Hormones

Hormones Definition

Chemicals that influence how people think, feel and act

Testosterone

Produced in the male testes and female ovaries to a lesser extent/released into the blood stream where they have a medium to long term effect on behavior

Effects of testosterone

• Male sexual development

• Dominance and status seeking: increased competitiveness, center of attentions, authority

• Aggression: higher levels = more likely to respond violently when reputation or status is challenged

Albert

A: testosterone influences aggression in ‘alpha male’ rats

P: rats placed in cages and alpha males identified (larger, dominant, aggressive) / alpha males randomly assigned to one of four conditions/1. Castration 2. Castration followed by implanting tubes with testosterone 3. Castration followed by implanting empty tubes 4. Cut open and sewn up with no castration

F: diminished testosterone levels were less aggressive/consistent testosterone levels displayed the same level of aggression/when A or C were placed in a cage with another rat, that second rat took on the alpha role and became more aggressive

C: testosterone plays an important role in aggression and status seeking in rats/higher testosterone increases aggression and dominance

Evaluate Albert

• Controlled laboratory experiment: demonstrated casual relationship between testosterone levels and aggression and status

• Not generalizable to humans

• Permanent surgery: animal rights concerns

Dabbs

A: relationship between testosterone and criminality

P: testosterone levels measured by taking saliva samples from 692 male prisoners/criminal records analyzed for violent and non violent acts

F: prisoners with higher testosterone levels were more likely to have committed violent crimes

C: testosterone is linked to violent and criminal behavior

Evaluate Dabbs

• Correlational study: can’t be sure that testosterone causes violence

• Large sample size but only on males