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Chemical emitted by babies could make men more docile, women more aggressive

science.org

11–20 of 143 posts

Re: Chemical emitted by babies could make men more docile, women more aggressive

#11
post #9
post #3

I don’t know if this counts as a pheromone, but babies definitely emit _something_. As a recent father, I have had numerous people remark on how wonderful babies smell after smelling my child. I can’t smell anything. People who can smell this particular smell seem very perplexed that I can’t smell it.

Hey Bobby, does this kid smell strange to you?

[deleted]

Re: Chemical emitted by babies could make men more docile, women more aggressive

#12
post #5
post #3

I don’t know if this counts as a pheromone, but babies definitely emit _something_. As a recent father, I have had numerous people remark on how wonderful babies smell after smelling my child. I can’t smell anything. People who can smell this particular smell seem very perplexed that I can’t smell it.

For serious? The top of my kids heads smelled intoxicating for the first 6-9 months. There is still a special scent but not quite the same. And I smell it on other babies, too. It’s like smelling breast milk, but emanating from the Fontainelle

It would be funny if you could only smell it if it was your biological child.

Although getting serious statistics on the matter is not easy, the estimated numbers can be surprisingly high (e.g: "One in 25 fathers is not biological parent": https://www.theguardian.com/society/2005/aug/11/childrensser...)

If suddenly we discovered an easy way to give a hint you should do a DNA test, it could do some serious noise.

Re: Chemical emitted by babies could make men more docile, women more aggressive

#13
post #3

I don’t know if this counts as a pheromone, but babies definitely emit _something_. As a recent father, I have had numerous people remark on how wonderful babies smell after smelling my child. I can’t smell anything. People who can smell this particular smell seem very perplexed that I can’t smell it.

If one do the same experiment as the article describe, called the ultimatum game, and tell participants that further players will know about what decision players makes (reputation), administrating testosterone to players will result in more generosity. However if you tell players that you are giving them testosterone, regardless if it is true or not, it will then make players less generous.

Studying human behavior is difficult. It is possible that only women can smell the pheromone, or it can be culture. Its hard to untangle unless one do blind studies.

Re: Chemical emitted by babies could make men more docile, women more aggressive

#14
post #5
post #3

I don’t know if this counts as a pheromone, but babies definitely emit _something_. As a recent father, I have had numerous people remark on how wonderful babies smell after smelling my child. I can’t smell anything. People who can smell this particular smell seem very perplexed that I can’t smell it.

For serious? The top of my kids heads smelled intoxicating for the first 6-9 months. There is still a special scent but not quite the same. And I smell it on other babies, too. It’s like smelling breast milk, but emanating from the Fontainelle

Ha I see my brother doing that to his youngest, grabs him as he's walking by and smells the top of his head, which really annoys him :)

Re: Chemical emitted by babies could make men more docile, women more aggressive

#15
post #3

I don’t know if this counts as a pheromone, but babies definitely emit _something_. As a recent father, I have had numerous people remark on how wonderful babies smell after smelling my child. I can’t smell anything. People who can smell this particular smell seem very perplexed that I can’t smell it.

Three kids here. I could never smell it either. To me babies mostly smell of poop and whatever medication of the hour you have slapped all over their bottom.

One thing I have noticed is they smell worse as they get older :)

Re: Chemical emitted by babies could make men more docile, women more aggressive

#17
post #3

I don’t know if this counts as a pheromone, but babies definitely emit _something_. As a recent father, I have had numerous people remark on how wonderful babies smell after smelling my child. I can’t smell anything. People who can smell this particular smell seem very perplexed that I can’t smell it.

I think that's just the smell of that Johnson's baby soap that everyone uses :P

Re: Chemical emitted by babies could make men more docile, women more aggressive

#18
post #3

I don’t know if this counts as a pheromone, but babies definitely emit _something_. As a recent father, I have had numerous people remark on how wonderful babies smell after smelling my child. I can’t smell anything. People who can smell this particular smell seem very perplexed that I can’t smell it.

Total emperors new clothes. They smell of baby powder and very faintly of urine.

Re: Chemical emitted by babies could make men more docile, women more aggressive

#19
post #3

I don’t know if this counts as a pheromone, but babies definitely emit _something_. As a recent father, I have had numerous people remark on how wonderful babies smell after smelling my child. I can’t smell anything. People who can smell this particular smell seem very perplexed that I can’t smell it.

> As a recent father, I have had numerous people remark on how wonderful babies smell after smelling my child.

Did you get these remarks from women, and were they aggressive (as the study says)?

Re: Chemical emitted by babies could make men more docile, women more aggressive

#20
post #3

I don’t know if this counts as a pheromone, but babies definitely emit _something_. As a recent father, I have had numerous people remark on how wonderful babies smell after smelling my child. I can’t smell anything. People who can smell this particular smell seem very perplexed that I can’t smell it.

I think that's just the smell of that Johnson's baby soap that everyone uses :P

Don't spoil the trade secret!
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