Aphrodisiac

In the animal kingdom, female animals are often attracted to powerful males who are typically referred to as alpha males. During mating season, males frequently engage in physical contests to establish dominance, and the victor usually earns the right to mate with available females. This behavior is rooted in evolutionary biology: stronger males are more likely to pass on their genes, ensuring that desirable traits such as strength, vigor, or resource-holding potential are transmitted to future generations.

In Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors: A Search for Who We Are, authors Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan describe observations from the animal world that support this principle. For instance, during the mating season of certain serpent species, male snakes may engage in combat. The loser often retreats and may refuse to mate, even if approached by a receptive female. This behavior reflects an instinctive understanding of hierarchical defeat and a reduced drive to reproduce when dominance has not been achieved.

The book also mentions a fascinating experiment involving hamsters. In this study, female hamsters were given a choice between physically restrained males of differing strengths. Remarkably, the females consistently selected the stronger males for mating, even though their strength was not visibly apparent to human observers. Researchers hypothesize that the females could detect cues—likely olfactory (smell-based)—indicating genetic fitness. This behavior supports the idea that females, bearing the higher biological cost of reproduction, have evolved to be more selective, favoring traits that increase the likelihood of survival for their offspring.

This concept is aligned with the broader evolutionary principle known as “survival of the fittest,” where reproductive success favors individuals with advantageous traits. While males in many species tend to be more promiscuous—seeking to spread their genes as widely as possible—females, who are the ones who have to bare the burden of childbirth, are naturally more selective on who they would go through all that trouble for. Female animals, it has been observed, are attracted more to the stronger males.

In humans, physical strength is not the sole marker of power or desirability. Social and economic status also play a significant role. Wealth, in particular, can dramatically affect perceived attractiveness. A man with substantial financial resources may be considered more desirable, as money often symbolizes stability, capability, and access to resources—all modern equivalents of evolutionary fitness. It is often said, and it is also true, that money makes a man significantly more attractive. Money transforms a man into a romantic magnet and imbibes him with the ability to seduce women he wouldn't normally stand a chance with.

This idea is encapsulated in a famous quote by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. When asked how he managed to attract exceptionally beautiful women despite not fitting traditional standards of physical attractiveness, he famously replied:

“Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.”