Females seeking partner can tell if males experienced stress during adolescence (opens in new tab)

Interesting as it is, and without taking away from the significance of their work, it is important to note that this was observed in rats. Not humans. Speaking as a biologist / geneticist, I think we should be very very cautious about extending observations in rodent social / sexual behaviour to primates, much less humans. Rats are, in general, remarkably aggressive compared to mice. Huge huge behavioural differences within just mice and rats!!

Here's an interesting example of the potential risks: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-mouse-utopias-1...

"How 1960s Mouse Utopias Led to Grim Predictions for Future of Humanity"

[Edit: added link].

I don't know if it's a direct effect though. Female rats aren't directly sensing a stressed past, they are only sensing markers of the present that somehow signal it, probably learned social behaviors that can also be unlearned and relearned.

Cheer the upside: as you deal with past stress still stored in your body (that you didn't overcome growing up leaving you stuck in a defense, weak mode deeming you to be perceived as a "beta") and essentially get rid of it, you'll come out much more able to deal with future stress, resulting in greater sexual attractiveness.

This was my experience at least.

As mammals we are hardwired to respond to (perceived) life threatening situations by triggering our own the sympathetic brain and entering fight or flight or freeze mode.

Once the situation goes back to normal, the parasympathetic brain is supposed to kick in to "rest and digest" the stress and move on, stronger and more resilient to future stressful situations.

The natural tendency to ohmostasis of the human body at work.

An interesting question could be: why do humans often seem so affected by unresolved stress, causing anxieties, depression, stress related health issues etc...?

In case you want an effective tool to tap into your natural ability to "destress" yourself, start practicing the Trauma Release Exercises, developed by David Berceli.

They are inexpensive to learn, self-administrated and among the most effective techniques I've found to transform what crippled me into my greatest asset.