced cup rated the person as cold and unaffectionate, showing that touch can influence perceptions of personality.

  • What is the significance of the first kiss in the process of attraction?

    -The first kiss is a critical moment that involves a rich exchange of tactile and chemical cues, and it is so important that many people have reported losing attraction to someone after a bad first kiss.

  • What physiological changes occur in the body when attraction is confirmed?

    -When attraction is confirmed, the body releases norepinephrine, activating the fight or flight system, leading to a faster heartbeat, dilated pupils, and the release of glucose for additional energy, as well as creating a sort of tunnel vision to focus on the attraction.

  • How does the understanding of attraction as influenced by chemicals and evolutionary biology affect the perception of romance?

    -While the scientific explanation of attraction may seem less romantic, it encourages an appreciation of how the entire body plays a role in determining if a stranger is right for you, highlighting the complexity of the process.

Outlines
00:00
💘 The Science of Attraction

This paragraph explores the complex neurological and sensory processes behind romantic attraction. It dispels the myth that such feelings are purely spontaneous, revealing that the brain quickly calculates attraction based on visual cues, pheromones, and other sensory inputs. The eyes are highlighted as the initial gatekeepers, assessing signs of health and fertility. The nose's role extends beyond detecting scents to recognizing pheromones, which can influence physiological responses and mate selection. The importance of MHC molecules in determining compatibility through scent is also discussed, along with the preferences for voice pitch and formant spacing in potential partners. The paragraph concludes with the significance of touch and the first kiss as pivotal moments in confirming attraction.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡romantic feelings
Romantic feelings are often perceived as spontaneous and heartfelt emotions, but the video script explains that they are also the result of complex calculations within the brain. This concept is central to the video's theme, which is to demystify the biological and sensory aspects of attraction. The script uses the idea of romantic feelings to contrast the common perception with the scientific explanation of how attraction is determined.
💡brain calculations
The term 'brain calculations' refers to the rapid cognitive processes that occur when assessing attraction. The video script suggests that these calculations happen within seconds and are responsible for determining whether or not someone finds another person attractive. This concept is key to understanding the scientific basis of romantic attraction, illustrating how our brains quickly evaluate potential mates based on various sensory inputs.
💡senses
The senses are highlighted in the script as integral to the process of attraction, with each sense having the ability to either support or reject a potential romantic interest. The video discusses how the eyes, nose, ears, and touch contribute to the formation of romantic feelings, emphasizing the multi-sensory nature of attraction and how our senses work together to evaluate potential mates.
💡visual beauty standards
Visual beauty standards are the cultural and era-specific ideals of physical attractiveness. The script mentions that these standards can vary significantly across different societies and time periods, but often include traits associated with youth, fertility, and good health, such as long, lustrous hair or smooth skin. These standards are important in the initial stages of attraction, as they can influence whether someone is perceived as a potential romantic partner.
💡pheromones
Pheromones are natural chemical signals that the nose can detect, and they play a significant role in attraction by conveying important genetic and physical information. The script explains that pheromones can activate physiological or behavioral responses, such as the increase in testosterone levels observed in men who smelled shirts worn by ovulating women. This suggests that pheromones may influence our attraction to others on a subconscious level.
💡MHC molecules
MHC, or Major Histocompatibility Complex, molecules are related to the immune system and are detected through smell. The script points out that women tend to be attracted to the odors of men with MHC molecules that differ from their own, which may contribute to genetic diversity and offspring's survival advantage. This concept is crucial in understanding how our immune system compatibility can influence romantic attraction.
💡voice preferences
Voice preferences refer to the specific vocal characteristics that individuals find attractive. The script explains that men tend to prefer high-pitched, breathy voices with wide formant spacing, which are associated with smaller body size, while women prefer low-pitched voices with narrow formant spacing, suggesting a larger body size. These preferences are linked to the perception of physical traits and can influence attraction.
💡touch
Touch is identified in the script as a crucial sensory input in the context of romance. An experiment mentioned in the script demonstrates how holding a hot or iced cup of coffee can influence perceptions of a person's personality traits, suggesting that the sense of touch can affect our emotional responses and evaluations of others. This highlights the interconnectedness of our senses in the process of attraction.
💡first kiss
The 'first kiss' is depicted in the script as a critical moment in romantic relationships, serving as a rich exchange of tactile and chemical cues. The script notes that a bad first kiss can cause a significant loss of attraction, indicating the importance of this moment in confirming or dissolving romantic interest. The first kiss is a pivotal point where the senses of taste and touch play a decisive role in the attraction process.
💡norepinephrine
Norepinephrine is a hormone and neurotransmitter that is released in response to attraction, activating the fight or flight system. The script describes how norepinephrine causes physiological changes such as a faster heartbeat, dilated pupils, and the release of glucose for energy. It also creates a sort of tunnel vision, enhancing memory and possibly warping the perception of time, which may explain the memorable nature of significant romantic experiences.
💡evolutionary biology
Evolutionary biology is the study of how species change over time through the process of natural selection. The script uses the concept of evolutionary biology to explain the scientific and chemical influences on attraction, suggesting that many aspects of romantic feelings are rooted in our evolutionary need to select mates that will contribute to the survival and health of our offspring. This concept provides a scientific framework for understanding the complex interplay of biology and attraction.
Highlights

Romantic feelings are not just spontaneous but result from the brain's complex calculations within seconds to determine attraction.

All five senses play a role in attraction, with each able to either support or reject a budding attraction.

Visual beauty standards vary by culture and era, with signs of youth, fertility, and health being universally appealing.

The eyes are the first components in attraction, with an instinct to move closer when they spot something appealing.

The nose contributes to romance by picking up on natural chemical signals known as pheromones, which convey important genetic information.

A study showed that men's testosterone increased when smelling shirts worn by ovulating women, possibly nudging them to pursue those women.

Women's sense of smell is particularly attuned to MHC molecules, preferring the odors of men with different MHC molecules, which can lead to offspring with a greater variety of immunities.

Men prefer high-pitched, breathy voices with wide formant spacing, while women prefer low-pitched voices with narrow formant spacing, indicating different body sizes.

Touch is crucial for romance, with an experiment showing that holding a hot cup of coffee influences perceptions of a person's personality as warmer and more social.

The first kiss is a critical moment in attraction, with many people reporting a loss of attraction after a bad first kiss.

Once attraction is confirmed, norepinephrine floods the bloodstream, activating the fight or flight system and increasing heart rate and energy.

Norepinephrine creates a sort of tunnel vision, enhancing memory and possibly warping the sense of time, which may explain why first kisses are memorable.

While attraction may seem influenced by chemicals and evolutionary biology, it is the entire body playing matchmaker to decide if a stranger is right for you.

The brain's calculations of attraction may not be poetic, but they are essential in determining compatibility.

The role of pheromones in attraction suggests a deeper, physiological response to potential mates.

The preference for different voice pitches and spacing indicates a biological basis for attraction to certain physical characteristics.

The tactile and chemical cues exchanged during the first kiss are critical in determining ongoing attraction.

The body's physiological responses to attraction, such as increased heart rate and energy release, prepare an individual for potential romantic engagement.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

Homunculus: Crash Course Psychology #6

4 Signs of MUTUAL Attraction

Neuroscientist: Build Intense Desire & Attraction (If He Loves You, He Will Do This) |Dr Tara Swart

Your Brain: Perception Deception | Full Documentary | NOVA | PBS

How Your Senses Work? | The Five Senses | The Dr Binocs Show | Peekaboo Kidz

9 Signs of Powerful Sexual Connection 101

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
Love ScienceAttraction FactorsSenses ImpactVisual AppealPheromone InfluenceHealth SignalsVoice PreferencesTouch EffectFirst KissChemical AttractionEvolutionary Matchmaking