Sex cues ruin men's decisiveness

[bhk]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4921690.stm

Sex cues ruin men's decisiveness
Catching sight of a pretty woman really is enough to throw a man's decision-making skills into disarray, a study suggests.
The more testosterone he has, the stronger the effect, according to work by Belgian researchers.

Men about to play a financial game were shown images of sexy women or lingerie.

The Proceedings of the Royal Society B study found they were more likely to accept unfair offers than men not been exposed to the alluring images.

The suggestion is that the sexual cues distract the men's thoughts, preventing them from focusing on their task - particularly among those with high natural testosterone levels.

The University of Leuven researchers gave 176 heterosexual male student volunteers aged 18 to 28 financial games to test their fair play.
But first, half of the men were shown sexual cues of some kind.

One group of 44 men were given pictures to rate; some were shown landscapes while the rest were shown attractive women.

Another group, of 37 men, were either asked to assess the quality, texture and colour of a bra or a t-shirt.

And a third group of 95 were shown either pictures of elderly women or young models.

Each group was then paired up to play a game where the men had $10, a proposer had to suggest a split, and the other man accepted or rejected the offer.

If the second man accepted the offer, the money was distributed in agreement with the offer. If he rejected it, neither partner got anything.

The game is designed as a lab model of hunting or food sharing situations.

'Vulnerable'

The men's performance in the tests showed those who had been exposed to the "sexual cues" were more likely to accept an unfair offer than those who were not.

The men's testosterone levels were also tested - by comparing the length of the men's index finger compared to their ring finger.

If the ring finger is longest, it indicates a high testosterone level.

The researchers found that men in the study who had the highest levels performed worst in the test, and suggest that is because they are particularly sensitive to sexual images.

Dr Siegfried DeWitte, one of the researchers who worked on the study, said: "We like to think we are all rational beings, but our research suggests ... that people with high testosterone levels are very vulnerable to sexual cues.

"If there are no cues around, they behave normally.

"But if they see sexual images they become impulsive."

He added: "It's a tendency, but these people are not powerless to fight it.

"Hormone levels are one thing, but we can learn to deal with it."

The researchers are conducting similar tests with women. But so far, they have failed to find a visual stimulus which will affect their behaviour."

Dr George Fieldman, principal lecturer in psychology at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College, told the BBC News website: "The fact men are distracted by sexual cues fits in to evolutionary experience. It's what they are expected to do.

"They are looking for opportunities to pass on their genes."

He said the study confirmed what had been suspected by many.

"If a man is being asked to choose between something being presented by an attractive woman and an ugly men, they might not be as dispassionate as they could be."

Nice work if you can get it. They might have even had a sighting of Captain Obvious while that study was going on.

[wendersfan]

I dispute the findings of this study. It's obvious the sample was skew...

"Ooh, boobies!"

...ed, leading to an incorrect result.

[Cardiff Giant11]

as you said, definitely Captain Obvious' domain. Otherwise there's no reason guys would stay with their hot but pain in the ass girlfriend's

[Breakfast with Girls]

The researchers are conducting similar tests with women. But so far, they have failed to find a visual stimulus which will affect their behaviour.

Clearly, they just haven't found the right image:

[Joe Molotov]

Tune in next week for more TALES OF ASTONISHMENT!!!

[wendersfan]

Originally Posted by Breakfast with Girls

Clearly, they just haven't found the right image:

Actually, I think this is more likely:

[SeekingZen]

Ok, so I should not read Maxim any longer. Hahahaha

I can say that nice racks distract me. Well, maybe I should not have married one!

[Joe Molotov]

=

[eXcentris]

God has given man a brain and a penis but not enough blood to make both work at the same time.

[sherm42]

That's why you gotta clean the pipes before a big negotiation.

[Holy Jackson]

The men's testosterone levels were also tested - by comparing the length of the men's index finger compared to their ring finger.

If the ring finger is longest, it indicates a high testosterone level.

Thats about as scientific as fortune telling with tea leaves.

[kvrdave]

Someone said boobies.

[Anubis2005X]

[Mrs. Danger]

Oh, so that's why I sell more coloring books when I wear the form fitting red t-shirt with a scoop neck....

[Minor Threat]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Danger

Oh, so that's why I sell more coloring books when I wear the form fitting red t-shirt with a scoop neck....

[pedagogue]

I suddently want to make a poor financial decision......

-p

[mosquitobite]

Originally Posted by Holy Jackson

Thats about as scientific as fortune telling with tea leaves.

I was wondering myself since my ring finger is about a quarter of an inch taller than my pointer!

[Mrs. Danger]

Your testosterone intake must be too high! Spit.

[DarthVong]

Originally Posted by Minor Threat

I was going to post something profound, but I forgot....

[FantasticVSDoom]

My ring finger is bigger!!!!!


Wait is that a good thing or a bad thing?

[bhk]

Reminds of that Family Guy show where the Irish are about to cure all disease and poverty and then somone invents alcohol.

[Giantrobo]

I'm fascinated by the effect females have over straight men. I've seen cute girls disrupt the ebb and flow of work situations because a few of the guys got all worked up over her.

[shoppingbear]

Originally Posted by Holy Jackson

Thats about as scientific as fortune telling with tea leaves.

Sorry to disappoint you, but the testosterone/finger-length thing has apparently been proven in studies: story

It has been known for some time that there is a direct correlation between finger lengths and the amount of the male sex hormone testosterone that a baby is exposed to in the womb.

In women, the two fingers are usually almost equal in length, as measured from the crease nearest the palm to the fingertip. In men, the ring finger tends to be much longer than the index.

Other studies looking at finger length ratio have suggested that, in men, a long ring finger and symmetrical hands are an indication of fertility, and that women are more likely to be fertile if they have a longer index finger.