Role of Hormones in Human Behaviour
Hormones:
Endocrine glands manufacture a variety of hormones and secrete them directly into the bloodstream.
They are biochemical messengers.
Hormones act much slower than the nervous system but have widespread and powerful effects.
Each hormone affects certain target organs or cells, like adrenal glands produce adrenaline for the
fight or flight instinct.
Dual-hormone Hypothesis:
Role of Testosterone: Cortisol - secreted by the adrenal glands to
When seeking an explanation for aggression, help the body deal with the effects of stress.
male sex hormones are often used because Suggests there is an interaction between the
males are generally more aggressive than systems responsible for regulating aggression
females. and the stress response.
This hormone also has a role in regulating According to dual-hormone hypothesis, the
social behaviour through its influence on combined activity of testosterone and cortisol
areas of the brain implicated in aggression. may be a better predictor of human
Giammanco et al 2005 - demonstrated that aggression than either hormone alone.
increases in testosterone are related to more
aggressive behaviour in the makes of several Female Aggression:
species. Although testosterone levels in females are
With reductions in aggression accompanying lower than males, female aggressive
decreases in testosterone as a result of behaviour may still be enhanced by this
castration. hormone.
Mairead Dolan et al 2001 - found a positive Christopher Eisenegger er al 2011 found that
correlation between testosterone levels and women given a dose of testosterone behaved
aggressive behaviours in a sample of 60 male more generously and sociably in a lad-based
offenders in the UK maximum security negotiating game.
hospital. The testosterone-aggression link in females
These men mostly had personality disorders appears to be more complex than in males,
and histories of impulsively violent behaviour. suggesting non-biological factors may be
important.
Hormones and Empathy:
EMpathy is the ability to understand the world from another person’s perspective.
It is at the root of behaviours such as social support.
Levels of the hormone oxytocin are closely associated with empathy.
Hormones:
Endocrine glands manufacture a variety of hormones and secrete them directly into the bloodstream.
They are biochemical messengers.
Hormones act much slower than the nervous system but have widespread and powerful effects.
Each hormone affects certain target organs or cells, like adrenal glands produce adrenaline for the
fight or flight instinct.
Dual-hormone Hypothesis:
Role of Testosterone: Cortisol - secreted by the adrenal glands to
When seeking an explanation for aggression, help the body deal with the effects of stress.
male sex hormones are often used because Suggests there is an interaction between the
males are generally more aggressive than systems responsible for regulating aggression
females. and the stress response.
This hormone also has a role in regulating According to dual-hormone hypothesis, the
social behaviour through its influence on combined activity of testosterone and cortisol
areas of the brain implicated in aggression. may be a better predictor of human
Giammanco et al 2005 - demonstrated that aggression than either hormone alone.
increases in testosterone are related to more
aggressive behaviour in the makes of several Female Aggression:
species. Although testosterone levels in females are
With reductions in aggression accompanying lower than males, female aggressive
decreases in testosterone as a result of behaviour may still be enhanced by this
castration. hormone.
Mairead Dolan et al 2001 - found a positive Christopher Eisenegger er al 2011 found that
correlation between testosterone levels and women given a dose of testosterone behaved
aggressive behaviours in a sample of 60 male more generously and sociably in a lad-based
offenders in the UK maximum security negotiating game.
hospital. The testosterone-aggression link in females
These men mostly had personality disorders appears to be more complex than in males,
and histories of impulsively violent behaviour. suggesting non-biological factors may be
important.
Hormones and Empathy:
EMpathy is the ability to understand the world from another person’s perspective.
It is at the root of behaviours such as social support.
Levels of the hormone oxytocin are closely associated with empathy.
