I’ve been looking through some threads, and I’ve been wondering more than what effect these things have on other people, is what effect does it have psychologically on the wearer. Let’s take A314 - if it helps raise status, would it actually make you believe that you are also higher status, and act that way like wearing an expensive suit? Instant Shine appears to have obvious changes to the wearer’s state of mind in terms of mood elevation. In order words, do pheromones themselves help you become congruent with the product?
I’m looking at these pheromones now as some sort of aromatic drug.
No… in the short term pheromones do not really change beliefs as such. In this regard they aren’t that different than hypnosis. People tend to resist changing deeply held beliefs, even under hypnosis: it’s impossible to hypnotize somebody and convince them to do things they feel are wrong. Long term, pheromones might change a persons beliefs with new experiences. Habits seem to change before beliefs, though. Eventually your expectations might change, though, and you might develope new beliefs.
When I wore MX172 (a fast-acting/blatant version of A314), my beliefs did not change all that much, though I did seem to feel like other people should really listen to what I said. It was more of a feeling that a belief. I did get some wierd feelings that I never acted on. For instance, for a brief moment while driving I expected cars to “obey me”- this feeling was probably/almost unconscious, and my rational brain knew better. In interacting with people, I was still open to helping them, but I also felt like I was pressured to do so as quickly as possible, very much goal oriented.
OK, just an example, purely hypothetical… let’s say you are a very self-critical person with low self-esteem and social anxiety. Wearing a pheromone that boosts your image would be like giving a homeless derelict a new suit. He might feel a little better, but he still knows he’s a bum with all the assosciations of that. Maybe with the suit he can look for a job, but he won’t suddenly feel like a millionaire. Maybe that makes sense, and a more long-term user can chime in.
I could see many situations where A314 in large amounts could be inappropriate. Let’s say you are a janitor or a clerk in a dead-end job. Lots of A314 might just make you unapproachable and you’ll hate your job- having more status isn’t always a good thing if you can’t live it out in some way. Plus, if you like interacting socially with people that view themselves as “lower status” you’ll tend to push them away.
No - they do not help you become congruent. For you to have congruency with the pheromones one of two things will happen:
First you wore a pheromone that actually reflects who you are - ie. you are naturally conversational and wear IO or you are a strong leader and wear A314.
Second you understand what the pheromone product portrays and you behave accordingly.
The behavior is up to you. The products you are wearing will either magnify the appropriate behavior or you will temporarily confuse people but they will soon ignore the pheromone message and key off of your behavior.
No in terms of self-effects, which is what I believe Daedelus is commenting on. As far as self-effects go, I wouldn’t rely on them. They disappear after a while for some people, and others never receive self-effects.
In terms of learning to become congruent with a specific signature, I feel that it can be done. In fact, I feel that part of the reason we some times need to wear a new putative for a week or so before really understanding the molecule is because it is like being placed in a new social situation. Some social situations we are very accustomed to, and therefore, very comfortable moving in, out, and around these social situations. But some molecules bring the social interaction to a level or area that you may not have experienced before.
Take TAK for an example, I can’t really think of any one specific instance where I could say I was in a social situation that was as if TAK was in the air. (Unless, you count the atmosphere in my bed post-sex) But that last comment in parentheses only serves to accentuate my point further, it took my a couple of tries to relate it to a social situation I’ve already experienced, IOW, I need to translate the new vibe into social terms and concepts that I am already familiar with. After which, I can determine which actions and behaviors are appropriate for the setting. It’s like going to your first party, the first time, you’re a little put off because you’re not sure how to act, but the 2nd or 3rd time, you’re having more fun, because you kinda know what to expect and how to react to it.
When I first started using A314 it had quite strong self-effects on me. I noticed that I felt much less inhibited about speaking to people and I had much more confidence. After a few days though the self-effects aren’t happening nearly as strongly and I have to remember to make a conscious effort to be congruent.
So far I’ve only been using one drop at a time though. The stuff really works.
The only self effects I’ve noticed are with A314 and Instant Gentleman both make me feel more confident and eye contact improves dramatically (more so with Instant Gentleman than with A314). I don’t really get the famous self effects of instant Shine that much to be honest, I just get a little happy buzz but it’s very faint and maybe placebo.
Daedelus is right they don’t change your beliefs just temporarily change your feelings. Maybe over along time of use they will help reinforce new beliefs over existing ones I don’t know.
I’m trying to change my own beliefs via a number of methods and Pheromones definatly help me but not so much dirrectly. When I’m wearing Pheromones I’m prompted to become more congrugent with how I want to be, they constantly remind me to be congrugent. For me they’re worth it alone just for aiding my self improvement journey let alone there real purpose.
That is awesome right there, reps Wildflower. Pheromones are not a drug, not anywhere close. They are a message. Just like my hairstyle, my smile, or the tone of my voice. When I put them on I remind myself to act the part. They don’t change me but they do make me conscious that I’m sending many nonverbal signals all the time. Those signals work to influence the people around me best when they are in agreement. Pheromones help me tell the world “this is who I am, you should feel this way about me.” The self effect is there only because we know, through genes or through experience and subconsciously, that the particular chemical message has a particular associated meaning.
