Der Testosteron-Mythos: Eine umfassende Analyse von 52 Studien findet keinen Zusammenhang zwischen dem „Macho“-Hormon und Risikobereitschaft. Darüber hinaus hing der Mangel an Assoziation nicht vom Geschlecht der Teilnehmer ab.
The testosterone myth? Large analysis finds no link between the “macho” hormone and risk-taking
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The testosterone myth? Large analysis finds no link between the “macho” hormone and risk-taking
A meta-analysis of 52 studies found no link between testosterone levels and risk-taking. In general, only studies where participants completed specific lottery-based economic tasks showed a modest association between testosterone levels and risk-taking, while other types of behavioral studies did not. Furthermore, the lack of association did not depend on participants’ sex. The paper was published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews.
Testosterone is a hormone that belongs to a group of hormones called androgens. It is present in both males and females, but it is usually found in much higher levels in males. In males, testosterone is produced mainly in the testes; in females, smaller amounts are produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands.
Testosterone plays an important role in the development of male reproductive organs before birth and during puberty. During puberty, it contributes to changes such as a deeper voice, facial and body hair growth, increased muscle mass, and the growth of the penis and testes. In adults, testosterone helps regulate sexual desire, sperm production, bone density, red blood cell production, and muscle strength. Testosterone levels naturally vary by age, time of day, health status, sleep, stress, body fat, and the use of certain medications.
When the researchers aggregated the data, the results showed that the overall association between testosterone levels and risk-taking across all 52 studies was practically zero. In other words, having high or low testosterone did not reliably predict whether a person would take a risk.
Importantly, the lack of an association between testosterone levels and risk-taking did not depend on sex, meaning the relationship (or lack thereof) was no different in males than in females.
“Overall, the evidence challenges the notion that testosterone provides a general hormonal basis for human risk preferences,” the study authors concluded. “Instead, findings support a biopsychosocial framework in which ‘risk taking’ reflects the interaction of task demands, cognitive–affective processes, and situational context, with endocrine effects appearing narrow, context-dependent, and method-specific.”
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763426000308
We just get contradicting studies every day now.
Seems like whenever i see a questionable headline in this sub, its always a meta analysis
Anecdote:
My testosterone levels float around 3,000 ng/dl because I use anabolic steroids.
People ask me a lot of questions that sound more like what you’d expect from alcohol than test. The answer is always no.
The same applies for other steroids but those aren’t the subject of this thread.
I’d describe it more as inspiring a kind of self assuredness that is not necessarily the confidence to go out and do something. It can also be that I just feel better about sitting lazily on my ass, and it can also be that if I cannot do something then I’m cozier just saying that.
Comfort with social friction is also another thing. That self assuredness sticks around when I’m not on the agreeable position or even if someone is being confrontational. This is only social friction though. It has not made me any braver if I’m driving or something. It also doesn’t make me engage social friction more. My behavior in the face of it just changes less.
But its more that it changes the vibes around the same baseline persona that I had when j was natural.
What truly correlates with risk-taking is exposure to Toxoplasmosis.
This is expected. We’ve know for a while that the simplistic „more testosterone = more risk-seeking or aggressive behavior“ is not accurate. It’s necessary but not sufficient. Increases in testosterone amplifies existing risky behavioral tendencies in humans and many primate species on average, but it does not necessarily „turn on aggression“. In fact, [other research on rhesus monkeys shows](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3950204/) that social hierarchy plays a key role in moderating the relationship between testosterone and risk-seeking/aggression. In summary, social context plays a key role in the relationship between testosterone and risk-seeking behaviors.
Human behavior more complicated than simply increasing one hormone, news at 11
People really sleep on the AB testing trans men and trans women present when it comes to these types of studies. They are the most able to tell differences because they experience both.
Now I wanna know how it relates to emotional responses/intelligence
I, like many other trans women, agree that after starting HRT its like our empathy and ability to look inward greatly increased. Yes, part of it is likely due to finding new confidence in yourself, but I cant help but believe its slightly hormonal
Did they factor in associations between testosterone and cortisol?
Don’t we already have studies saying risk taking is for adrenaline junkies? I solved Gobekli Tepe, but no grant money for me…
This seems tough to study. High testosterone can be a byproduct of the body increasing production to signal the processes it controls in insensitive subjects. The biofeedback mechanisms add a lot of noise to the measurement.
I’ve taken high doses of testosterone for powerlifting and experience almost no mood difference at all except increase sex drive.
It doesn’t make me more angry, calm, sad, happy, or anything. It just makes you hornier that’s it.
This is just not true, why do people keep trying to deny this
I mean I’m on TRT, I workout and I’m bigger than I’ve ever been in my life. More muscle = more confidence and willingness to stick up for myself. I was relentlessly bullied in highschool. So yeah testosterone by itself might not but looking good and feeling confident definitely has an effect
Dopamine is a much better indicator of risk taking. I have been a competitive bodybuilder for decades and have used what many would think astronomically high androgens and it hasn’t impacted my naturally risk-averse and very calm personality.
On the other hand I have genes that favor a low and steady dopamine state. My wife who is more dopamine dominant is much more risk taking – and aggressive – than I.
It’s as simple as some want it to be. It’s more like what Richard Pryor (I think) said about cocaine – it just makes you more of an asshole if you already are. And even that isn’t guaranteed with hormones.