14 Jun Wonder why men fall asleep during movies?
My husband and I are both big fans of movies. Comedies. Dramas. Dramedies. You name, it we watch it.
However, most times, only one of us ever sees the whole movie. The other one spends one and a half hours piecing together the storyline between 10-minute naps.
Can you guess who’s the one snoozing through the flick? That’s right–Douglas.
But, I’m not the only one watching movies alongside Mr. Unconscious. If you’ve ever watched a movie with a guy–and it wasn’t a loud shoot’em up, crash-bang-boom action flick that kept him awake–at some point, like me, you’ve probably looked over to see your male companion’s eyes drooping or he’s nodded off altogether. And then you silently cataloged the next few scenes in your memory so you could fill him in once he snored so loud he woke himself up.
So, what is it about slower-paced flicks that make men drift off into sleepytime-land? Are they just more boring to guys? Does settling down in a comfy seat or couch signal a man’s body to go into hibernation mode? Do Goobers and Raisinets have some sort of stupefying effect on the male brain?
Believe it or not, it could be that romances and dramas are changing a man’s hormone levels in a way that puts him to sleep.
How so? According to a 2004 study from the University of Michigan that found sappy films trigger a 10% rise in progesterone in men.
You’re probably already familiar with progesterone: It’s that super-sedating hormone that makes you feel thisclose to a nap throughout your entire Week 3 (the week after ovulation).
Now imagine what it’s like for a progesterone novice, like a man, to experience a surge in this sleep-inducing hormone.
And that’s not all: On top of that, mushy movies prompt a drop in testosterone in men, taking away the hormone that gives them pep.
With this hormonal double whammy, who could blame them for nodding off?
The good news? This same study found that a man’s rise in progesterone and dip in testosterone make him feel more bonded to you. So, once he wakes up, you’ll have an even closer friend or partner!
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