The Fascination With Breasts

Men and Women's Fascination with Breasts

The fascination with breasts goes far back into human history. A recent article on the Huffington Post tries to explain why.

The article was written by Dr. Larry Young and Brian Alexander and relates to their upcoming book The Chemistry Between Us: Love, Sex, and the Science of Attraction.

According to the authors, the obsession with breasts is uniquely human. Human females are the only mammals whose chests enlarge during puberty. In the animal kingdom this typically happens during pregnancy, but for human teens it happens regardless of pregnancy.

Humans are also the only mammals to view breasts in a sexual way; as well as using the breasts during sexual foreplay.

Biological Imperative

Men’s, and some women’s, obsession with breasts is biologically ingrained, not a learned trait. Young and Alexander claim that the love affair with breasts have more to do with bonding than sexual stimulation.

When a mother breastfeeds, the interaction between mother and child releases oxytocin in both of their bodies. When the chemical is released it focuses the mother’s attention solely on the child. Oxytocin works in conjunction with dopamine to foster the bond between mother and child.

The authors go on to write that as a man stimulates a woman’s breasts during a sexual encounter it creates the same chemical reaction. In this case the interaction of the two chemicals creates a bond between partners.

This could explain why women make the decision to undergo breast augmentation or breast lift procedures. In 2011, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery states that nearly 317,000 breast augmentations were performed.

Women who decide to augment the appearance of their breasts should be sure they have realistic expectations about the outcomes of various procedures. Women should view before and after photos to gain perspective about the potential results.

If you’re interested in exploring or learning more about your breast augmentation and breast lift options, contact Dr. Tracy Pfeifer online. Or contact her staff at one of her three New York locations in Manhattan, Long Island, and the Hamptons.