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<DIV>Hi Jim, That makes absolutely perfect sense to me. </DIV>
<DIV>I was just yesterday talking to a friend who is quite 'addicted' to
her fairly emotionally abusive boyfriend; much of what she will
say about why she can't just be with a 'nice guy' has a lot to do with the
way this man smells....Unfortunately, I too have this 'problem'. I
suggested to her that the smell we might happen to like is a combination of
high testosterone and some other personality traits -- that we are able to
smell BPD, narcissism, etc.(And not just PDs but mental disorders such as
bipolar, too.) It would be quite an interesting study to look at the Big-5
and see if there are pheromonal correlations...But anyway, back to associations
and conditioning (which is relevant to your point re rape): </DIV>
<DIV>The first man I fell madly in love with was probably borderline (BPD) and a
narcissist...And the few men after him who smelled like him, well, I had
similar responses. My big query about that has been: Is the huge attraction
to the scent something essential, i.e. about 'matching' immune systems and
personalities, about desiring something rare/special, about desiring something
disordered, about desiring something that shows fitness, etc etc...? Or is
it just that I happened to have fallen in love with a man who happened to
have had these particular characteritics and smell, and now I'm locked into it
by association? Or a little of both? I realize this is a lot to share
with Paleo..But I figure everyone can handle it! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Also: Three years ago we corresponded about love and pheromones and I got
your permission to post/share your responses on EP-yahoo. I'm pasting
here because it's pretty interesting. And exactly a year ago I wrote you an
email re the above question re personality and pheromones. I no longer have that
email, but I do have <EM>your </EM>response. Here's some of it... I figure
it's okay to share:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>All the best!</DIV>
<DIV>Alice</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Alice Andrews wrote:<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid00a101c4457a$ff3497e0$73f6ae44@CallaStudios type="cite"><PRE wrap="">Is there any evidence to suggest that particular odors are signals
of particular personalities? Certainly high testosterone and these
pheromones and personality must be linked, no?</PRE></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV>Yes. Also, since stress increases cortisol, which decreases testosterone, a
confident man's<BR>pheromone production would be indicative of reproductive
fitness. You know the type; acts<BR>like he owns the joint, presents as an alpha
male, attracts most of the women.<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid00a101c4457a$ff3497e0$73f6ae44@CallaStudios type="cite"><PRE wrap=""> The three men who share this
particular scent (musky, musty, almost like mildew) all have similar
personalities...Somewhat 'disordered' (a little boderline, narcissistic,
schizoid, etc.)
I'd be curious to know if there is anything out there on any correlation. (I
have not found yet.)</PRE></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV>Watch out for the schizoid. DHEA production varies and so does the natural
body odor of <BR>schizophrenics. In homosexual males it's the ratio of
androsterone to etiocholanolone, which<BR>are the primary metabolites of DHEA.
Homosexuals prefer the odor of other homosexuals (this<BR>will be published
later this year by others).<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid00a101c4457a$ff3497e0$73f6ae44@CallaStudios type="cite"><PRE wrap="">
-------------------------------------------------------</PRE><PRE wrap="">AA:</PRE></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV>I was wondering if there's any literature on (or talk of) female pheromones
at ovulation<BR>having the capability to alter or inhibit or increase a
particular type of sperm-one that<BR>is more likely to impregnate?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>JVK:</DIV>
<DIV>The egg has been described as an active sperm-catcher; pretty sure we cited
this in my<BR>book, but<BR>no info I've seen indicates pheromonal effects on
type of sperm. This is an interesting<BR>thought,<BR>nonetheless. I hope you
follow up with your inquiry to other experts. Pheromone receptors<BR>also<BR>are
present on sperm cells (presumably to guide them to the egg).<BR></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>AA:</DIV>
<DIV>If such a sperm is more 'costly' in some way to manufacture, it would make
sense that a<BR>man would 'conserve' most 'fertile,' 'viable,'
'healthy'<BR>sperm for when female was at her most fertile. Or perhaps it is
just as simple as: when a<BR>man detects pheromones most (or likes them most),
he is<BR>most turned on and produces MORE semen, thus more chance for
fertilization to occur. And<BR>perhaps more normal sperm cells are present?
Any<BR>thoughts? <BR></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>JVK:</DIV>
<DIV>The literature I've seen indicates a continuum of sperm production based on
ratios of<BR>luteinizing hormone<BR>(LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH),
with FSH being largely responsible for<BR>development. However, it<BR>is an LH
surge that accompanies both ovulation in women, and a testosterone increase
in<BR>men exposure to<BR>ovulatory women's pheromones (copulins). There is also
some literature (Sperm Wars) that<BR>mentions increased<BR>aniticipatory volume
of semen, but no indications of sperm quality as I recall. <BR><BR>Sorry I can't
be of more help, (read that your book got Jim Brody's approval,
congrats!)<BR><BR>Jim<BR></DIV>
<DIV>---------------------------------------------------</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>AA:<BR>I sometimes wonder if the feelings of Love during conception could
possibly alter the<BR>quality of sperm,
too...<BR>neurotransmitters/hormones/peptides etc in woman feeling love during
sex-------->affect<BR>(copulins) pheromones (type or
amount)----><BR>affect sperm quality???<BR>And/or 'love chemicals' in men
simply affecting sperm quality etc....??? Hmmm....</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>JVK:<BR>A possibility, since many if not all neuronal systems feedback
on <BR>the gonadotropin releasing hormone neuronal system, which
drives<BR>everything about reproduction (and, of course, is directly
affected<BR>by pheromones.) An example: increasing estrogen levels are
linked<BR>to increased oxytocin release with orgasm in women. If oxytocin
also<BR>increased with testosterone, bonding would be facilitated.
Perhaps<BR>the bonding mechanism influences fertility. Or maybe something
so<BR>simple as the immune system functions of paired mates adjusting to<BR>the
ongoing presence of a mate, facilitating conception via immune<BR>system
interaction with sperm production. Much to think about; more<BR>to
study.<BR><BR>Jim<BR></DIV></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=jvkohl@bellsouth.net href="mailto:jvkohl@bellsouth.net">JV Kohl</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=andrewsa@newpaltz.edu
href="mailto:andrewsa@newpaltz.edu">Alice Andrews</A> ; <A
title=paleopsych@paleopsych.org href="mailto:paleopsych@paleopsych.org">The
new improved paleopsych list</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, May 17, 2005 12:24
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Paleopsych] What's the
survival value ofposttraumaticstressdisorder?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Alice,<BR>I've long thought that the link between PTSD and rape
is olfactory. War vets response triggered by smoke;<BR>women's response
triggered by the natural scent of a man--or event associated odors: alcohol,
etc. The natural<BR>scent of a man can evoke chemical changes in reproductive
hormone levels, which would also affect personality.<BR>The association with
natural masculine scent is most likely to alter intimacy with a rape victim's
loving spouse/lover.<BR>She will respond to him, unfortunately, as her
traumatized body responded to the rape. <BR><BR>I wonder how much you've
heard, read about the olfactory connection--and how much validity you
think<BR>there is to it.<BR><BR>Jim Kohl<BR><A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated
href="http://www.pheromones.com">www.pheromones.com</A><BR><BR>Alice Andrews
wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid016001c54b3a$6b9b66a0$6501a8c0@callastudios type="cite">
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<DIV>Steve wrote:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV>Her chemistry will change, and depending on where she is
developmentally (her life-history), her personality may actually change!
(Pre, say, 25 years of age). </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><PRE wrap=""> </PRE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>