LOVE AND KISSES:

A Semiochemical Addiction Model

for Human Bonding

Paper presented to the biannual Animal Behaviour Society and International

Society for Human Ethology 6/12/1983.

Bubba Nicholson

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Presentation of a semiochemical-addiction hypothesis for human love,

grief, and emotion is my purpose in writing this paper. Scanty physiological and

some behavioral evidence is also offered in support.

If love, defined as “an intense affectionate concern for another

person” (Morris, W., 1980), is redefined: “an addiction to semiochemical(s) from

the surface of another person”, a puzzling set of human behaviors emerge as

reasonable. These may include: kissing, “French” kissing, why “hot dates” are

“hot”, the purpose of courtship generally, addict ability as a human trait, parent-

infant bonding, child abuse, plus grief and the purpose of emotional tears.

Certain physiological oddities will seem less queer: the ‘genital crisis’ and

oily skin of neonates; the human female breast display; eczema as a symptom

of child abuse; the peculiar appearance and excretion rates of the human

sebaceous gland complex in relation to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, lactation,

and emotion; as well as quizzical physical characteristics of sebum, tears, and

mature skin.

An addiction model for love provides a new vantage point from which to

speculate upon possible semiochemical contributions to the evolved devices of

homosexuality, heterosexuality, even criminality and insanity.

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KISSING AND GROOMING

What is kissing for? If not ubiquitous it is very nearly so (Eibl-Eibesfeldt,

1974). Eibl-Eibesfeldt feels human kissing is something he calls “ritualized

feeding” serving for display of sexual passion, affection, greeting, or respect.

His keen insight and careful researches also support my more intricate

hypothesis. Kissing is most likely the human equivalent of social grooming in

primates.

Among the primates mutual grooming, or allogrooming, is a way of life. “It

constitutes, as Allison Jolly puts it, ‘the social cement of primates from lemur to

chimpanzee’” (Montagu, A., 1971). “The basic movements consist of drawing

hair through the thumb and forefinger … and lightly scratching and raking the hair

and skin with the nails. Objects loosened by these actions are conveyed to the

mouth to be tasted and sometimes eaten. (Sparks, 1969)” (Wilson, E.O., 1975).

[My underscore.]

Wilson’s last sentence is emphasized because it does not make intrinsic

sense. Why should detritus be tasted, even eaten? Because it tastes good?

Quite possibly. A chemical in the fur may attach a sweet taste to burrs, bugs, and

dirt. But good taste cannot account for the segregated social use of

allogrooming, so I make the case that a compulsive need or appetite for the

specific tasted chemical is clearly indicated by primate behavior:

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During moment-to-moment encounters between troop members, grooming is reciprocally related to aggression … In most higher primate species, the dominant animals seem to be groomed disproportionately by their subordinates … Mothers concentrate mostly on their infants, members of cliques on one another, and breeding adults on their sexual consorts (Wilson, E.O., 1975). [My underscores.]

Blum tabulates a “surface pheromone” with an “oral grooming” reaction in

ants, bees, wasps, and termites. “Grooming pheromones promote frequent

interactions at the level of individual pairs and these apparent surface stimuli

serve admirably to establish a tightly knit ‘family’ unit at the colonial level” (Blum,

M., 1974). My hypothesis is a logical extension of Dr. Blum’s concept to other

social animals, including man.

I have noticed that an addicted or compulsive desire for some tasted

pheromone is also indicated by avian physiology and behavior. Indeed the

courtship behavior of every carefully observed species of bird I have been able to

check involves opportunity for exchange of a bonding substance. The

sebaceous preen and comb glands as well as the sebaceous glands of the bill

(Lucas, A.M., 1980) can be seen to be stimulated during courtship as well as,

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apparently, nest site and territory marking behavior. Evidence of sex hormone

receptors in the preen gland of the duck has been found (Daniel, J., et al., 1977).

Exchange opportunities fall into three classes. Class I: The usually male

bird disturbs the environment with his bill and attracts the female to that spot.

Whereupon the attracted mate pecks at the same place (chickens, peacocks,

quail, bowerbirds). Class II: Regurgitation of food by the usually male bird for

greedy consumption by the female (gulls, penguins). Class III: Mutual grooming

or allopreening (numerous songbirds).

Besides being associated with bodily contact and sociality, allopreening is most frequent in species that are sexually dimorphic, form persistent pair bonds, or both; and it reaches its highest intensity within species when birds are first brought together or reunited after a prolonged absence (Wilson, E.O., 1975). [My underscores.]

Intense grooming bouts under the same stimulation must be suspected of

being a chemical exchange opportunity. They have been observed in mice and

sheep (Wilson, E.O., 1975) and should be watched for in other animals as well.

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Kissing reaches its highest intensity when human pair-bonds are first made

and when lovers are reunited after a prolonged absence (as anyone who has

fallen in love or spent time in an airport can tell you). This is consistent, of

course.

ADDICTION AND BEHAVIOR

Why are human beings susceptible to compulsive consumption of coffee,

narcotics, alcohol, and tobacco? Addictability as an isolated human trait makes

little sense when viewed from an evolutionary perspective. Few would defend

the idea that drunks and dope addicts are more prolific than the rest of us, so

why hasn’t natural selection worked against addictability?

Amid increasing affluence, addiction disorders of alcoholism and drug

abuse are growing year by year; so too are the national rates for divorce, violent

crime, promiscuity and sexual deviance. I hope to make a convincing case that

these curious behavior disorders are not disorders at all. They are much more

likely biological adaptations. The lack, excess, or abnormality of chemicals in

exchanges between human beings could account for most, if not all.

As the sickle cell trait’s deadly double-recessive genotype is tolerated for

the greater good of resistance to malaria in equatorial populations, so the human

trait of addict ability is tolerated for a greater good. It is

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necessary for the greater good of love, as I define it; i.e. addiction of one person

to a chemical(s) of another.

DEFINITIONS

Acne vulgaris is a condition unique to human beings and has not been

induced in animals (Pochi, P.E., 1982). Human sebum, because of its

association with acne, has long been studied and thus provides an extensive if

dispersed literature for exploration. It is one of a number of human secretions

having a possible pheromonal effect (Comfort, A., 1974). Other glandular

secretions are candidates as well, and their omission is only convenient.

As a further preface, some terminology must be defined. The term

“pheromone” will be used in the broader sense of “semiochemical” after the

usage proposed by Mykytowycz, because “mammals display manifold responses

to the same odour-signal (sic.) depending on the behavioral situation, the

physiological state of the individual and other factors controlled by the social and

physical environments” (Mykytowzcz, R., 1979).

Addictions vary both by chemical effector and by susceptibility among

individuals. Perhaps a new, more specific, term should be applied. Until then,

“addiction” and “addictability” must serve.

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SEBUM AND THE SEBACEOUS GLANDS

Montagna and Parakkal wrote of their suspicion that sebum was a human

pheromone in 1974 largely from a process of elimination, as it seemed fit for little

else (Montagna, W., and P.F. Parochial, 1974). The sebum excretion rate (SER)

has no effect upon the bacterial population of the skin (Cove, et al., 1980).

Sebum does not act as a lubricant (Masters and Johnson, 1966), nor as an

emollient (Montagna, 1965; Montagna and Parakkal, 1966), nor as a hair

conditioner (Stoddart, P.M., 1974; but see Mykytowycz, 1970). Sebum in natural

quantities does not reduce evaporation of moisture from human skin (Kligman,

1963 as reviewed in Tregear, 1966).

The sebaceous glands are too numerous and active to be dismissed as trivial. Nor do they seem to be mere vestiges from earlier stages of evolution in which they were more important to the body; man has a greater number of and more active sebaceous glands than most other mammals and has them in places where they do not appear in other animals (Montagna, W., 1965).

Sebum may play a purely visual part in the “post maturity threat

signal” (Guthrie, R.P., 1970). Yet if this were its only function, the copious sebum

flows of neonates,

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women, and teens are left unaccounted for or must be explained away.

In mammals “most of the glands and gland complexes opening onto the

surface of the skin are modified sebaceous glands … usually the odor producing

glands occur in discrete patches, or associations in the skin” (Stoddart, D.M.,

1974).

Sebaceous scent glands have been reported in at least 15 of the 18

mammalian orders (Mykytowycz, R., 1972) primates included (Epple, G., 1974).

Sebaceous glands have been found to be under the control of sex hormones in

mammals generally (Pietras, R.J., 1981; Brown and Williams, 1972) and human

beings specifically (Muthe, 1981; Agache, et al., 1980; Pye, et al., 1977;

Burton, et al., 1975, 1973a, 1973b; Labhart, A., 1974). In addition men have

more sebaceous glands than women (Montagna and Parakkal, 1974) paralleling

the same dimorphism in mammals generally (Stoddart, 1974).

Sebum excretion is high shortly after birth declining to the age of one year

(Agache, et al., 1980). At puberty the sebum composition differs from

prepuberals (Sansone-Bazzano, et al., 1979). From puberty the sebum excretion

rate (SER) rises reaching full flower in young adults. A significant drop in sebum

production after the age of 49 in

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women is related to the menopause (Montagna and Parakkal, 1974). It is natural

to ask. Why?

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SEBUM AND KISSING

After puberty, sebaceous glands develop de novo in copious rosettes on

the glabrous vermillion borders of the lips (“inexplicably” more numerous on the

upper rather than the lower lip) and inside the mouth in the buccal, oral, and

gingival mucosae. Until now, the purpose of sebaceous glands in the mouth has

been a complete mystery. These glands and the other sebaceous glands

associated with the exposed hairless parts of our mature bodies (forehead, parts

of the neck, cheeks, nose, sex organs, and female nipples and areolae) are, I

think, the kissing or better, the emotion glands. The aggregation of these glands

only in skin surfaces where kisses are normally placed is unlikely, in my opinion,

to be a chance coincidence.

The glands appearing inside the mouth in the nick of time, are reserved for

“French” kissing. Hidden away, it is here that they are kept for specific delivery

during the familiar courtship and mating behavior. The secretions of these

glands must differ in some more potent way to account for the energy of

“necking”.

McClintock suspected a human pheromone because the extended

menstrual cycle of cloistered females quickened upon “exposure” to males

(McClintock, 1971). If “exposure” means kissing, McClintock’s pheromone could

be sebaceous.

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Sebum appears to be designed for uptake by kisses. First, as has been

mentioned there is a skin surface covered with sebum. The pucker exposes the

inside of the lips for contact. Upon contact the sebum, “which is extremely

hydrophilic” (Rothman, 1954, cited in Montagna and Parakkal, 1974) must

certainly be removed from the skin. When taking the lips away a suction is

applied to the skin for good measure. As “sebum will flow readily on

water” (Jones, et al., 1951, as reviewed by Tregear, 1966) it seems possible that

once inside the mouth the sebum could reach the vomeronasal area by surface

diffusion. (Of course direct absorption from the mouth or gestation cannot be

ruled out.) [Note from 2015: pheromone sensing microvillar cells line about 50%

of just the human upper respiratory system.]

SEBUM AND THERMOREGULATION

Cunliffe and his associates found that “the relationship between skin

temperature and sebum excretion rate was highly significant, and heating and

cooling produced changes on the order of 10% per 1℃.” They go on to

speculate:

It is conceivable, … that an increase in blood flow to the skin might increase the rate of sebum excretion by increasing the gland metabolism. The augmented blood flow would also

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raise the skin temperature (Cunliffe, et al., 1970).

Montagna and Parakkal noted that “the disproportionately large glands in

the face and scalp seem to be more richly vascularized than the smaller ones

elsewhere (Ellis, 1968)” (Montagna and Parakkal, 1974). “For pruberal males the

thickness of the skin and its circulation … increase the influence of

testosterone” (Labhart, A., 1974). Whereas in females “estrogen helps make the

skin smooth and soft in texture, although it is thicker than in childhood. The skin

also becomes more vascular; this factor causes it to feel warm. …” Also “during

the progesterone surge beginning the day before ovulation, the female body

temperature rises about 1/2℃” (Muthe, 1981).

In my opinion, the fragile susceptibility of sebum to temperature changes

could be seen as a link to the secondary sex characteristic of enhanced

temperature control of the skin. What is the point otherwise?

SEBUM AND EMOTION

An abrupt phasic increase of 2-5 times the normal non-stressful sebum

excretion rate was found in angry acne patients, with a sinking to below normal in

patients expressing remorse (Wolff, et al., 1951). A follow-up study by the same

team (Lorenz, et al., 1952) confirmed the

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results of the first study, could not detect change in SER for controls and cited

earlier work indicating that sebum secretion and vascular alterations in the facial

skin were found not to be simply or directly correlated. Apparently the high

“flushability” and “drainability” of skin is a necessary but not a sufficient condition

for sebum excretion regulation. Some unknown variable is at work, perhaps

pilosebaceous orifice diameter (Williams and Cunliffe, 1973). Lipid-filled

vacuoles have been stimulated to form in the sebaceous cells of the tracheal

submucosa by predominantly ɑ-adrenergic and cholinergic agonists (Mills, J.W.,

and Quinton, P.M., 1981).

Fear and horror, which whiten the face (Darwin, 1872), may, like remorse,

contribute to a phasic decrease in SER. Besides anger, blushing from

embarrassment and the “sex flush” of human sexual intercourse (Masters and

Johnson, 1966) seem likely to contribute to sebum excretion.

Perspiration appears on the foreheads and upper lips of women whose faces have been mottled and swollen in the usual patchy manner immediately prior to orgasmic tension release (Masters and Johnson, 1966). [My underscore.]

I have mentioned sebaceous glands are “inexplicably” more numerous in the

upper than in the lower lip (Montagna and

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Parakkal, 1974). Perhaps they are not so inexplicable after all? Only further

research can tell.

With this seeming diversity a semiochemical role appears very likely for

human sebum in surprising agreement with Finck.

Love can only be excited by strong and vivid emotion, and it is almost immaterial whether these emotions are agreeable or disagreeable. The Cid wooed the proud heart of Diana Ximene, whose father he had slain, by shooting one after another of her pet pigeons (Finck, H.T., 1891).

ESPECIALLY MODIFIED SEBACEOUS GLANDS

A. We are the only mammals with female breast development prior to first

pregnancy. B. Breasts are sexually attractive and “we seem to be the only

mammal in which the mammary gland has this erotic function”. C. Women will

occasionally lactate when sexually stimulated (Anderson, 1983). D. “Just after

birth there occurs a ‘genital crisis’ characterized by breast swelling, sometimes

with milk production … The changes which are found in both sexes, last only 2

or 3 days” (Agache, et al., 1980).

Examine the preceding paragraph. If we are the only mammal with pre

gestational breast development (A.) we must need them for a purpose other than

nursing. While they make

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an attractive sexual display (B.), it seems most likely that these specialized

sebaceous glands in a peculiarly human function, secrete a pheromone capable

of playing a part in human bonding. This idea is supported by the habit of most

clothed societies to keep breast covering “restricted to the period between

puberty and the birth of the first child” (Anderson, 1983). Breasts may tend to be

covered for greater specificity of pheromone delivery.

SEBUM OF PREGNANT AND LACTATING WOMEN

Burton and his co-workers found that the SER increased during the last

trimester of pregnancy. It indicated to them that there was a release of an

unknown but powerful sebotrophic hormone as the increase came when large

quantities of estrogen, a sebum-suppressing hormone, were being produced

(Burton, et al., 1970). Later, the same group found that lactating women

maintained the higher sebum excretion rate of pregnancy while non-breast

feeding mothers had a fall in SER to the control, non-pregnant level (Burton, et

al., 1973a). Single or multiple fetuses had no significant effect on SER (Burton,

et al., 1975). These findings are consistent with my hypothesis and predict

pregnant and lactating women to be more ‘kissable’ than non-pregnant, non-

lactating women. An extra bonding effort during the period when females are

most vulnerable is logical.

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SEBUM AND THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE

The work of two research teams (Burton, et al., 1973b; Williams and

Cunliffe, 1973), found a close to perfect correlation (see fig. 2) between size

changes of the pilosebaceous orifices and the SER during the menstrual cycle.

Neither seem to have noticed the correlation. Burton was offset from Williams

and Cunliffe (or vice versa) by seven days. Seven days is the length of time

between sebogenesis and excretion to the surface (Montagna and Parakkal,

1974).

When the diurnal distribution of coitus during the menstrual cycle (Udry

and Morris, 1968) is plotted against the first two variables another set of

correlations appear (fig. 3). There is a negative correlation from menstrual pain

(which may indicate the purpose of menstrual pain in the first place). Except for

that, the three swing together quite well, an indicator that sebogenesis may be

caused by the same stimulation as is female sexual desire.

The synchronized variables of orifice diameter, sebogenesis, and female

sensitivity to musk (LeMagnen 1952, reviewed by Comfort, 1974) deserve further

study. Once working together, they may have put our female ancestors in heat.

SEBUM, PARENT-INFANT BONDING, AND CHILD ABUSE

#1 Moss, Robson, and Pedersen, in a detailed study of maternal

stimulation of infants, in

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Washington, D.C., found that mothers talked, kissed, and rocked in a

rocking chair their male infants, at the examining age of one month,

more than they did their female infants at the same age (Montagu, A.,

1971).

#2 “During the first month, the average sebum level in girls was below

that in boys, but the difference was not statistically significant” due to

sample size (Agache, et al., 1980).

#3 … Clay found that girl babies received more demonstrative acts of

affection than boy babies. Mothers seem to be happier about having girl

babies than boy babies, and girl babies tend to be weaned later than boys

(Montagu, 1971).

#4 Agache and his co-workers tabulate that little girl babies secrete

51% more sebum than little boy babies during the seventh through twelfth

months inclusive. This can only be taken as possible indication since

their figures were again statistically insignificant.

As is obvious, I certainly wish I had significant data from Agache. As it is I

cannot say that my hypothesis is able to reconcile such conflicting data as #1

and #3.

Declining levels of sebum shortly after birth coupled with my addiction

hypothesis of human bonding offer a

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logical, physical reason for child abuse and mother-infant love. Sebum acts, I

believe, as one of the “primer” type pheromones which make long term

physiological/behavior changes in receptive organisms (Wilson and Bossert,

1963 as reviewed by Pietras, 1981). As such, repeated exposure and some time

is required for best effect.

There is a “period of 7 to 10 days after birth when the mother and baby are

isolated together in 70% of human cultures” (Klaus and Kennell, 1982).

“Emanuel (1936) has shown that there is marked post-natal sebum secretion.

Our findings revealed that the levels obtained on the 4th day of life were

comparable to those of young adults. This is an especially interesting fact which

should be emphasized” (Agache, et al., 1980). The isolation probably evolved to

enhance mother-infant bonding via sebum uptake (kissing).

The work of Margaret Lynch has emphasized how a mother’s illness during pregnancy, a prolonged and difficult labor and delivery … and prematurity … are all associated with increased potential for (child) abuse. Separation of the baby from the mother because of prematurity or illness, or of the mother from the family through illness, creates further stress (Lynch, M.A., 1975, reviewed in Kempe and Kempe, 1978).

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Lynch’s work has been confirmed by a host of others (see Klaus and

Kennell, 1982). Her conditions all interfere with mother to infant bonding by

preventing the uptake of sebum from the baby by the mother. Further, if contact

and sebum uptake is delayed, chances for a successful mother to infant bond

diminish, in proportion to diminishing sebum secretion by the baby. But just as

clearly other influences, both semiochemical and behavioral are indicated and

work should follow in this area.

It is now the practice in adoption agencies to place babies with adopting

parents as soon after birth as possible, “the earlier, the better” (e.g., Cady, E.,

and Cady, F., 1956). Experience has also taught us to pity the plight of the older

orphan all too likely to be doomed to grow up at arms length from his caretakers.

Manipulation of the sebaceous glands may give him hope for love.

SEBUM, TEARS, AND A PURPOSE FOR GRIEF

“The ability to shed tears in response to emotional stress (psychogenic

lacrimation) is a physiologic function that only developed with the evolution of the

human being” (Walsh, F.B., and F.W. Hoyt, cited in McCall, J.T., 1981). Why?

I believe psychogenic lacrimation acts as an addiction antidote. Emotional

tears seem to serve in breaking the

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addiction about which we are crying, or to set-up for a new addiction. The

behavioral evidence is striking.

Postpartum depression, more common “the third da blues”, is “normal” in

mothers short after childbirth (Pitt, B., 1978). Mild disturbances of mood occur in

50-70 percent of women during the postpartum period (Yalom, Lunde, and Moos,

1968).

Three to four days after the birth of their child, some women begin to cry for no apparent reason. The crying may be intense and prolonged and may often, but not always, be associated with a depressed mood (Coppen, et al., 1978). [My underscores.]

The fourth day surge of sebum excretion found by Agache and his co-workers in

newborn babies (Agache, et al., 1980) coincides perfectly.

Benfield and his associates indicate that the absence of grieving behavior

in mothers of ill and absent prematures leads to “disintegration” of the family

(Benfield, et al., 1976).

T.B. Brazelton videotaped mother and neonate interaction simultaneously,

displaying the two faces on a split CRT screen. When the mother put on a blank

expression (no “funny” faces or squeaky speech) the baby’s face turned beet

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red and he began to cry (Brazelton, 1982). Crying, especially in babies, elicits an

affectionate response (Lorenz, K., reviewed by Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1975). The

neonate is managing the addiction of his parent, I would guess.

In a study of two groups of primiparous mothers (Robson and Kumar, 1980) (n=112 and n=41), 40% recalled that their predominant emotional reaction when holding their babies for the first time was one of indifference. The same response was reported by 25% of 40 multiparous mothers. Forty percent of both groups felt immediate affection. Most of the mothers in both groups had developed affection for their babies within the first week. The onset of this maternal affection after childbirth was more likely to be delayed if the membranes were ruptured artificially, if the labor was painful, or they had been given a generous dose of meperidine (Demerol) (Klaus and Kennell, 1982). [My underscore.]

With the exception of artificial membrane rupture, the delaying conditions likely

serve to interrupt sebum up-take.

Morris observed that a slight increase in tear production is involved in the

process of mate-mate bonding.

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”These are the shining eyes of love, and combine with pupil dilation to leave no

doubt about the condition of the signaler” (Morris, D., 1972). Pupil dilation, also

noticeable in photographs of mothers immediately post partum, may have some

unknown ancillary purpose.

Manganese, which serves “as an activator of liver organize and other

enzymes” (McCullough, K., 1982) is present in human tears at thirty times serum

levels (Frey, W.H., et al., 1981). While tears of emotion have larger protein

fraction than irritant induced tears, the latter appear to be a mere dilution of the

former (Frey, W.H., et al., 1981). The very large and strangely innervated

sebaceous glands of the palpaebrae beneath the eyelids may or may not work

affect tear composition. Because of the effort to develop long wearing contact

lenses, a large literature is accumulating rapidly and should be thoroughly

investigated with reference to the possibility of an anti-addiction or anti-

semiochemical effect of psychogenic tears.

SPECULATION: ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS OF SEMIOCHEMICAL EXCHANGE IN MAN

Few will contend that random chance is more efficient than reasoned

choice. In a continuously breeding population, if, based upon its perception of its

environment, an organism could choose the genotype of its offspring from among

a large number of candidate genotypes, the probability

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of that offspring’s success would increase. Moreover, flexibility of phenotype

determination during gestation and maturation (particularly if these are of long

duration) could be expected to enhance success still further. Finally if varying

strategies are made for each sibling, there is an even better chance that some

will survive to reproduce (see Daly and Wilson, 1980).

If the physical mechanisms for such choices could be determined to exist

in an organism, their use for such a purpose under such conditions might be

inferred. Such devices seem to exist in man. Learning is an obvious one.

The large number of oocytes in human ovaries far exceeds that absolutely

necessary. If the excess are not possibilities for choice, they exist for no purpose

—an unlikely prospect. The mechanism (Fritz, M.A., and L. Speroff, 1982), is a

competition among oocytes each “nurtured in an endocrine environment unique

to each follicle”, to make the most of a given set of environmental constraints.

Human ovulation appears to be under neuroendocrine control. A host of

researchers have found ovulation to be semiochemically affected in laboratory

animals (see Bronson, F.H., 1974). It would not be beyond reason to suspect a

direct or indirect semiochemical influence in human beings as well.

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Olfactory experiences encountered early in a mammal’s life can function to

determine adult responses (Bronson, F.H., 1974). Kissing of parents by their

children affords more than practice, I think. Semiochemicals have been

conjectured to contribute to psychosexual development (Kalogerakis, M.G.,

1963). Kissing, as a reliable targetable device for semiochemical exchange, may

be used to communicate chemical information, such as stress or emotional

status. If so, such information may be processed non-consciously (Schleidt, M.,

1980) by children to determine sexual preference, criminal inclination, or for other

unknown purposes. Of course, my argument rests upon the contention that

homosexuality, heterosexuality, and criminality are phenotypical, biological

mechanisms. Defense of this assertion is beyond the scope of this paper.

Suffice it to say that “emotional” and “contact” deprivation in children, and the

importance of early experience during “critical periods” (see Clarke and Clarke,

1976) may indicate respectively semiochemical deprivation, and the importance

of semiochemical uptake during early periods of receptivity as contributors.

IMPLICATIONS

1. Because sebum excretion in infants and children can be

readily induced locally by topical

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application of androgenic hormones (Montagna and Parakkal, 1974),

a cure for child abuse may be at hand.

2. If homosexuality is a physical appetite for a physical

substance, a palliative might be developable.

3. If promiscuous, homosexual, and criminal behaviors have

semiochemical causes, these wasteful devices might be put aside.

4. If addictability has a finite capacity, the consumption of

addictive chemicals may interfere with or distort the human ability to

love. As attested by the array of potential human responses to

addictive agents, addictability may have other unknown biological

functions.

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