2006-10-26 16:54:40 · 14 answers · asked by yojuantopo 1 in Social Science ➔ Gender Studies
Good question.
Maybe the part of their brain that is stimulated by the chocolate is just a little more sensitive?
2006-10-26 16:55:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Great question. Here is what is known:
Researchers have studied chocolate and found it to contain phenylethylamine and serotonin, which are both "feel good" chemicals. They occur naturally in our bodies and are released by our brains when we are happy or feeling loving or passionate. It produces a euphoric feeling, like when you're in love.
In addition to those two chemicals, researchers at the Neuroscience Institute in San Diego, California, say that chocolate may also contain substances that have the same effect on the brain as marijuana. The substance is a neurotransmitter called anandamide. The amount of anandamide in chocolate is not enough to get a person "high" like marijuana, but it could be enough to contribute to the good feelings that serotonin and phenylethylamine produce. Does that mean it increases sexual desire? Probably not -- but if it makes you feel good, it might lower your inhibitions so that you're more receptive to suggestion.
http://people.howstuffworks.com/aphrodisiac3.htm
The rest of my answer is mainly conjecture.
One possibility is that, due to the fact that in our society women are typically net material gainers in romantic relationships, it makes sense that the feeling of "being in love" would be of greater evolutionary value to women than to men. That would explain why chocolate generally is more desirable to women than to men.
There is also a social/economic answer here. Women in our culture are more likely than men to be given chocolate at no cost to themselves. So it may be more desirable because the associated costs are lower. This doesn't mean chocolate creates a stronger sensation of pleasure, just that it's cumulative costs are lower for most women than they are for most men. That would make the marginal value of that next chocolate bar just a little bit higher for "most women". The easiest way to test this would be to create an objective framework for guaging the psychological value of chocolate, and testing it in a setting where men are given chocolate more frequently than women.
A third possible explanation is that the known psychoactives in chocolate have stronger effects on the the pleasure centers of female brains than they do on the pleasure centers of male brains. The easiest way to test this would be to give a group of participants of equal weight and age an equal amount of chocolate and take PET scan measurements of brain activity at regular intervals throughout the day.
My fourth guess is that our culture more closely associates chocolate enjoyment with women. Therefore, a majority of men may perceive that strong or frequent enjoyment of chocolate reduces their own credibility, status, or sexual attractiveness. The simplicity of this answer, I believe, also makes it the most compelling.
I had a biology teacher in high school who told the class that as chocolate is metabolized, one of the byproducts very closely resembles hormones released by the uterus following orgasm. If that is the case, giving chocolate to a female at the start of a date would be a great way to make certain that you would NOT be getting any sex that night. I have not been able to corroborate this assertion.
There is no definitive answer to your question. I hope some of these guesses have helped. BTW, I eat chocolate every day. I love the hell out of it, almost as much as coffee. I figure I better eat as much chocolate as I can before the Government makes it illegal, too.
2006-10-27 00:21:57 · answer #2 · answered by GreasyMadness 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the chicks I know still like most of the guys.
2006-10-27 00:09:12 · answer #3 · answered by Warren D 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It makes you feel good. When I have PMS or am really stressed, I HAVE TO HAVE CHOCOLATE. If I don't the stress keeps escalating. Dark chocolate is better. Maybe the average woman is more stressed than the average man.
2006-10-27 12:02:51 · answer #4 · answered by Shanna J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because MOST guys aren't as comforting as MOST chocolate is.
2006-10-27 00:15:32 · answer #5 · answered by moonbaby3504 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Chocolate gives a better level of satisfaction than any guy could. And they don;t mind putting it in their mouth
2006-10-27 00:51:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I can't really answer that correctly, but im gonna guess it is becuz we like how the taste just soothes us. It is the one thing that is good to the taste, then we can just take out anger out on it later for making us fat. Though, i don't do that much, i just,...... luv it.... And we all have our different reasons for being in luv with it. Try not to take it personal.
2006-10-26 23:58:23 · answer #7 · answered by Nutella 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because chicks have great taste when it comes to candy!
2006-10-27 00:08:39 · answer #8 · answered by Demon Doll 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
chocolate is an aphrodisiac. in essence it makes a person FEEL good because it tastes good. women are emotional creatures...if it FEELS good, then it must BE good. men are logical (most of us) creatures, just because it taste good does not mean it is good for us. i am sure you know, choc. is not necessarily good FOR us it is fattening.
2006-10-27 00:07:47 · answer #9 · answered by leslie b 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
chocolate is like an afrodisiac. smooth, milky, sweet.... It's God's greatest gift to women!
2006-10-26 23:57:00 · answer #10 · answered by U Think U Know Me 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋