LUST, ATTRACTION, AND ATTACHMENT IN MAMMALIAN REPRODUCTION

This paper proposes that mammals exhibit three primary emotion categor ies for mating and reproduction: (1) the sex drive, or lust, character ized by the craving for sexual gratification; (2) attraction, characte rized by increased energy and focused attention on one or more potenti al mates, accompanied in humans by feelings of exhilaration, ''intrusi ve thinking'' about a mate, and the craving for emotional union with t his mate or potential mate; and (3) attachment, characterized by the m aintenance of close social contact in mammals, accompanied in humans b y feelings of calm, comfort, and emotional union with a mate. Each emo tion category is associated with a discrete constellation of neural co rrelates, and each evolved to direct a specific aspect of reproduction . The sex drive is associated primarily with the estrogens and androge ns; it evolved to motivate individuals to seek sexual union. The attra ction system is associated primarily with the catecholamines; it evolv ed to facilitate mate choice, enabling individuals to focus their mati ng effort on preferred partners. The attachment system is associated p rimarily with the peptides, vasopressin, and oxytocin; it evolved to m otivate individuals to engage in positive social behaviors and assume species-specific parental duties. During the evolution of the genus Ho mo, these emotion systems became increasingly independent of one anoth er, a phenomenon that contributes to human mating flexibility and the wide range of contemporary human mating and reproductive strategies.