Syndicate
Special Thanks To...
The following organizations were early supporters of Mensactivism.org, and we thank them for their support. If you'd like to trade links with us, see our Mensactivism.org supporters page.
Myth that testosterone causes aggression discussed
Submitted by fondueguy on Wed, 2010-03-31 03:45
Regarding this story from yesterday, a study summarized in a science blog and printed in "Nature" shows that testosterone, contrary to popular belief, does not cause aggression, egocentric, nor risky behavior. A game was played by the test subjects whereby those administered a dose of testosterone actually played more fairly. The scientists think that testosterone might cause an increase in sensitivity to status.
Not that I think we should use science to create legal or corporate policies that discriminate based on gender... I just think this scientific study beautifully demonstrates the importance of carefully considering environment before calling observed behavior gender-specific. In relation to the recent financial blunders on Wall Street and how they have been blamed on typical "male behavior", this article reinforces that all we need is more regulation and accountability.
- Log in to post comments
Comments
manonthestreet Well its just
manonthestreet
Well its just as well that something causes aggression. Without it we would perhaps be something like a hedgehog. All we would be able to do is roll into a ball and submit. There would be no charging into burning buildings to effect a rescue. I think words are used in a very stupid way. Really there is nothing wrong with aggression. May be there is something wrong with mindless violence but that is something entirely different. Aggression give us the ability to face danger.
I completely agree with you.
I completely agree with you. It is very important to be able to show aggression and use risk taking strategies. The study suggests that testosterone increases awareness of social standing. I would think that this would fit in with social systems like honor and duty that sometimes encourage self sacrifice and controlled aggression. Either way the article refutes the claim that testosterone would cause random aggression or random risk taking.
The peace hormone
I read somewhere that testosterone produces greater confidence and that that confidence actually reduces the likelihood of senseless aggression. The study was done on a captive audience, inmates. Controlling for size, etc., the inmates with the highest testosterone level were least likely to pick fights; the ones with the lowest levels were most combative. Which makes sense. If one is secure in his manhood, he feels less of a need to prove it.
I agree with
I agree with Trotter.
Aggressive behavior is not a bad thing. I don't see any reason why men should try to debunk the link between testosterone and aggression.
Instead I would wonder why aggressive behavior is looked upon so negatively and try and remind people of the purpose it serves and thank God for testosterone and aggression.
Aggresion and risky behavior has led men to do very great things.
just better in my opinion
The new interpretation of testosterone is one that suggests an overall greater adaptability. It therefore makes it harder for people to say men (and their testosterone) don't belong in certain places, be it war, handling of sensitive equipment, or daycare.
manonthestreet I don't want
manonthestreet
I don't want to decent from anybody here. However, I do resist the idea that we need some scientist or make believe scientist to tell us who we are. Nothing a scientist says makes anything about human nature more or less true. We are as we are. Really throughout history up until very recently no one looked to experts to tell them what their nature was. You might say that possibly priests did such a thing in the past. If that is true then we have taken this to ridiculous extremes. What 'experts' do today is give us permission to be human and this I resent with all my testosterone.
We need experts to make
We need experts to make empirical studies on domestic violence and elicit the real nature of it, to study how boys learn and why they are falling behind, and why men have bad health and commit suicide. However many people are unaware of these real issues.
As from the examples above you can see how oppressive common sense can be. I don't even think we are born with a well developed intuitive sense of human nature and ourselves, even though probably have some of the building blocks like basic morals. We are raised and taught by others. We learn how to behave and how to interpret others and ourselves through an established framework. This framework changes through time and place. In comparison to the experts of today there have always been those who were, at least in appearance, more influential than others. This includes leaders (of all sorts), storytellers, writers, and TV and news producers. Much of the misrepresentation of men have been done without the aid of scientists.
I would like it if psychology science really was unique form of practice and separate from normal culture, like you seem to suggest, however in reality it isn't. Aside from the fact that psychology is fundamentally not real science and the suggestion of such is abusive to people and human experience, it is often a puppet to political leanings. In that way, yes, psychology is abusive.
In summary we need to use science because it can help us understand things, because it is just a form of language people will listen too, and it is being used by those who want to oppress men.