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Testosterone change after losing predicts the decision to compete again.
- Source :
-
Hormones and behavior [Horm Behav] 2006 Dec; Vol. 50 (5), pp. 684-92. Date of Electronic Publication: 2006 Aug 22. - Publication Year :
- 2006
-
Abstract
- Testosterone (T) levels can fluctuate after wins and losses, but surprisingly, there are no empirical studies in humans that have tested whether these post-competition T changes predict the social behaviors that follow. The present study examined whether changes in T after losing in a competition predicted who wanted to compete again in a second competition. Sixty-four males provided saliva samples immediately before and 15 min after a rigged one-on-one competition. After the second saliva sample, participants chose whether or not to compete again against the same competitor. Winners did not increase in T relative to losers, but pre-competition cortisol, change in cortisol, and pre-competition T were associated with T changes, especially in losers. Importantly, changes in T predicted decisions to compete again in losers. Losers who increased in T were more likely to choose to compete again than losers who decreased in T. T changes were unrelated to decisions to compete again in winners. These findings provide novel data in humans that T changes after a status loss predict subsequent social behavior. Our discussion focuses on the theoretical implications of these findings for the link between short-term T changes and status-related behaviors.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0018-506X
- Volume :
- 50
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Hormones and behavior
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 16928375
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2006.07.001