| Title |
Olfactory sexual inhibition and the westermarck effect
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Human Nature, March 2000
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s12110-000-1003-5 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Mark A. Schneider, Lewellyn Hendrix |
| Abstract |
The Westermarck effect (sexual inhibition among individuals raised together) is argued to be mediated olfactorily. Various animals, including humans, distinguish among individuals by scent (significantly determined by MHC genotype), and some avoid cosocialized associates on this basis. Possible models of olfactory mechanisms in humans are evaluated. Evidence suggests aversions develop during an early sensitizing period, attach to persons as much as to their scents, and are more powerful among females than among males. Adult to child aversions may develop similarly, but more likely result from stimulus generalization. This hypothesis accords with current evidence and yields testable predictions (e.g., anosmia will prevent inhibition) that, should they be supported, will conclusively ground the Westermarck effect in a biological mechanism. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 5 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2 | 40% |
| Sudan | 1 | 20% |
| Unknown | 2 | 40% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 5 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 30 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 1 | 3% |
| Canada | 1 | 3% |
| Unknown | 28 | 93% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Researcher | 7 | 23% |
| Student > Bachelor | 5 | 17% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 5 | 17% |
| Professor > Associate Professor | 5 | 17% |
| Student > Master | 2 | 7% |
| Other | 3 | 10% |
| Unknown | 3 | 10% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 10 | 33% |
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 7 | 23% |
| Social Sciences | 4 | 13% |
| Arts and Humanities | 2 | 7% |
| Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine | 1 | 3% |
| Other | 2 | 7% |
| Unknown | 4 | 13% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 13. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 22 March 2024.
All research outputs
#2,724,268
of 25,542,788 outputs
Outputs from Human Nature
#210
of 549 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#2,299
of 41,852 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Human Nature
#1
of 4 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 25,542,788 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done well and is in the 89th percentile: it's in the top 25% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 549 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a lot more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 33.5. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 61% of its peers.
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We're also able to compare this research output to 4 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has scored higher than all of them