Discuss how one or more hormones and/or one or more pheromones affect human behaviour.

Refer to the paper 1 section B assessment criteria when awarding marks. These can be found under the “Your tests” tab > supplemental materials. 

The command term “discuss” requires candidates to offer a considered review of how one or more hormones and/or one or more pheromones affect behaviour.

The effect of hormones/pheromones may be discussed in relation to any type of behaviour such as, but not limited to:

• attraction
• aggression
• trust
• emotional response
• attachment.

Relevant studies may include, but are not limited to:

• Lundstrom and Olsson’s (2005) study on effects of androstadienone on women's attraction to men
• Wedekind et al. (1995) investigating mate preference based on genetic makeup in relation to immune system functioning
• Doucet's et al.’s (2009) study on maternal behaviour
• Saxton et al.’s (2008) study on how androstadienone modulates women's attributions of men's attractiveness.
• Radke et al.’s (2015) study investigating the effects of testosterone on women’s responses to angry faces
• Wagels et al.’s (2017) study showing that testosterone reduced desired personal distance from aggressive humans
• Albert et al.’s (1986) Testosterone and aggression in mice
• Baumgartner et al.’s (2008) study on the role of oxytocin on trust in economic behaviour
• McGaugh and Cahill’s study on adrenaline and flashbulb memory

Critical discussion may include, but is not limited to:

• methodological and/or ethical considerations related to research investigating how hormones and/or pheromones affect human behaviour including the ambiguity of research evidence
• to what extent pheromones have an effect on human behaviour
• how the findings of the research have been interpreted and applied
• implications of the findings
• supporting and/or contradictory evidence
• the value of animal research.

Animal research may be used to describe the effect of pheromones and hormones, but the response must then be linked to human behaviour. If there is no explicit link to human behaviour the response should be awarded up to a maximum of [3] for criterion D.

There were robust responses to this question. Candidates seemed well prepared, showing knowledge and understanding of pheromones and hormones using relevant research linked to both messengers. There was a broad combination of responses discussing only pheromones, only hormones or a combination of both. Responses using pheromones and hormones allowed candidates to show relevant knowledge and understanding, obtaining higher marks in criteria B and C.

Pheromones seem to be a preferred topic, and most candidates impressively discussed them, grasping areas of uncertainty and methodological issues of the role of pheromones in mating or attachment and detailed descriptions of relevant studies.

Very few responses used neurotransmitters instead of hormones, obtaining lower marks as a result.