The social neuroendocrinology of human aggression
Abstract
Testosterone concentrations fluctuate rapidly in response to competitive and aggressive interactions, suggesting that changes in testosterone rather than baseline differences shape ongoing and/or future competitive and aggressive behaviors. Although recent experiments in animal models provide compelling empirical support for this idea, studies in humans have focused largely on how competitive interactions drive changes in testosterone concentrations and not how these changes influence subsequent behavior. In this paper, we provide a review of the literature on testosterone and human aggression with a main focus on the role of testosterone dynamics in modulating reactive aggression. We also speculate on one putative neural mechanism through which testosterone may bias human aggressive behavior. Finally, we conclude by highlighting important questions that should be addressed in future research.
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Changes in hormones, rather than baseline levels, may be especially relevant for behavioral outcomes.
“consistent with the idea that changes in hormones rather than baseline levels may be particularly relevant for behavioral outcomes (Carré, McCormick, & Hariri, 2011).”
From Prospective and dyadic associations between expectant parents’ prenatal hormone changes and postpartum parenting outcomes (2017) · cites this paper as Carré, McCormick, & Hariri, 2011
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Biosocial construction of sex differences and similarities in behavior
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- Authors
- Carré, J. M., McCormick, C. M., & Hariri, A. R.
- Affiliations
- Duke University (US)
- Brock University (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Carré, Justin M.
- Venue
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-08
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 935-944
- ISSN
- 0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2027410480
- Cited by
- 170
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2025: 8 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 2.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Keywords
- testosterone, aggression, reactive aggression, competitive interactions
- MeSH terms
- Aggression, Animals, Competitive Behavior, Humans, Models, Biological, Neural Pathways, Neuroendocrinology, Neurosecretory Systems, Social Behavior, Testosterone, Models, Animal
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