First of all, it is necessary to explain that “chest” and “breast” are not the same thing. The thorax is the area between the neck and abdomen of animals (i.e. humans too). The udder does not always have to be in the breast (for example, cows).
This theory, which is important for better understanding the evolutionary process of human sexuality, provides very eye-opening answers to this curious question.
In order to strengthen the relationship between mother and baby in the evolutionary process of humans, some neural networks evolved in the baby during the breastfeeding process.
According to Professor Larry Young, who works at the Department of Psychiatry at Emory University in the USA; These neural networks seem to serve a different purpose in males entering puberty by differentiating over time. With the effect of sexual impulses, it may have an effect on increasing the interest in women’s breasts.
If this theory can be fully verified, it could be important to science as it would include the Freudian approach. In the Freudian approach, there are theories about the subconscious and attention is drawn to the relationship of the man with his mother in childhood.
As the nipple is stimulated during breastfeeding, oxytocin is released in the mother’s brain. Also known as the “love chemical”, this hormone makes the mother more interested in the baby.
But according to recent research, this hormone is not actually used to take care of babies. Nipple stimulation arouses sexual desire, which activates the same brain areas as vaginal and clitoral stimulation.
A woman whose nipple is stimulated by her sexual partner releases oxytocin in her brain, thus increasing her attention to her partner. The same is true for breastfeeding; A woman whose nipple is stimulated directs her attention to her baby and the bond between them becomes stronger.
Men, who see that the bond between them increases as they do this behavior on women, repeat this in the evolutionary process, so the physiological and psychological structure of the human is shaped accordingly. Oxytocin hormone has a great role in shaping this behavior for reproduction and the continuation of the generation.
So why aren’t female breasts so prominent in other mammals and primates? Why are only human males so attracted to female breasts?
According to Professor Young, this may be due to monogamy because 97% of mammals do not have monogamy. In other living things, the bond between couples is not as strong as in humans.
Physiological structure of people and positions during sex can also have an effect.
Unlike most mammals, humans who can easily stand on two legs and have face-to-face sex interact more with the nipple. For example, voles are also monogamous, but because they always mate from behind, their drooping nipples were not as functional as in humans. Therefore, as the male’s interest in female breasts increased in the process of sexual evolution, the neural networks in the brain adapted accordingly.
These approaches may differ according to cultures.
In some African tribes, women do not feel the need to cover their breasts, and men do not show much interest. It cannot be said that they do not enjoy their nipples because they do not cover their breasts. There are not enough scientific studies on this subject yet.
Sources: Live Science, Huffington Post, The Evolution Tree
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