Research says men get distracted by boobies

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2006-04-19 12:06pm

Catching sight of a pretty woman really is enough to throw a man's decision-making skills into disarray, a study suggests.

The more testosterone he has, the stronger the effect, according to work by Belgian researchers.

Men about to play a financial game were shown images of sexy women or lingerie.

The Proceedings of the Royal Society B study found they were more likely to accept unfair offers than men not been exposed to the alluring images.

The suggestion is that the sexual cues distract the men's thoughts, preventing them from focusing on their task - particularly among those with high natural testosterone levels.

The University of Leuven researchers gave 176 heterosexual male student volunteers aged 18 to 28 financial games to test their fair play.

But first, half of the men were shown sexual cues of some kind.

One group of 44 men were given pictures to rate; some were shown landscapes while the rest were shown attractive women.

Another group, of 37 men, were either asked to assess the quality, texture and colour of a bra or a t-shirt.

And a third group of 95 were shown either pictures of elderly women or young models.

Each group was then paired up to play a game where the men had $10, a proposer had to suggest a split, and the other man accepted or rejected the offer.

If the second man accepted the offer, the money was distributed in agreement with the offer. If he rejected it, neither partner got anything.

The game is designed as a lab model of hunting or food sharing situations.

'Vulnerable'

The men's performance in the tests showed those who had been exposed to the "sexual cues" were more likely to accept an unfair offer than those who were not.

The men's testosterone levels were also tested - by comparing the length of the men's index finger compared to their ring finger.

If the ring finger is longest, it indicates a high testosterone level.

The researchers found that men in the study who had the highest levels performed worst in the test, and suggest that is because they are particularly sensitive to sexual images.

Dr Siegfried DeWitte, one of the researchers who worked on the study, said: "We like to think we are all rational beings, but our research suggests ... that people with high testosterone levels are very vulnerable to sexual cues.

"If there are no cues around, they behave normally.

"But if they see sexual images they become impulsive."

He added: "It's a tendency, but these people are not powerless to fight it.

"Hormone levels are one thing, but we can learn to deal with it."

The researchers are conducting similar tests with women. But so far, they have failed to find a visual stimulus which will affect their behaviour."

Dr George Fieldman, principal lecturer in psychology at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College, told the BBC News website: "The fact men are distracted by sexual cues fits in to evolutionary experience. It's what they are expected to do.

"They are looking for opportunities to pass on their genes."

He said the study confirmed what had been suspected by many.

"If a man is being asked to choose between something being presented by an attractive woman and an ugly men, they might not be as dispassionate as they could be."

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2006-04-19 12:06pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4921690.stm

KrauserKrauser · Post by **KrauserKrauser** » 2006-04-19 12:10pm

I'd like to be the first one to give this study a big "DUH"

Captain Obvious to the...........boobies..............rescue!

Balrog · Post by **Balrog** » 2006-04-19 12:16pm

How much was spent on this study I wonder...

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2006-04-19 12:16pm

Wow, Thank You For Smoking proves quoteable again.

"World class tits on a reporter interviewing a man with privledged information is relevant."

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2006-04-19 12:17pm

Whoa, they measured testosterone levels by checking the length of a man's ring finger against his index finger? That really works?

*checks*

I must have a really high testosterone level, then. My ring finger is a lot longer than my index finger.

haard · Post by **haard** » 2006-04-19 12:20pm

Weird... my right hand has high testosterone levels, but not my left hand.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2006-04-19 12:35pm

haard wrote:Weird... my right hand has high testosterone levels, but not my left hand.

Well, which one's your preference?

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2006-04-19 03:16pm

You know, any high school teacher could have told them this.

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2006-04-19 03:18pm

Wow —men are distracted by tits. Next research project doubtless will examine the colour of grass.

Tiriol · Post by **Tiriol** » 2006-04-19 03:23pm

Patrick Degan wrote:Wow —men are distracted by tits. Next research project doubtless will examine the colour of grass.

Indeed. Furthermore, more funding is needed to examine the colour of Napoleon's white horse. This question is of critical importance to our civilization (and also to the duck civilization).

Post by **Surlethe** » 2006-04-19 03:34pm

If the next research involves how much men are distracted by blowjobs or lapdances by attractive females, I'm game to volunteer my valuable time in the interests of furthering the bounds of human knowledge.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2006-04-19 03:38pm

There are days I realize I missed my calling. Pointless research such as "Alcohol impairs reflexes!" and "Boobs distract men!" was what I should've fielded my resume in.

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2006-04-19 03:52pm

RE the cost : the research itself is usually done by students, on students - I used to get spammed with their "be a volunteer, help science" e-mails. I don't know what this "Royal Society B" is, though.

Pointless research such as "Alcohol impairs reflexes!" and "Boobs distract men!" was what I should've fielded my resume in.

The dynamic of intergender relations and the influence of certain biochemical substances thereon : a case study in the western Mediterranean*

$12K should be enough.

*Chicks & booze on Ibiza

kc8tbe · Post by **kc8tbe** » 2006-04-19 05:50pm

Whoa, they measured testosterone levels by checking the length of a man's ring finger against his index finger? That really works?

A quick google search reveals that there is a strong correlation between prenatal testosterone levels at about 14 weeks of age and the ratio of the lengths of the ring and index fingers. However no study has been done to investigate whether this ratio correlates with testosterone production in adult males.

Furthermore, prenatal testosterone levels are controlled largely by the mother. Many normal females have longer ring fingers than index fingers, indicating that they were exposed to high levels of testosterone early in prenatal life and not that they are producing a lot of testosterone in the present.

kheegster · Post by **kheegster** » 2006-04-19 06:13pm

Bounty wrote:RE the cost : the research itself is usually done by students, on students - I used to get spammed with their "be a volunteer, help science" e-mails. I don't know what this "Royal Society B" is, though.

That'll be a journal of the Royal Society, the most prestigious scientific organisation in Britain.

I would have thought that it's not difficult to quantitatively measure testosterone levels through blood tests. Having said that, Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College isn't exactly a top-class institution.

Elfdart · Post by **Elfdart** » 2006-04-19 07:43pm

The men's testosterone levels were also tested - by comparing the length of the men's index finger compared to their ring finger.

If the ring finger is longest, it indicates a high testosterone level.

I guess it's true. My ring finger is only barely shorter than my middle finger and I started shaving at age 10-11.

I also like tits.

Adrian Laguna · Post by **Adrian Laguna** » 2006-04-19 08:13pm

"See, the problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time."
-Robin Williams

Also, the nail on my index finger is about even with the distal-most knuckle on my middle finger. Wereas the ring finger is so close to the middle one in length that if I stretch it, then it becomes longer (albeit only very slightly). I guess this suggests high testosterone levels.

Better make sure to think things through if I'm making a desicion with pretty women nearby.

muse · Post by **muse** » 2006-04-19 10:12pm

The researchers are conducting similar tests with women. But so far, they have failed to find a visual stimulus which will affect their behaviour."

Proving once again that women are superior. Of course, you already knew that too.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2006-04-19 11:18pm

I was going to post something highly relevant and witty, but I was distracted by muse.

haard · Post by **haard** » 2006-04-20 04:13am

Shinova wrote:
haard wrote:Weird... my right hand has high testosterone levels, but not my left hand.
Well, which one's your preference?

Well, I favour the right, but my left hook is better than my right hook. Does that mean that I fight like a girl? (Mind you, I know girls that can kick my ass any day of the week.)

muse wrote:
The researchers are conducting similar tests with women. But so far, they have failed to find a visual stimulus which will affect their behaviour."
Proving once again that women are superior. Of course, you already knew that too.

That, or they have not tried with images of expensive shoes coupled with credit cards *ducks*

dragon · Post by **dragon** » 2006-04-20 08:45am

Alex Moon wrote:You know, any high school teacher could have told them this.

Maybe American school teachers hell here in Germany lots of the schools have just one shower for their sport teams. By time the kids are adults they have little reaction to a pair of tits.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2006-04-20 08:51am

Are there no photos associated with this article?

Post by **Lagmonster** » 2006-04-20 08:57am

I would have read this article, but I was staring at tits.

J · Post by J » 2006-04-20 09:21am

Wicked Pilot wrote:Are there no photos associated with this article?

If there were, you guys would be too distracted to read the article.