Minnesota State University Reporter

Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Student Life

Media Credit: Derek Wehrwein

Maybe it was a boyfriend's charm or a girlfriend's kind heart that attracted them to each other. Or it could have been her little black dress or the size of his biceps. But most likely it was a significant other's facial symmetry, genetic combinations and the rush of serotonin. It may not be the stuff of fairy tales or Hallmark cards, but there is science to the art of attraction.

Hormones aren't just for awkward teenagers. The type and intensity of hormones present play a big role in how humans progress through the stages of love.

One expert in the area is Helen Fisher, a research professor and member of the Center for Human Evolutionary Studies in Rutgers University's Anthropology Department. She has written four books on the subject of love chemistry, gender differences and evolution's role in sex. According to Fisher, there are three distinct stages to falling in love.

Stage 1: Lust. As the name would suggest, this stage is powered by the sex hormones. Testosterone - which is present not only in men-and estrogen fuel our desires to find sexual union with anyone appropriate. Pickiness in mates comes later. In Fisher's article "Defining the Brain Systems of Lust, Romantic Attraction and Attachment," she details the way neural systems during this phase vary by gender.

"The male sex drive is stimulated to a greater degree by visual stimuli and women are more sexually aroused by romantic words, images and themes." Fisher writes. "It is also likely that the male sex drive is more constant while the female sex drive is more periodic but more intense."

For most, it doesn't take a Ph.D to figure that out.

Stage 2: Attraction. This is where a change in behavior often starts to take place. Loss of sleep and loss of appetite are common. Those in this phase may become giggly, preoccupied and have the tendency to zone out, but don't blame them, blame their neurotransmitters.







Norepinephrine is the adrenaline responsible for a racing heart and sweaty palms. Dopamine is associated with feelings of pleasure and enjoyment, the same neurotransmitter that's activated by the use of cocaine. The most important chemical present at this stage, and perhaps in love as a whole, is serotonin. Hopeless romantics beware: with the presence of serotonin, 'crazy in love' may be more than just a figure of speech. Studies have shown that people in love have up to 40 percent less serotonin than their peers. Low levels of serotonin have also been linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and schizophrenia.

Stage 3: Attachment. The honeymoon's over but lasting commitment takes work. Luckily, nature has provided us with the help of two "bonding" chemicals:Vasopressin and Oxytocin, which are released during sexual activity and tend to deepen feelings of emotional intimacy. Oxytocin, the same hormone released after a woman gives birth and forges a fierce bond between mother and child, is released by both sexes during orgasm. Thanks to this phenomena it is a popular theory that the more intimate activity a couple engages in, the deeper their bond.

On the surface a potential mate may be admiring your jeans but genes are all the subconscious is after. From an evolutionary standpoint, we are constantly assessing others based on whether we would like their genes passed on to our children. The subtle signals being analyzed internally are taking place without our knowledge.

Sweet smell of success: Men, leave your cologne at home. The ladies are on the prowl for the smell of pheromones. These odorless, chemically secreted molecules give off important clues about a person's immunity to certain diseases. A pioneer experiment for this occurrence is the infamous 'sweaty t-shirt smelling.'

As detailed by the Public Broadcasting Service, Swiss zoologist Claus Wedekind gave male volunteers clean T-shirts to wear for several days before returning them. The researchers put individual dirty T-shirts in boxes with smelling holes. The female volunteers then had the task of sampling the odor and rating each one for intensity, pleasantness and sexiness. The women overwhelming preferred the natural smells of men with immune systems that complemented their own. Historically, having a wider range of immunity raised chances of survival.

Minnesota State associate psychology Professor Kimberly O'Farrell has spent a good deal of time studying sexual selection theory and relationship satisfaction.

"In terms of attraction, people have knowledge of their own 'mate value'," O'Farrell said. "We find people whose mate value matches our own."

O'Farrell gave the example of a physically beautiful woman and an unattractive rich man. People might look at them and wonder why they are together but really they both have a high amount of 'mate value,' just in different areas.

Mirror, mirror on the wall: Many claim to be attracted to a specific physical type, perhaps blue eyes or dark hair, but what really matters may be how much that person reminds you of what you see in the mirror. Studies confirm that we often pick partners who look like ourselves, though we might not always realize it.

More recent developments suggest that people may even desire those who resemble their parents.

"Your face is so symmetrical" isn't likely to become the next big pickup line but it is the way to determine beauty. It is probable that the preference comes from a belief that asymmetrical features are a sign of hidden genetic problems. Men in particular rate women as being more attractive when they have nearly perfect symmetrical features.

The geometry lesson doesn't stop there. Cambridge mathematicians made entertainment headlines last summer for proving what fans everywhere already knew: Jessica Alba has the perfect figure. The confirmation was based on the female 'ideal' hip-to-waist ratio of 0.7. The ratio stands independent of a woman's overall weight and is thought to relate to perceptions of fertility.

The eyes have it: Don't underestimate the value of eye contact. Psychologist Arthur Arun asked sets of strangers, one male and one female, to share intimate details about their lives for 90 minutes. The strangers were then told to silently stare into each others eyes for four minutes. When the experiment was done many of the couples confessed to being deeply attracted to one another and one set of strangers even went on to get married.


Nia Jonesz is a Reporter assistant news editor

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools