Testosterone Levels:
What is testosterone?
Testosterone is the main male sex hormone
Hypothesis:
Men interacting with a weapon
should show increased testosterone levels
and aggression, in proportion to those
interacting with the toy.
Klinesmith Case Study:
30 male college students took
part in the study
Their taste sensitivity would be tested, so they had to give saliva samples.
Half the men had a weapon (imitating a gun) , the other half had a childrens
gun.
After 15 minutes of fixating on the objects, they were given a glass of water,
containing one drop of hot sauce.
They had to rate the taste of the hot sauce on a scale 1-10.
After, they had to pour as much hot sauce as they wanted into another cup of
water, for another participant to drink.
What was discovered from the study:
Those who interacted with the handgun, had more testosterone between the first
and second saliva recording
Those who interacted with the childrens toy had significantly lower levels
Evaluation of the Study:
It doesn’t explain the science behind the link of testosterone and violent objects
It does prove there is an increase of testosterone
It doesn’t incl;ude females, and who have smaller levels of testosterone but still
present
It doesn’t test on a large amount of people, which would provide large amounts of
data
, Anabolic Steroids:
Roid Rage :
A condition caused by the misuse of anabolic steroids
Its reported that users show more aggression and
anger then non users
Increased rate of causing fights
with their peers
Placebo and steroid study:
Over 6 weeks, men were
administered testosterone. The higher
steroid doses made the men more irritable
& aggressive than the men given the
placebos.
How they affect the brain & body:
Anabolic steroids affects the
serotonin and dopamine transmitters in
the brain
Dopamine - regulates mobility / emotions / learning
Serotonin - regulates emotion / memory / sleep patterns
Nandrolone - type of anabolic steroid - reduces neurotransmitter release -
increasing desire to use addictive substances. High doses can impair organs and
cause psychological /mental illnesses
Factors affecting anabolic steroids & aggression:
Duration of steroids - aggressive symptoms will continue. Nandorlone can cause
psychological changes, affecting hw serotonin and dopamine is released in the
brain.
Dopamine - To achieve normal levels it takes 5 x the length of steroid use
Serotonin - To achieve normal levels it takes 6 x the length of steroid use
Recovery of neurotransmitters - Assumptions have been made that breaks
between steroid use can limit the likeliness of aggression. But the breaks aren’
long enough to achieve normal neurotransmitter activity levels.
What is testosterone?
Testosterone is the main male sex hormone
Hypothesis:
Men interacting with a weapon
should show increased testosterone levels
and aggression, in proportion to those
interacting with the toy.
Klinesmith Case Study:
30 male college students took
part in the study
Their taste sensitivity would be tested, so they had to give saliva samples.
Half the men had a weapon (imitating a gun) , the other half had a childrens
gun.
After 15 minutes of fixating on the objects, they were given a glass of water,
containing one drop of hot sauce.
They had to rate the taste of the hot sauce on a scale 1-10.
After, they had to pour as much hot sauce as they wanted into another cup of
water, for another participant to drink.
What was discovered from the study:
Those who interacted with the handgun, had more testosterone between the first
and second saliva recording
Those who interacted with the childrens toy had significantly lower levels
Evaluation of the Study:
It doesn’t explain the science behind the link of testosterone and violent objects
It does prove there is an increase of testosterone
It doesn’t incl;ude females, and who have smaller levels of testosterone but still
present
It doesn’t test on a large amount of people, which would provide large amounts of
data
, Anabolic Steroids:
Roid Rage :
A condition caused by the misuse of anabolic steroids
Its reported that users show more aggression and
anger then non users
Increased rate of causing fights
with their peers
Placebo and steroid study:
Over 6 weeks, men were
administered testosterone. The higher
steroid doses made the men more irritable
& aggressive than the men given the
placebos.
How they affect the brain & body:
Anabolic steroids affects the
serotonin and dopamine transmitters in
the brain
Dopamine - regulates mobility / emotions / learning
Serotonin - regulates emotion / memory / sleep patterns
Nandrolone - type of anabolic steroid - reduces neurotransmitter release -
increasing desire to use addictive substances. High doses can impair organs and
cause psychological /mental illnesses
Factors affecting anabolic steroids & aggression:
Duration of steroids - aggressive symptoms will continue. Nandorlone can cause
psychological changes, affecting hw serotonin and dopamine is released in the
brain.
Dopamine - To achieve normal levels it takes 5 x the length of steroid use
Serotonin - To achieve normal levels it takes 6 x the length of steroid use
Recovery of neurotransmitters - Assumptions have been made that breaks
between steroid use can limit the likeliness of aggression. But the breaks aren’
long enough to achieve normal neurotransmitter activity levels.
