Indeed, mutilation pictures depict graphic injuries to humans (physical threat) and are often described as disgusting (Lang et al., 1993). Thus when taken together, progesterone appears to dampen stimulus-evoked subjective arousal (i.e., a sedative-like effect) and promote (facial) communication about potential environmental threats. These emotional effects might promote successful reproduction by helping to protect the mother and the developing fetus during pregnancy (when progesterone is high). However, it is important to keep in mind that these notions are speculative because causal relationships cannot be determined from the current correlational design.