Do masculine men smell better? An association between skin color masculinity and female preferences for body odor

This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia and Programa Operacional de Potencial Humano/Fundo Social Europeu (SFRH/BD/77592/2011 to M.L.C.).A recent study claimed face skin color as a sexually dimorphic variable that influences attractiveness preferences in mate choice. Thereby, skin color may assume the role of a mate quality signal influencing attractiveness preferences. As body odor is linked to attractiveness, this study aimed to explore whether the odors of men with more masculine facial skin color would be evaluated more positively than odors from less masculine men. Female raters were presented with body odors of 18 men and were asked to rate them in various characteristics. Multilevel modelling revealed that the odors of the donors with more masculine color were rated not only as more attractive, more pleasant, and sexier, but also healthier. This indicates that odor associated with men with more masculine skin color is attractive, just as other sexually dimorphic traits. Furthermore, we found a negative relation between skin color masculinity and perceived odor maleness. Regarding this last finding, a new discussion is introduced with respect to the influence of cognitive stereotypes in odor judgments. Altogether, the study supports the possibility that chemosensory signals may be communicating signs of mate quality associated with masculinity.PostprintPeer reviewe

The other side of recovery: validation of the Portuguese version of the subjective experiences of psychosis scale.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a Portuguese version of The Subjective Experiences of Psychosis Scale (SEPS) for use in Portuguese-speaking populations in order to provide a self-report instrument to assess and monitor dimensions of psychotic experiences, translating patient's perspective and experience in terms of recovery from psychosis. METHODS: The sample consisted of 30 participants with psychotic disorders who had recently experienced delusions or hallucinations. The SEPS was completed along with other observer-based assessments and self-report questionnaires, such as the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Insight and Treatment Attitudes Questionnaire and the Function Assessment Short Test. RESULTS: Two main factors representing the positive and negative components of each subscale were identified. We obtained good internal consistency and test-retest reliability for the positive and negative components of all subscales. The subscales of SEPS correlated with observer-based assessments and self-report questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: The Portuguese version of the SEPS is a useful tool in the assessment and monitoring of psychotic symptoms

Nativism Revisited: A review of Eric H. Lenneberg's Biological Foundations of Language

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/96685/1/jeab.1968.11-497.pd

The Role of Task Comprehension in Children's Problem-Solving

PHDPsychologyUniversity of Michiganhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/150858/1/psychdiss065.pd

The relationship between androgyny and cognitive complexity: An exploratory investigation

This study explored the relationship between psychological androgyny as measured by Bem's Sex Role Inventory and cognitive complexity, measured by Crockett's Role Category Questionnaire. It was expected that androgyny and high cognitive complexity would be correlated positively. A moderate correlation between androgyny and cognitive complexity was obtained. However, the result was interpreted as a function of the complexity measure. The unexpected result was that of the subjects who scored high in complexity, more were categorized as undifferentiated as contrasted with androgynous, masculine, or feminine. Suggestions, based on the results, are made for re-examining psychological sex roles and cognitive complexity. Specifically, the researchers suggest that the undifferentiated individual be given serious attention and that qualitative indices of interpersonal construct systems be used to investigate further the connection between psychological androgyny and social cognition