Emily Chan
They suggested that the decline in preference for the body odor of children of the opposite gender as they mature was a biological mechanism to avoid incest.
The study involved 56 fathers and 73 of their biological children. The children’s ages ranged from newborn to 18-years-old, while the average age of the fathers was 39.
The researchers tested the similarity of the participants’ immune systems. The fathers were asked to complete assessments about their olfactory abilities and depressive symptoms.
Next, the researchers collected hormonal samples and body odors from the participants. Then, the fathers had to rate the sweetness, pleasantness, intensity, attractiveness, and desirability (how much they wanted to smell it again) of the body odor samples. Finally, they had to determine which sample belonged to their child.
The results revealed that fathers could recognize their kid’s body odor 33 percent of the time. They reported that the odor of their infant and prepubescent children was more pleasant than that of the older children.
This effect was most prominent in daughters, as fathers demonstrated a sharp decline in preference for their daughters’ odor as they matured.
Overall, fathers were able to recognize their children’s body odors across different developmental stages as mothers can.
Fathers also experienced an altered perception of body odor during the puberty stage, particularly with their daughters.
The details of the findings were recently published in the scientific journal Physiology and Behavior.
