Olfactory Cues from Romantic Partners and Strangers Moderate Women's Responses to Stress

Marlise  Hofer; Hanne  Collins; Ashley V. Whillans; Frances  Chen

Article | Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Olfactory Cues from Romantic Partners and Strangers Moderate Women's Responses to Stress

by Marlise Hofer, Hanne Collins, Ashley V. Whillans and Frances Chen

Abstract

The scent of another person can activate memories, trigger emotions, and spark romantic attraction; however, almost nothing is known about whether and how human scents influence responses to stress. In the current study, 96 women were randomly assigned to smell one of three scents (their romantic partner’s, a stranger’s, or a neutral scent) and exposed to an acute stressor (Trier Social Stress Test). Perceived stress and cortisol were measured continuously throughout the study (5 & 7 times, respectively). Perceived stress was reduced in women who were exposed to their partner’s scent. This reduction was observed during stress anticipation and stress recovery. Cortisol levels were elevated in women who were exposed to a stranger’s scent. This elevation was observed throughout stress anticipation, peak stress, and stress recovery. The current work speaks to the critical role of human olfactory cues in social communication and reveals that social scents can impact both psychological and physiological reactions to stress.

Keywords: Interpersonal Communication; Personal Characteristics; Perception;

Format: Print

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Citation:

Hofer, Marlise, Hanne Collins, Ashley V. Whillans, and Frances Chen. "Olfactory Cues from Romantic Partners and Strangers Moderate Women's Responses to Stress." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 114, no. 1 (January 2018): 1–9. (Lead Article.)

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Olfactory Cues from Romantic Partners and Strangers Moderate Women's Responses to Stress

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