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Mythological siren song is a real thing and it lures men into dangerous situations
While most of us have heard ancient tales about beautiful women luring sailors into rocks, a new study has shed light on the science behind the siren song that some women can employ.
Unfortunately, most of us don’t have a siren voice we can invoke to lure hapless men into our thrall. As such, we are forced to use mundane methods of attracting a relationship like using dating apps correctly. Just be sure you don’t hand your number out once you’ve bagged a match.
The siren song lured men to their deaths in epic tales
Though cultures across the world have tales of beautiful and dangerous women, often compared to mermaids, sirens come straight from the pages of Ancient Greek mythology like Homer’s Odyssey. They racked up such a high kill count that the term “siren song” is still used today to illustrate an almost supernatural pull toward something.
While there are no women out there with such innate abilities, at least that we know of, a study in the Personality and Individual Differences journal looked into the real-world equivalent.
The researchers, based out of China, expanded on earlier studies that showed men tend to prefer bubbly, softer tones to a deeper sultry voice.
To test their theories about the siren song, the scientists conducted a series of experiments with heterosexual men in China. The first involved a virtual reality driving simulation where participants were offered driving advice by either a high or low-pitched female voice encouraging them to either slow down or run through a yellow traffic light.
In the next experiment, the researchers turned up the intensity dial as they had participants rate a woman’s low or high-pitched voice by attractiveness. They were then told that their voice of choice either preferred brave, strong, healthy, sports-loving and masculine men or patient, family-oriented, kind, attentive and mature men.
As you might have gathered, the first statement encouraged risky behavior, while the other called for less risk.
Higher-pitched voices were connected to greater risk-taking
In the final test, participants were asked to walk a three-meter plank that was suspended off a digital high-rise. The speed at which they ventured across the drop was measured as their willingness to take risks.
All the tests suggested that most men are more willing to do potentially dangerous things when instructed and guided by a high-pitched female voice. In contrast, those who were told the voice wanted a “patient and mature” man were not swayed into the risky act.
The study demonstrates that individual psychology and behavior are influenced not only by evolutionary factors but also significantly by the socio-cultural context of their development. Male risk-taking behavior exhibits situational sensitivity and results from both natural and cultural adaptations, the authors concluded in their study.
So next time you are at the beach and want to lure sailors to the shore, just remember to use your high pitch!
