Testosterone's Effects on Biology and Behavior

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Testosterone's Effects on Biology and Behavior

Introduction

The study of the interaction between hormones and behavior is truly a complex one. It would be simple if it were true that hormones directly cause a behavior. We know the relationship between hormones and behaviors is reciprocal. Higher levels of hormones increase the probability of certain behaviors, and certain behaviors increase the probability of change in hormones. The Biosocial Model was developed to encompass the influences and relationships the social environment, biology, and behavior have with one another, and how they interact to influence one another. Biology affects the type of behavioral response that a person has to the social environment. At the same time, that behavioral response is influencing the physiological reaction the body has to that stimulus. That environmental stimulus induces those behaviors that cause our body’s internal biology to react. Therefore, anyone of the three variables, social environment, behavior, or biology, can cause a change in the others. When applying this model to behavioral endocrinology, the relationship between hormones, behavior, and the social environment is examined. It is important to study these relationships to try and determine to what extent each factor affects the other. How much does testosterone influence aggression, or risk behaviors such as smoking, sexual promiscuity, or alcohol abuse? As researchers become closer to finding these answers, they become closer to finding out how to treat and council people on these types of activities. In this study, several hypotheses are made about the hormone testosterone, and it’s relationships to biology, health and social behaviors.

On average, te...

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... Also testosterone collections would need to be done in both genders when subjects are not sexually stimulated, while sexually stimulated, such as while watching a sexual video, and after stimulation. In this way the relationship between testosterone and sexual behavior might better be understood. For a study of aggression/antisocial behavior subjects (male and female) should be given a questionnaire pertaining specifically to hostile and rebellious behaviors. Collection of testosterone samples should be taken when subjects are at a baseline (not exposed to stimulation), when faced with a situation that might warrant aggression, such as an argument, and collected after the situation has ended. These types of studies could better equip researchers with an understanding of these relationships, as well as the relationships testosterone has with other behaviors.

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