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Biol Psychol

Title:		Interpersonal defensiveness and diminished perceptual acuity for the odor of a putative pheromone: androstenone
Author(s):		Kline JP; Schwartz GE; Dikman ZV;
Address:		"Department of Psychology, 381 Life Sciences Building, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688-0002, USA. kline@usouthal.edu"
Journal Title:		Biol Psychol
Year:		2007
Volume:		20061122
Issue:		3
Page Number:		405 - 413
DOI:		10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.10.003
ISSN/ISBN:		0301-0511 (Print) 0301-0511 (Linking)
Abstract:		"This study assessed the relationship of repressive coping and defensiveness to the perception of androstenone, which is a putative human pheromone with relevance to social perception. In Experiment 1, 34 men and 34 women between the ages of 16-28 sniffed pairs of bottles containing silicone (the solvent control) paired with either isoamyl acetate (IAA) or androstenone in an eight trial, two-alternative forced-choice task. Participants chose which hand they believed the odor was in, and rated the odor's intensity and their confidence in their response on a 0-10 scale. Defensiveness was measured with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) L scale. As predicted, defensiveness was associated with decreased perception of androstenone, but not IAA. Decreased detection accuracies, confidence, and intensity ratings for androstenone were associated with high defensiveness. The effect was stronger among women. None of the IAA detection variables correlated with the L scale for either women or men. In Experiment 2, 22 women and 18 men between the ages of 18 and 27 were given 4 concentrations of IAA ranging from subthreshold to suprathreshold, and a blank-blank control. Detection accuracies, confidence ratings, and intensity ratings for IAA were not related to defensiveness for any of the concentrations, for either men or for women. The results are discussed in terms of motives to seek social approval and avoid social disapproval as they may relate to diminished awareness of androstenone"
Keywords:		"Adolescent Adult *Androstenes Attention *Awareness *Defense Mechanisms Female Humans Individuality *Interpersonal Relations Male Pentanols Personality Inventory *Pheromones, Human Repression, Psychology Self Concept *Sensory Thresholds *Smell Social Perce;"
Notes:		"MedlineKline, John P Schwartz, Gary E Dikman, Ziya V eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Netherlands 2006/11/23 Biol Psychol. 2007 Mar; 74(3):405-13. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.10.003. Epub 2006 Nov 22"