Sexual attraction
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In a species that reproduces sexually, sexual attraction is an attraction, usually, to other members of the same species for sexual or erotic activity. This type of attraction often occurs amongst individuals of a sexually-reproducing species, although in many species it serves no immediate reproductive goal – indeed, some sexual behavior among primates is undertaken as a social activity. Certain aspects of what is sexually attractive to humans may differ amongst particular cultures or regions. Influencing factors may be determined more locally among sub-cultures or simply by the preferences of the individual. These preferences come about as a result of a complex variety of genetic, psychological, and cultural factors. The sexual attraction of one person to another depends on both people.
Human sexual attractiveness
- See also: Physical attractiveness
Much of human sexual attractiveness is governed by physical attractiveness. This involves the impact one's appearance has on the senses, especially in the beginning of a relationship:
- Visual perception (how the other looks and acts);
- Olfaction (how the other smells, naturally or artificially; the wrong smell may be repellent);
- Audition (how the other's voice and/or movements sound).
Sexual attraction in animals
- See also: Mating system
As with other animals, pheromones may also enter into the picture, though less significantly. Theoretically, the "wrong" pheromone may cause someone to be disliked, even when they would otherwise appear attractive. Frequently a pleasant smelling perfume is used to encourage the member of the opposite sex to more deeply inhale the air surrounding its wearer[citation needed], increasing the probability that the pheromones from the individual will also be inhaled. The importance of pheromones in human relationships is probably limited and is widely disputed,[1] although it appears to have some scientific basis.[2]
Other aspects
Many people exhibit high levels of sexual fetishism, and are sexually stimulated by other stimuli not normally associated with sexual arousal. The degree to which such fetishism exists or has existed in different cultures is controversial.
See also
- Erotic capital
- Human height
- Human physical appearance
- Interpersonal attraction
- Lookism
- Physical attractiveness
- Semiotics of Ideal Beauty
- Sexual arousal
- Sex in advertising
- Sexual dimorphism
- Sexual selection
- Sex symbol
References
- ↑ Will pheromones make you irresistible to the opposite sex?. The Straight Dope. Retrieved on November 30, 2006.
- ↑ First Evidence of a Human Response to Pheromones. ScientificAmerican.com. Retrieved on November 30, 2006.
- 3. On pecularities of Russian sex appeal, see Emil Draitser, Making War, Not Love: Gender and Sexuality in Russian Humor. (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000.), pp. 13-32. ISBN 0312221290
Notes
External links
- Sexual Attraction Among Humans
- FaceResearch – Scientific research and online studies on the role of faces in sexual attraction
- Reunions Set Off Sex Urges, Article on sexual attraction among birth relatives sparked by reunion.
- Genetic sexual attraction, News report in the Guardian on persons who have had sexual relationships with or sexually attracted to relatives after reunion.
- www.lookism.info deconstruction of attraction and beauty standards
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
