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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Men with elevated testosterone levels show more affiliative behaviors during contact with women
Alicia SalvadorAbraham P. BuunkLeander Van Der MeijMercedes AlmelaTim W. Fawcettsubject
AdultMaleCOURTSHIPAdolescentmedia_common.quotation_subjectEye contactNONVERBAL BEHAVIORaffiliative behaviourStimulus (physiology)male-male competitionCONTESTGeneral Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular BiologyDevelopmental psychologyCourtshipYoung Adult03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicineHORMONAL RESPONSESsexual selection0501 psychology and cognitive sciences050102 behavioral science & comparative psychologyCHALLENGE HYPOTHESISYOUNG MENYoung adultSalivaSocial Behaviorhumans10. No inequalityResearch ArticlesGeneral Environmental Sciencemedia_commonGeneral Immunology and MicrobiologyCourtship displayMATING SYSTEMSCORTISOL05 social sciencesCOPULATORY-BEHAVIORMALE-RATSGeneral Medicine16. Peace & justiceSpainDOMINANCESexual selectiontestosteroneChallenge hypothesisFemaleGeneral Agricultural and Biological SciencesPsychology030217 neurology & neurosurgerydescription
Testosterone (T) is thought to play a key role in male–male competition and courtship in many vertebrates, but its precise effects are unclear. We explored whether courtship behaviour in humans is modulated and preceded by changes in T. Pairs of healthy male students first competed in a non-physical contest in which their T levels became elevated. Each participant then had a short, informal interaction with either an unfamiliar man or woman. The sex of the stimulus person did not affect the participants' behaviour overall. However, in interactions with women, those men who had experienced a greater T increase during the contest subsequently showed more interest in the woman, engaged in more self-presentation, smiled more and made more eye contact. No such effects were seen in interactions with other men. This is the first study to provide direct evidence that elevating T during male–male competition is followed by increased affiliative behaviour towards women.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-01-07 |