Conditions
A condition refers to a combination of information and emotions associated with specific information.
When specific information is referenced, the emotions linked to that information are triggered.
The closer the acquired information is to the conditioned information, the more accurately the emotions are activated, making them stronger.
Instinctual Conditions
Specific emotions that are pre-associated with particular information (sensory patterns).
| Instinctual Conditions: Sensory Information × Emotional Information |
For example, male sticklebacks have a genetically ingrained condition where they experience the emotion “dangerous if not chased out of the territory” upon spotting an object with a red lower half within their territory.
| Condition: fish-like shape + red lower half × Emotion: need to chase out of the territory (discomfort) |
For instance, humans have a genetically ingrained condition where they feel the emotion “hungry” when they are hungry.
| Condition: rise in free fatty acids × Emotion: hunger (discomfort) |
Experiential Conditions
Experiential conditions are formed when new information is associated with other information or emotions, creating new conditions.
| New Information × Emotion = New Condition (Experiential Condition) To be precise: [Existing Information × New Information × Emotion = New Condition] |
For example, the sensation of carbonation might initially be associated with discomfort. However, if one becomes accustomed to carbonation through drinking sweet carbonated beverages and starts to enjoy the sweetness, carbonation becomes associated with pleasure, making it more desirable.
| New Information: Carbonation × Emotion: Pleasure = New Condition: Predicting pleasure upon seeing carbonated drinks (Beneficial Condition) To be precise: [Carbonation × {Sweetness × Pleasure}] meaning that seeing carbonation indirectly predicts pleasure, but the actual pleasure comes from sweetness, so unsweetened carbonated drinks are often not preferred. |
Another example is that a person doesn’t have information about cars or associated emotions at birth. Initially, seeing a car evokes no feelings. However, if a child plays with toy cars or goes to enjoyable places in a car, cars become associated with pleasure, making them more desirable.
| New Information: Car × Emotion: Pleasure = New Condition: Predicting pleasure upon seeing a car (Beneficial Condition) |
For instance, sweetness is generally associated with pleasure. However, if overeating cake leads to discomfort due to excessive insulin secretion, cake becomes associated with discomfort, making it less desirable.
| New Information: Cake × Emotion: Discomfort = New Condition: Predicting discomfort upon seeing cake (Dangerous Condition) |
Another example is that a person doesn’t have information about insects or associated emotions at birth. Initially, seeing an insect evokes no feelings. However, if the people around dislike insects, consider them dirty, or have had unpleasant experiences with insects, insects become associated with discomfort, making them less desirable.
| New Information: Insect × Emotion: Discomfort = New Condition: Predicting discomfort upon seeing an insect (Dangerous Condition) |
Reproductive Conditions
Biological organisms have an instinct to assess the effectiveness of a potential mate in terms of leaving better offspring, as their primary goal is to leave better offspring.
This instinct helps them differentiate the attractiveness of individuals of the opposite sex.
These conditions that trigger a response to the attractiveness of the opposite sex are referred to as reproductive conditions.
For example, men are attracted to features such as the redness of a woman’s lips, the size and shape of her chest, the waist-to-hip ratio, and the size and shape of her buttocks.
These features are suggestive of a woman’s health, nutritional reserves, pregnancy status, and ability to conceive.
Similarly, women also have factors that attract them to men.
Male Attractiveness
In the animal kingdom, males and females have roles assigned to them, and they possess characteristics that make it easier for them to fulfill these roles.
These differences between males and females are referred to as sexual dimorphism.
Individuals that are better suited to fulfill these gender-specific roles are considered more attractive to the opposite sex.
| Gender-specific attractiveness = Factors related to sexual dimorphism. |
In simple terms, men are attracted to feminine features in women, and women are attracted to masculine features in men.
An Example of Male Sexual Dimorphism in Lions: The Mane
Female lions are more attracted to male lions with lush, dark manes.
This is because lions with healthier conditions tend to have thicker manes, and individuals with higher testosterone levels tend to have darker manes.
An important note is that testosterone levels are influenced more by previous experiences (i.e., the environment) than genetic factors.
In simpler terms, individuals who have had more confidence-building experiences tend to have higher testosterone levels.
This applies to all animals, including humans.
An Example of Human Male Sexual Dimorphism
- Body size, height.
- Muscularity, strength, energy.
- Stamina, toughness, resistance to Dirt, Injuries, and Illness.
These are examples of characteristics that can make human males more attractive to the opposite sex.