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January 2010 
The Macho Molecule: Testosterone
Jeff Mishlove
Typical male behaviors. Testosterone is an androgen steroid, found in both men and women. However, it is generally considered to be the primary hormone associated with male sexual characteristics and typical male behaviors. A wide range of experimental studies associate increased testosterone levels with enhanced aggression, dominance, status seeking, sexual interest and risk-taking behaviors.[1] [2]
Athletic achievement. Prenatal testosterone levels also correlate positively with athletic achievement in both men and women.[3]
Handgrip strength. One measure of testosterone levels in the blood is handgrip strength. In males, handgrip strength correlates positively strongly with age at first sexual intercourse and levels of sexual promiscuity.[4]
Entrepreneurship. Higher levels of testosterone are also found in entrepreneurs and individuals who create new ventures.[5]
Mental errors. High levels of testosterone are also associated with a greater propensity to make mental errors in men.[6]
Male-female interactions. Testosterone levels are known to rise in young men when exposed to interactions with young women.[7]
Treatment of sex offenders. Some research suggests that sexual offenders be treated by therapies that lower their testosterone levels.[8]
Marriage and competitive behaviors. Testosterone seems to be involved in male behaviors associated with competing for mates. And, it is known that testosterone levels drop significantly in men following marriage. One study of male tennis players showed that their performance declined significantly in the first year after marriage -- when compared to unmarried tennis players of the same age. The researchers attributed this change to fluctuating testosterone levels.[9]
Aging. Testosterone levels are known to decline significantly with aging.[10] It is also known that testosterone levels drop significantly as a result of fatherhood.[11]
Married men who report having cheated on their partners, or even have considered doing so, are shown to have testosterone levels comparable to those of single men.
One fascinating finding is that testosterone levels increase in men who have experienced significant social success. I often wonder if this relationship does not go far in explaining the sexual promiscuity of certain successful politicians.
[1] Exogenous testosterone enhances responsiveness to social threat in the neural circuitry of social aggression in humans. Hermans, Erno J.; Ramsey, Nick F.; van Honk, Jack. Biological Psychiatry. 2008, Feb, Vol 63(3), 263-270.
[2] Relationship between testosterone and interest in sexual stimuli: The effect of experience. Rupp, Heather A.; Wallen, Kim. Hormones and Behavior. 2007, Dec, Vol 52(5), 581-589.
[3] Sex, sports, and hormones: A case for space? Basil, Meredith E. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering. 68(7-B), 2008, 4869.
[4] Handgrip strength predicts sexual behavior, body morphology, and aggression in male college students. Gallup, Andrew C.; White, Daniel D.; Gallup Jr., Gordon G. Evolution and Human Behavior. 2007, Nov, Vol 28(6), 423-429.
[5] A biosocial model of entrepreneurship: The combined effects of nurture and nature. White, Roderick E.; Thornhill, Stewart; Hampson, Elizabeth. Journal of Organizational Behavior. 2007, May, Vol 28(4), 451-466.
[6] Investigating the role of hormones in theory of mind. DeSoto, M. Catherine; Bumgarner, Jennifer; Close, Abbie; Geary, David C. North American Journal of Psychology. 2007, Vol 9(3), 535-544.
[7] Rapid endocrine responses of young men to social interactions with young women. Roney, James R.; Lukaszewski, Aaron W.; Simmons, Zachary L. Hormones and Behavior. 2007 Sep Vol 52(3) 326-333.
[8] Pharmacological treatments for paraphilic patients and sexual offenders. Briken, Peer; Kafka, Martin P. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 2007, Nov, Vol 20(6), 609-613.
[9] Marriage affects competitive performance in male tennis players. Farrelly, Daniel; Nettle, Daniel Journal of Evolutionary Psychology. 2007, Vol 5(1-4), 141-148.
[10] Effect of testosterone supplementation on functional mobility, cognition, and other parameters in older men: A randomized controlled trial. Emmelot-Vonk, Marielle H.; Verhaar, Harald J. J.; Pour, Hamid R. Nakhai; Aleman, André; Lock, Tycho M. T. W.; Bosch, J. L. H. Ruud; Grobbee, Diederick E.; van der Schouw, Yvonne T. JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association. 2008, Jan, Vol, 299(1), 39-52.
[11] Hormonal correlates of human paternal interactions: A hospital-based investigation in urban Jamaica. Gray, P. B.; Parkin, J. C.; Samms-Vaughan, M. E. Hormones and Behavior. 2007, Nov, Vol 52(4), 499-507.
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Thanks for sharing this. It's quite interesting. I did some reading in this area years ago because I had a lot of masculinity issues when I was a much younger man but I wasn't aware of even half of what you've listed.
That article on the relationship of testosterone to handgrip strength is of particular interest. I guess that we're gauging the other person's ability to succeed (and compete) when we form an impression based on a handshake? Do people still do a lot of handshaking? Seems like it used to considered terribly important to have a decent handshake. I don't know because I seldom encounter it these days, but I'm in a unique environment most of the time and I rarely have even superficial physical contact with my clients.
I also wonder if testosterone acts like dopamine and reinforces the behavior it affects with a reward cycle. I've taken DHEA at various times over the years and I'm convinced that it causes an increased somatic sense of well-being.
Thanks
Peter