Study: Women’s Tears a Turn Off to Men
- Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:17am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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WASHINGTON (AP) — If a crying woman‘s red nose isn’t a big enough turnoff to a man, a surprising experiment found another reason: Tears of sadness may temporarily lower his testosterone level. Those tears send a chemical signal as the man gets close enough to sniff them – even though there’s no discernible odor, say researchers from Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science.
It’s the first such signal to be found in tears, and it‘s probably not unique to women’s. Theirs just were the first to be studied.
“It’s hard to get men to volunteer to cry” in a lab, noted Weizmann neurobiologist Noam Sobel, senior author of the study appearing in Friday’s edition of the journal Science.
Emotional tears are chemically different from the reflex tears that form when you get dust in your eye. But biologists have long puzzled over the true function of emotional tears: Are they merely cathartic, or do they have some other physiological role?
Mice can produce a sort of tear that contains a pheromone, an odorless molecule that triggers basic instincts in many animals. So Sobel’s team tested whether human tears similarly can convey subliminal chemical signals through the nose. After all, we tend to hug a crying loved one, putting our nose near their tears.
First, some women volunteered to watch a sad movie in the lab and collect their tears in a vial. For a comparison, researchers trickled saline down the women’s cheeks and collected those droplets, too.
Healthy young men couldn’t smell a difference between the real tears and the sham ones.
Then came a series of tests: The men were given women’s photographs to rate. When they sniffed actual tears, they found the women less sexually attractive than when they sniffed saline. And to researchers’ surprise, sniffing actual tears didn’t make the men empathetic.
Also, saliva tests of testosterone levels found a dip in that hormone after they sniffed tears but not the salt water. Finally, when they sniffed tears and then watched a sad movie inside a brain-scanning MRI machine, the men showed less activity in neural networks associated with sexual arousal.
“We have never looked at tears in this way before,” said Dr. Esen Akpek of Johns Hopkins University’s Wilmer Eye Institute, who wasn’t involved with the new study. “This is really interesting.”
The findings make sense, she said, because the glands that secrete tears bear receptors, or docking ports, for sex hormones – a connection most clearly seen with dry eye, which is most common in postmenopausal women.
Why would our tears have evolved a “chemosignal” to function as a sign of sexual disinterest? It‘s possible that’s a proxy for lowering aggression, acknowledged Sobel, who now is trying to identify the molecule doing the work.
For now his findings suggest “the signal is serving to time sexual behavior. It is a signal that allows its user to say, ‘Now is not the right time.’ I predict there are other signals that say, ‘Now it is,’” Sobel said. “This is just one of many chemosignals.”
Stay tuned: He’s now testing male tears, “as we finally have one good man crier.”
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Comments (90)
BoilitDown
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:41pmI would characterize the funding of this study as a misappropriation of funds for which the perpetrators need to be punished.
Report Post »My response to the conclusion of the study is…..Well…DUH!
TulsaYeeHaw
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:45pmSometimes, my wife cries, and I feel really GOOD. Because her crying is because I just farted.
Report Post »obama_binpharteen
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:09pmI think you need marriage counseling :)
Report Post »1776
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:56pmWell now, this was pork well spent.
Report Post »queenofcapitola
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:50pmI’m really disappointed in some of your comments here.. to say such things about people when they are in pain.. is beyond my comprehension.. what has happened to so many of you that you react with disgust or anger.. that to me is immature..
Report Post »I think John Boehner is a ”real” man.. who was touched.. humbled by the gift he recieved.. shame on you for not understanding humility.. shame.
Mikee T
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:59pmYes MAAM……..thank you for keeping it “real”…….. There is no shame in crying…..
Report Post »ConservativeBeauty
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:18pmThere is nothing wrong in showing one’s feelings men or women. Someone doing it all the time, yes a bit annoying. But to see a man have tears when watching a movie or something he’s been deeply affected by is endearing period. No shame in men crying at all. I used to cry at Michael Landon crying on Little house on the Prarie show all the time. He was a real man too. And yes women or men badgering or “nagging” reeks lack of communication skills or how to ask someone in the right way.
Report Post »Rotten
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:43pmHe has what my Grandmother used to call a “tender heart”. At least his is real, unlike “I saw stuff like this back in the ‘70’s” Pelosi.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:52pmYou’re going to learn soon enough that Boehner is has always been a RINO to his very core. His tears are for YOUR benefit alone, and they seemed to have hit their mark.
But don’t take my word on it, just wait and see how he votes through the next 4 years.
Report Post »queenofcapitola
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:47pmtears .. expressed with genuine humility or grief…how can anyone be offended by that truth? I find this insulting to GOD who gave us tears… and I once again refer to the shortest sentence in the bible…
Report Post »”Jesus wept”…
IF IT’S GOOD ENOUGH FOR JESUS… IT’S CERTAINLY GOOD ENOUGH FOR ”MAN”.
GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:51pmJesus was hanging from a cross dying, with what were essentially daggers through his hands and feet, with a crown of thorns thrust into his scalp and had just had vinegar thrown down his throat and a spear thrust into his side letting out the icky stuff. I don’t know about most guys, but I’m going to have to say that crying in that situation is not unmanly.
On the other hand, crying because your cat Mr. Snuggles isn‘t feeling well or because you just watched a chick flick and totally don’t get why Matthew McWhateverhisnameis doesn’t marry Joan Prettystar, well, that’s just plain wimpy.
Something of a diff, is what I’m suggesting.
Report Post »Warphead
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:38pmCrying accompanied by cronic whining is an even bigger turn-off. Whining alone is enough to send me packing.
Report Post »Bill Wallace
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:28pmA test into the obvious.
Next up, a study that shows men don’t deal well with sadness. It will show that men have basically 3 emotional states. Happy, average, and anger. Surprisingly, the research will also show:
1. Those 3 emotions are best used when trying to actually get something done. Sadness is only a block to resolving a problem.
2. For men, the feeling of sadness quickly turns to anger as it makes them feel impotent, knowing that sadness isn’t helping them accomplish anything.
Then some brilliant research technician will tie it all into the 7 degrees of mourning.
Disclaimer: The above does not apply to Glenn. :)
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:12pmWonder HOW MUCH this study cost us?
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:59pmToo much. Just another unnescesary expendature.
Report Post »BeerSnob
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:04pmIt depends on why she’s crying… sometimes crying women are vulnerable (like a bridesmaid would be) – especially when alcohol’s involved. Just sayin…
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:09pmhahahaha and we all know where YOU are coming from… :)
Report Post »TulsaYeeHaw
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:41pmOr she is trying to get her way. Or be manipulative. Or make a man who is right in an argument feel bad. Or because she is sad she got caught doing something wrong (speeding, cheating, etc) and wants sympathy.
Or maybe the realization she is in a situation most men (not wimpy progressives) could easily handle, and she is finding out the hard way she is just a stupid woman.
I am laughing so hard I can’t keep tyoing///
Report Post »paulamadden
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:59amI agree EqualJustice….I’m VERY suspicious of a man or woman who are emotionless.
Report Post »coolwalker
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:58amCan‘t stand a cryin’ broad.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on January 8, 2011 at 2:05pmTHAT is your comment? Wow… it’s pretty all-encompassing. There are different scenarios that should make a huge difference to you.
If a woman is crying because someone died, or some other terrible thing has happened, sure it’s a “turn-off” (why wouldn’t it be?) and surely testosterone levels would go down (why wouldn’t they?) but to call it “annoying” or say you “can’t stand it” doesn’t seem right. It shouldn’t always be about you.
I can’t stand oversensitive, dramatic people crying over trivial things… it’s embarrassing, wears down my sympathy, and yes is annoying, but legitimate emotion from something significant is different. It’s a cue for you to help. That’s when you man up and comfort your girl… and it should come naturally with your emotions (such as being annoyed for no good reason) taking the sideline. It shouldn’t even enter your mind.
The comments here… craziness!
Report Post »paulamadden
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:58amWell, apparently rapists can still get it up when a woman is crying. Explain that.
Report Post »coolwalker
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:57amI couldn’t agree more. especially on those Judge program (that my wife insists on watching) where all the broads cry to try to sway the judge.
Report Post »Sergei
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:55amSo that’s why I roll over, set the alarm, and go to sleep! It all makes sense now… thank you Sobel.
Report Post »Ronko
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:55amThat study is a bunch of crap. There is nothing wrong with a woman crying and if there is then there’s something wrong with the man because their is more to love then just how she looks.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:22pmThis is true. There is also the question of how well she cooks. Good call.
Report Post »TumbleBumble
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:34pmThank you, Ronko. As I was reading the article, I was thinking that it just didn’t add up. And I believe that most did not get the most important part – “Why would our tears have evolved a “chemosignal” to function as a sign of sexual disinterest? It‘s possible that’s a proxy for lowering aggression,”.
THAT makes sense. During heated arguments, when the woman starts to cry, I have noticed a, well, backing down (for lack of a better term) by the male counter part. He doesn’t gloat but rather softens up and goes into a comforting mode.
I wouldn’t want anything to do with a man who gave his nastiest shot, made me cry then stormed off in victory. That’s callous and cruel.
Report Post »Krutch
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:49amLike when my adult daughter starts the waterworks on me, I start laughing. Never works on me, it steels me against the ploy.
Report Post »Bryan
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:39amIm sure no one knew the science behind this fact before, but we all knew it was true. Lets study why a body falls out of a plane, hits the ground really hard, and people tend not to get back up. I don’t need to know why, just understand it’s not a good idea to try it.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:36amMEN who cry are compassionate AND sexy. They’re like men who love cats… MEEEOOOOWW. ;)
Report Post »Mikee T
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:13pmIt’s so funny to watch people get played……MIDDLE…….you got played by two women because you don’t get it…..humility is okay……Jesus Christ cried often…..yet, sacrificed himself and allowed himself to be crucified to save mankind……just one example…….and yes…….I cry too….just before I have to administer a good old fashion @ss whippin to morons and miscreants that deserve it… You, on the other hand, have probably only had one type of fight in your life….and that is with your two hands on deciding which one will……you know…..I’ll leave it at that……
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:55pm@EqualJustice
“MEN who cry are compassionate AND sexy. They’re like men who love cats… MEEEOOOOWW. ;)”
Everybody cries. That’s not an issue. So you think all men are compassionate and sexy?
Methinks a more telling admission to your Meooow would be the question of *when* and *where* men cry. :)
In that case, I’m neither compassionate nor sexy if the requirements are “anytime” and “everywhere”.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 3:36pmWhen men have cats they seem like sissys to me unless they are mousers. Men have dogs chicks have cats, men mow the grass women clean the house, men fix the car women fix the dinner. I may be too old fashioned for this conversation.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:00pmKate, you disappoint me! I don’t imagine you one to stereotype? When I was younger and going out to meet people, my g/f’s and I would ALWAYS ask guys if they liked cats. It was like a TEST. If they said “yes” then you knew you had a great guy. The ones who hated cats and ONLY liked dogs were control freaks, since cats are very independent and dogs can be bullied! It never failed and the funny part is that we ALL ended up with CAT lovers! :)
Report Post »middleclassprophet
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:36amIt’s also a turn off when men cry…Boehner? You listening?
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:46amWe can do our OWN unscientific study here, since I DISAGREE with you on this one!
ALL WOMEN.. ..how many think a man crying is okay and even shows the sensitive side of a secure, masculine man?
My vote is YES!
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:24pmEqual, I think it is fine for a man to cry. I do not however find it to be a turn on. The study isn’t about wether or not it is OK to cry it is about men being turned off by tears, and yes I am completely turned off by a mans’ tears, and that little snot trail that comes with it.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on January 8, 2011 at 3:19amMen understand that crying is like taking a dump – it’s natural, healthy, everybody does it, and everybody who is not an infant should know enough to do it in private so that others will not be disgusted by it.
Report Post »pgr88
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:34amTears, and also – when she throws all my stuff out the window onto the front lawn.
that‘s how I know for sure I’m not gettin any
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:28amWe needed “a study” to know this? Who paid for this, yet another STUPID, WASTEFUL study? Why, you did of course, TAXPAYER! Here is another area in which the new congress needs to act to protect taxpayers from waste.
Report Post »Mikee T
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:36amYou know what ? You just took the words right out of my mouth and fingers…..I was going to respond in exactly the same way……..This is important ? Now ? When we have absorbed the largest attack on middle class america in the history of this nation ? Give me a break…
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:40amExactly I was thinking the same thing – who paid for this study – was the study done with governments funds!! And why is this important? Seriously – what importance is this with all the other problems we have to fix? http://wp.me/pYLB7-uT
Report Post »JGP
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:16pm“[R]esearchers from Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science”. That‘s who paid for it but I’ll bet American taxpayer dollars can be traced back to it.
Report Post »code green
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:26amIs this what we can expect on the Blaze with Betsy Morgan at the helm ?
Report Post »Now shifting to Drudge . This is making me cry .
EqualJustice
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:39amMaybe you DIDN’T understand this, “Betsy has NO ROLE in CONTENT.” :)
Report Post »JGP
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:59amDon’t think ol Bessie is on the job yet. Ask yourself if this is how you respond on other topics. Just sayin.
Report Post »code green
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:38pm@equaljustice. I retreat on Betsy’s function.
Report Post »@JGP If the story had been the object of the waste of funds, I would have reacted in the positive .It was put out there as other than that . I find it superfluous. Just sayin too.
JGP
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:00pmCool. Superfluous for sure. Wasn’t trying to do a “gotcha”.
Report Post »8jrts
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:01pmWhat this article says to me is how much waste of hard earned dollars goes to stupid studies that no one cares about, or most of us already know. I think the Blaze is just pointing this out.
Report Post »GUT_CHECK
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:24amIT SEEMS i recall a passage about being “beautifully and wonderfully made”
Report Post »TumbleBumble
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 3:00pmThat’s another thing I was able to take from this article. The intricacies in which God has made us. The deeper we look, the more we find and understand (or not).
I don’t care about which feed cows like better or the mating habits of the tsetse fly, but I do enjoy marveling at how wonderfully we are made.
Report Post »Anonimouse
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:23amGuys are turned off when women cry?!!!!
What a shocker! Who would have guessed this?!
Report Post »Slobaphobe
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:50amYes, and a USDA study in the 70′s concluded that manure is slippery when wet. Science and Government Spending marches on!
Report Post »royalstar
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 3:11pmMaybe Boehner is in a catch 22. Cries because he isn’t getting any and not getting any because he cries. Talk about a dilemma lol!
Report Post »NoName22
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 3:20pmThis is too case by case to be so general.
If it‘s a girl you’ve never met that is crying (typically after a few drinks), ya it’s a turn off.
If it‘s your wife who is pregnant and it’s been a continual event (as mentioned above), ya it’s a turn off.
If it’s your girl/wife who had a rough day, lost a loved one, fight with loved ones, an upsetting event, then they need their guy to console and comfort them, which as a guy, is not only part of the deal, but it’s nice to know they come to you with things that they hold close to them.
The whole tears argument is off base too. What about tears of joy? Are those a turn off?
And as a guy, you’re not playing it smart if your girl gets sad and needs to get close…..Stroke her head, rub her shoulders, talk to her, eventually you could get paid for your time ;)
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:20amThis is one case where I will not make any comments upon.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:31amSeems like a little jab at John Boehner at the end there.
Report Post »Oh, God!
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:38amOK, I will…Can they do a study as to why dogs smell each other’s butts? Might tie into this study.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:47amThis just in. Apparently nagging also turns guys off.
Who knew?
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:53amAlso- complaining, over eating, laziness and being spiteful. Now we don’t have to fund any more studies.
Report Post »JGP
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:07pmIs this where the money we borrow from China, and then give to other countries, going?! As a taxpayer for the whole world I demand better! Like why do f#rts smell? Why does lint collect in the belly button? Why do I have less hair on my head and more hair every where else on my body? (sorry about that one) You know, the real important stuff.
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:45pmhow is this “new”
i’m pretty sure all men already knew this, crying annoys the crap out of us.
Report Post »SheriS
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:48pmI guess when we don’t want a man around all we women have to do is start crying! This is just plain idiocy!
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:10pm@Sheris
“I guess when we don’t want a man around all we women have to do is start crying! This is just plain idiocy!”
Actually, it’s the truth. So true in fact that we didn’t need a study to confirm it. :)
Case in point:
Wife is pregnant with my son. Good deal.
Wife gets really emotional all the time, starts crying over things like “omg, the walls have paint on them!“ or ”why do pickles have to be green?!?“ and ”waaaaaaaa! I don‘t know why I’m crying!”
Husband (me) excuses himself and finds a way to do yard work, even in mid December in Ohio.
Report Post »GEW
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:29pmActually I think everyone is put off when someone cries. But, I learned a long time ago not to bring out the tears with my husband. I learned to fight like he does, bold and demanding, and then tell em issue is closed, facts stated end of discussion. No tears, lol then they have you by the…b..
Report Post »NeoFan
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:09pmThis is not true. When a women cries I feel absolutely nothing.
Report Post »Aither
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:55pmI wonder how much money was spent on this study. :?
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 3:53pmMy wife is badass…she NEVER cries. She‘s one tough woman and she’s all mine!! When it all melts down and the shooting starts she will be like Annie Oakley too…
Heck, she probably won’t cry if she gets shot!
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:25pmWho worries about SEX when someone is crying??? IF I were crying and my husband thought that was a good time for sex he would be divorced.. and WHO SNIFFS tears??? I don‘t cry a lot but when I do my husband knows there’s a good reason.. and than he has the urge to FIX something.. He use to do that with our daughter too.. he has learned there are just sometimes when you can’t FIX things like when my sister and mom died.. and while he seldom cries he did when his father died and again when his dog died.. and I found it appropriate..and I would have really thought less of him had he not.. Men and Women crying when emotional is a GOOD stress reliever..
Report Post »Creestof
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:15pmI’m curious as to how much taxpayer money (direct or indirect) went to this totally useless study? If it was even so much as a penny, they need to be blaclballed from any further moneies and whoever in our government signed off on it needs to be tossed out on their butts.
Report Post »Creestof
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:18pmI see it was in Israel now…but I can imagine all the quacks are filling out their grant forms right now, stating “do we want to be behind Israel in this important study!”
Report Post »