Presentation Details
| Importance of olfaction throughout lifespan in Scotland and Pakistan Agnieszka Sorokowska1, Michal Misiak1, 2, S.Craig Roberts2, 3, Piotr Sorokowski1. 11Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, Wroclaw, Poland.2Being Human Lab, University of Wrocław, Wroclaw, Poland.3Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom |
Abstract
While developmental changes in so-called objective olfactory abilities are relatively well-documented, subjective importance of odors has received less scientific interest, particularly from a developmental perspective. It also remains unknown if importance of different odor categories is entirely independent. Likewise, there are very few odor importance studies conducted outside Western communities, even though existing research points to significant cultural differences in olfactory awareness or importance. To address these research gaps, we tested the perceived importance of various aspects of odor perception across different developmental stages and in two countries that are very different in terms of cultural and environmental conditions: Scotland and Pakistan. Seven hundred and four respondents in Scotland and Pakistan (48.9% females) aged between 5 and 75 years completed a novel questionnaire on importance of olfaction. The scale comprised 18 items targeting six main functions of odor perception: appetite and regulation of food intake, pathogen and hazard avoidance, mating, social relations, bonding, and sensual pleasure. We found that the importance of olfaction was well-developed in children: odors related to pathogens and food were rated as even more important by children than adults. Overall, age affected the importance of olfaction in the areas of food, bonding, pathogen avoidance, and mating, while culture – in the areas of food, pleasure and bonding. Our research shows that odor importance is a complex construct, and its various elements develop differently throughout the lifespan. Age- and culture-related differences we observed indicate the need for further developmental and cross-cultural research on subjective smell perception.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.