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.