subject: Is What You See What You Get? [print this page] At pheromone parties guests submit a slept-in T-shirt to be sniffed by other guests in attempts to pick a suitable partner. Researchers have shown humans use sent to sort out genetic combinations. People's preference in human scents is dictated by a set of genes that influence immune response. It's nature's way of avoiding weaker offspring by preventing inbreeding and preserving genetic adaptations that have developed over time. Supposedly, people prefer scents of those who have a different genetic makeup - but not radically different. Frankly, "giving someone the shirt off your back" may be a good way to start a relationship.
Find Your FaceMate is a dating website that is also based on science. Researchers studying attraction used computer-manipulated faces to show when someone has a face similar to yours, the similarity inspires trust. This specific technology looks at 63 different points on the face and was developed to make positive identifications. It's been used by Facebook since 2010 in its tag suggestion tool, allowing Facebook users to "tag" or identify their friends in photos. Find Your FaceMate uses the technology to find people with similar features as potential dates. This may be the 21st century version of meeting someone "face-to-face".
When the economy goes down, women dress up. Sales of cosmetics, perfumes and designer clothes increased 9% in 2009-2010 and 11% in 2010-2011. After reading an article about the economy or about architecture, 154 students were asked their level of desire to buy 6 products - 3 beauty enhancers and 3 gadgets. The women who read the economy article were much likelier to want the beauty products, but the choice of reading material made no difference among the men. Women seem hotwired to attract a mate with money. Men supposedly don't care if their mate has money - and dress accordingly.
However, men with shaved heads appear more powerful. That was the finding of 3 experiments published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. In the first experiment participants looked at 25 pictures of men with various hairstyles. In the second participants looked at pictures of 4 men with their usual hairstyle and with a digitally shaved head. In the third the participants read the same description of a man except for his hair - which was thick, thinning or shaved. In all the experiments shaved heads"were rated more powerful. For men who want that look, this is a "head start".
