Heating up libidos
Pack away your wool socks and sweaters and get out your swimsuit
and sandals because beautiful sunny days are once again a part of
our lives. Don’t be ashamed if you find yourself with wandering
eyes because bronzed bodies and smaller outfits are abundant. Also,
an increased sexual drive just may be a derivative of the spring
climate rather than your own bottled up perversions.
Many people have been taking advantage of the sunny days by
getting together with a special someone. Romances have seemed to
bloom in these last two weeks of sunshine. One may notice the
increased number of couples walking around hand-in-hand and taking
time to be with one another. It’s almost as if warm weather might
be giving the population some kind of stimulant, like photoviagra,
that’s getting people all hot and bothered.
No scientific evidence has ever been offered to prove a
relationship between warm weather and romance but many studies have
been done to try and explain this phenomenon.
One such study was written about in the Medical Hypotheses
Journal in 2000. In this study, it is claimed that changes in light
and heat can affect the metabolism of the brain thyroid hormones
that control behavior.
If this theory were accurate, these behavioral modifying
hormones are manipulated by the seasonal weather patterns and
therefore are responsible for more hook-ups then jungle juice at a
frat party.
“Environmental factors can definitely affect behavior,” said Dr.
Peter Chen, a psychology professor. “Playing music in the mall can
be used to change the mood of the customers. Sometimes neutral
events can be perceived as either positive or negative depending on
other stimuli.”
Sometimes visual aides are all that are needed to inspire that
good, old fashion romantic feeling. Arousal can be bred by merely
seeing something.
“I’m not familiar with any information that connects warm
weather and increased sexual activity at a chemical level. I’d say
it has more to do with how people are wearing less clothes and
trying to look good for each other,” said Allan Kennan, a chemistry
professor.
This possible increase in desire to be physically attractive may
be caused from rebounding from a weather-influenced disorder called
Seasonal Affective Disorder.
SAD is a syndrome that occurs during the colder and less sunny
months of the year and is evident throughout the world.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2 to 10
percent of Americans suffer from SAD. Its symptoms include
depression and a decreased interest in sex and physical
contact.
Contradicting data arises when these symptoms of SAD are
compared with the national monthly birth rates.
The National Vital Statistics Report informs that August is
historically the month with the greatest number of births. This
would mean that conception would have to occur during December.
More people are conceiving children at a time when they are
supposedly less interested in sex.
At any rate, spring lovin’ is still a presence here on campus
and around the world.
The question of spring-time euphoria being either
psychologically or chemically induced remains unanswered. It could
be all about hormones or it could be all about wardrobes. Or maybe
the two just go hand-in-hand.
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