Olfactory sexual inhibition and the westermarck effect-猫眼课题宝

嗅觉性抑制和韦斯特马克效应

DOI：

10.1007/s12110-000-1003-5

发表时间：

2000

期刊：

Human Nature

影响因子：

通讯作者：

中科院分区：

文献类型：

作者：

Mark A. Schneider;L. Hendrix

韦斯特马克效应（在一起长大的个体之间的性抑制）被认为是嗅觉介导的。各种动物，包括人类，通过气味（主要由MHC基因型决定）来区分个体，有些动物在此基础上避免共同社会化。人类嗅觉机制的可能模型进行了评估。有证据表明，厌恶感在早期敏感期发展，对人的厌恶感与对气味的厌恶感一样多，女性比男性更强烈。成人对儿童的厌恶可能会发展类似，但更可能是刺激泛化的结果。这一假设符合目前的证据，并产生可检验的预测（例如，嗅觉缺失会阻止抑制），如果它们得到支持，将最终在生物学机制中为韦斯特马克效应奠定基础。

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.