Exogenous testosterone increases men's perceptions of their own physical dominance

Lisa L M Welling; Benjamin J P Moreau; Brian M Bird; Steve Hansen; Justin M Carré

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.11.016

Exogenous testosterone increases men's perceptions of their own physical dominance

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2016 Feb:64:136-42. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.11.016. Epub 2015 Nov 24.

Authors

Lisa L M Welling¹, Benjamin J P Moreau², Brian M Bird³, Steve Hansen⁴, Justin M Carré⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Oakland University, 2200 N. Squirrel Road, Rochester, MI 48309, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, Box 5002, North Bay, ON P1B 8L7, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Department of Psychology, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Physical and Health Education, Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, Box 5002, North Bay, ON P1B 8L7, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, Box 5002, North Bay, ON P1B 8L7, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 26671006
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.11.016

Abstract

Men's testosterone is associated with several constructs that are linked to dominance rank, such as risk-taking, mating success, and aggression. However, no study has directly tested the relationship between men's self-perceived dominance and testosterone using an experimental design. We employed a within-subjects, double-blind, placebo-controlled paradigm to assess whether testosterone influences men's self-perceived dominance. Exogenous testosterone or a placebo was administered to healthy adult men and self-perceptions of physical dominance were subsequently assessed by having participants select what they believed to be their true face from an array of images digitally manipulated in masculinity. Men picked a more masculine version of their own face after testosterone versus placebo--an effect that was particularly pronounced among men with relatively low baseline testosterone. These findings indicate that a single administration of testosterone can rapidly modulate men's perceptions of their own physical dominance, which may explain links between testosterone and dominance-related behaviors.

Keywords: Dominance; Face perception; Individual differences; Neuroendocrinology; Social perception; Testosterone.

Publication types

Controlled Clinical Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Double-Blind Method
Humans
Male
Masculinity*
Photic Stimulation
Self Concept*
Social Dominance*
Testosterone / blood
Testosterone / pharmacology*
Young Adult

Substances

Testosterone