Human Relationships

Personal Relationships

Is love a cultural concept or is it universal? What is love? Is love a cultural concept or is it universal? Why do some relationships last where others fail? Questions of Inquiry

Evolutionary psychological explanations: Many human behaviors have a basis in our distant past Behaviors are beneficial in passing on our genes Mate selections Relationship formation Formation of personal relationships: Biology of interpersonal relationships

Universal traits of attraction Buss (1989) Both sexes: Health Youth Reproductive capacity Specific traits: Smooth skin Good muscle tone Lustrous hair Full lips Applicable to all humans and aren’t culturally specific Universal traits of attraction Buss (1989)

Important traits amongst genders Females Important traits amongst genders Males Physical attraction Youth Social status Financial capacity Ambition Industriousness (hard-working) Success Age (older) Buss (1989) Shackelford et al (2005) Neto, Da Conceicao, Pinto, Furnham (2012) WHY? From a evolutionary perspective?

A shift in values Boxer, Noonan & Whelan (2015) Buss et al (2001) Over time, males and females have placed higher value on a mate’s financial prospects as well as a desire for a home & children (2015) Other qualities that stood out were humor, trust, & loyalty (2015) Characteristics for males and females have become more similar: Chasity & domestic skills decreased drastically (2001) “Mutual love & attraction” (2001) However, these research studies were conducted in the USA only, so this may not be a global shift A shift in values Boxer, Noonan & Whelan (2015) Buss et al (2001)

Attraction as Addiction Fisher (2016) Intensely passionate romantic love is similar to drug addiction form a neurobiological process The same brain mechanism active in substance abuse is also active when thinking about a romantic partner Mesolimbic dopamine reward pathway Love shares many symptoms with substance abuse (alcohol, nicotine, cocaine) & addiction (gambling): Euphoria Craving Tolerance Dependence (emotional & physical) Withdrawal Attraction as Addiction Fisher (2016)

Reward Pathway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7E0mTJQ2KM

Dr. Helen Fisher’s Research Fisher investigated the blood flow in the brain by using fMRI brain scans of people in love. N=17 (10 women, 7 men) Filled out a questionnaire about feelings towards their loved one were shown a picture of their beloved for 30 seconds and then their brain was scanned. They were then given a distracting task followed by viewing another photo of a neutral person, once again their brain was scanned. Each part repeated 6 times. RESULTS: The blood flow in the brain’s reward system (activated by a pleasant stimulus) during the beloved picture was more intense than during the neutral pictures. Dr. Helen Fisher’s Research

Moving from passionate love to intimate love…attachment is formed. Feelings of comfort, security, and relatedness In 1969, Bowlby argued that our ability to create attachments is an innate quality; specific behaviors and physiological responses are attachment behaviors. Hormones involved in attachment: 1.) Oxytocin 2.) Vasopressin Hormones & Attachment

VERY powerful Hormone released during sex and touching; helps deepen and intensify feelings of attachment. It is also released during childbirth, thus forming close attachments with the mother and infant Lab rats that had their oxytocin blocked/inhibited rejected their young and did not demonstrate nurturing behaviors (Strathearn, 2001) Oxytocin

Suggests that oxytocin plays a role in social interactions in humans & bonding: Gaze Touch Vocal recognition Physical & facial expressions Feldman (2013)

Another sex released hormone that is important for long-term commitment. In a study that increased the level of vasopressin in prairie voles, these animals formed stronger bonds and had more sex (other than for reproduction) just like humans. When vasopressin was inhibited, the males lost devotion to their mate and did not protect them from potential mates. Evidence that vasopressin plays an important role in attachment and mating behavior. Vasopressin

Body odor (pheromones) correlate to our genes in relation to our immune system We can “detect” the level of MHC by finding certain body odors more attractive We prefer scents of those with more different MHC genes MHC Genes

“Dirty Shirt” Experiment (Wedekind et al, 1995) 44 men & 49 women Women were to rate the attractiveness of odor from t-shirts worn by 6 men (3 with similar MHC & 3 with different) Women found the “odors” of dissimilar MHC genes more attractive/pleasant Those that were taking oral contraceptives preferred scents with similar MHC genes (mimic pregnancy thus they wanted to seek support of kin or family rather than a mate) Follow up study (Wekekind & Furi, 1997): Men were likely to prefer a man’s scent over a woman’s “Dirty Shirt” Experiment (Wedekind et al, 1995)