Work Matters

Testosterone Levels, Top Dogs, and Collective Group Confidence

Written by

supermoxie

in

My favorite behavioral science website, BPS Research Digest, posted a summary of an amazingly weird and rather troubling psychological experiment.  The upshot is that people — both men and women — vary in testosterone levels and (no surprise), when people with high testosterone levels aren't in leadership positions, "they can find it stressful and uncomfortable when denied the status that they crave."  A bit more surprising is that the reverse is true as well, that "people low in testosterone find it uncomfortable to be placed in positions of authority." The main finding from the research is that when groups suffer from "mismatch" between status and testosterone levels (where those with high testosterone levels are placed at the bottom of the pecking order, and those with low levels are placed at the top), the group has less confidence in its abilities get things done.  I quote from the BPS summary:

Michael Zyphur and colleagues
assigned 92 groups of between 4 and 7 undergrads to an on-going task
that involved meeting twice a week for 12 weeks, and included creating
a professional management-training video. Six weeks into the project
the researches measured the participants' testosterone levels via
saliva samples. They also asked all members in each group to vote on
each others' status. Then six weeks after that, at the end of the
project, the researchers measured each group's collective efficacy by
summing members' confidence in their group's ability to succeed.

The
key finding was that groups made up of members whose status was out of
synch with their testosterone level tended to have the lowest
collective efficacy. The researchers think that testosterone-status
mismatch within a group probably has a detrimental effect on that
group's collective confidence. However, another possibility, which they
acknowledge, is that a lack of group confidence leads to a mismatch
between testosterone levels and status among group members.

The implication is fairly horrifying — perhaps companies will start using testosterone levels to make decisions about whether or not to put people in leadership positions.  Even if it is "evidence-based" (although these results are preliminary), the thought makes me a bit sick. 

Here is the reference:

Zyphur,
M., Narayanan, J., Koh, G., & Koh, D. (2009). Testosterone–status
mismatch lowers collective efficacy in groups: Evidence from a
slope-as-predictor multilevel structural equation model. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 110 (2), 70-79.

Comments

56 responses to “Testosterone Levels, Top Dogs, and Collective Group Confidence”

  1. Jared Avatar
    Jared

    Seems like an over simplification. What happens when you have relatively low testosterone people managing people of similar or slightly lower testosterone people?
    Likewise what would happen if the high testosterone people managed other high testosterone people.
    I would imagine it can be very difficult to manage high testosterone people, but what if a group had none. How effective is a group comprised entirely of relatively low-testosterone people?

    Reply
  2. Jared Avatar
    Jared

    Seems like an over simplification. What happens when you have relatively low testosterone people managing people of similar or slightly lower testosterone people?
    Likewise what would happen if the high testosterone people managed other high testosterone people.
    I would imagine it can be very difficult to manage high testosterone people, but what if a group had none. How effective is a group comprised entirely of relatively low-testosterone people?

    Reply
  3. Jared Avatar
    Jared

    Seems like an over simplification. What happens when you have relatively low testosterone people managing people of similar or slightly lower testosterone people?
    Likewise what would happen if the high testosterone people managed other high testosterone people.
    I would imagine it can be very difficult to manage high testosterone people, but what if a group had none. How effective is a group comprised entirely of relatively low-testosterone people?

    Reply
  4. Jared Avatar
    Jared

    Seems like an over simplification. What happens when you have relatively low testosterone people managing people of similar or slightly lower testosterone people?
    Likewise what would happen if the high testosterone people managed other high testosterone people.
    I would imagine it can be very difficult to manage high testosterone people, but what if a group had none. How effective is a group comprised entirely of relatively low-testosterone people?

    Reply
  5. Jared Avatar
    Jared

    Seems like an over simplification. What happens when you have relatively low testosterone people managing people of similar or slightly lower testosterone people?
    Likewise what would happen if the high testosterone people managed other high testosterone people.
    I would imagine it can be very difficult to manage high testosterone people, but what if a group had none. How effective is a group comprised entirely of relatively low-testosterone people?

    Reply
  6. Jared Avatar
    Jared

    Seems like an over simplification. What happens when you have relatively low testosterone people managing people of similar or slightly lower testosterone people?
    Likewise what would happen if the high testosterone people managed other high testosterone people.
    I would imagine it can be very difficult to manage high testosterone people, but what if a group had none. How effective is a group comprised entirely of relatively low-testosterone people?

    Reply
  7. Jared Avatar
    Jared

    Seems like an over simplification. What happens when you have relatively low testosterone people managing people of similar or slightly lower testosterone people?
    Likewise what would happen if the high testosterone people managed other high testosterone people.
    I would imagine it can be very difficult to manage high testosterone people, but what if a group had none. How effective is a group comprised entirely of relatively low-testosterone people?

    Reply
  8. John Jenkins Avatar
    John Jenkins

    It’s not just an over-simplification, it’s a bad design. Testosterone levels are variable, so testing each person once in 12 weeks and tying your conclusions to that single test is useless.

    Reply
  9. John Jenkins Avatar
    John Jenkins

    It’s not just an over-simplification, it’s a bad design. Testosterone levels are variable, so testing each person once in 12 weeks and tying your conclusions to that single test is useless.

    Reply
  10. John Jenkins Avatar
    John Jenkins

    It’s not just an over-simplification, it’s a bad design. Testosterone levels are variable, so testing each person once in 12 weeks and tying your conclusions to that single test is useless.

    Reply
  11. John Jenkins Avatar
    John Jenkins

    It’s not just an over-simplification, it’s a bad design. Testosterone levels are variable, so testing each person once in 12 weeks and tying your conclusions to that single test is useless.

    Reply
  12. John Jenkins Avatar
    John Jenkins

    It’s not just an over-simplification, it’s a bad design. Testosterone levels are variable, so testing each person once in 12 weeks and tying your conclusions to that single test is useless.

    Reply
  13. John Jenkins Avatar
    John Jenkins

    It’s not just an over-simplification, it’s a bad design. Testosterone levels are variable, so testing each person once in 12 weeks and tying your conclusions to that single test is useless.

    Reply
  14. John Jenkins Avatar
    John Jenkins

    It’s not just an over-simplification, it’s a bad design. Testosterone levels are variable, so testing each person once in 12 weeks and tying your conclusions to that single test is useless.

    Reply
  15. Bob Sutton Avatar
    Bob Sutton

    Jared and John,
    You guys are likely both right in that the design is oversimplified and that testosterone are variable. In the light of those observations, it is interesting to ask why OBHDP — which has exacting peer review standards — published the paper. Certainly, it is interesting, and that counts. But the oversimplification probably was not seen as a fatal flaw because, to tease-out effects in research, this is almost always necessary. Indeed, a potential problem with this study is that it is not a controlled experiment — the effects reflect the naturally occurring status order — so the effects of status and testosterone were not controlled
    And as for the variability, the authors do acknowledge it, and also — toward the end of the article — briefly imply the possibility that the effects occurred because of the impact of group performance on testosterone levels. Indeed, a look at the table in the article indicates that the correlation between testosterone (measured in week 6) and collective efficacy (measured in week 12)is a whopping .65. I frankly can’t tell if that was calculated at the group (n=92) or individual level (n=592), but it does raise an alternative argument: that the relationship is muddied by the effects of performance on testosterone levels (as group performance may have been pretty clear by week 6) — assuming collective efficacy is a reasonable proxy for performance.
    But also note this correlation is different than the match/mismatch effect, and it is unclear to me how it may have muddied it, or not. I also wonder if — given the strength of the effects the authors found — that if variability John mentioned can be turned on its head and viewed as strength to support the argument that DESPITE the unreliability of the measure, they still got significant effects (as unreliability usually dampens correlations) — although that strikes me as stretching things too far.
    I guess my overall reaction is that the authors were careful not to make excessive claims, there is at least a plausible argument to support their hypotheses about mismatch, and I am glad this study was published so it will motivate future researchers to test the hypothesis in more rigorous studies. But other reviewers may find the flaws you guys identified — and acknowledged by the authors to be “fatal.” The decisions made about whether or not to publish academic articles are often subjective in the end.
    That said, thanks for the comments, I think you two guys make good points.

    Reply
  16. Bob Sutton Avatar
    Bob Sutton

    Jared and John,
    You guys are likely both right in that the design is oversimplified and that testosterone are variable. In the light of those observations, it is interesting to ask why OBHDP — which has exacting peer review standards — published the paper. Certainly, it is interesting, and that counts. But the oversimplification probably was not seen as a fatal flaw because, to tease-out effects in research, this is almost always necessary. Indeed, a potential problem with this study is that it is not a controlled experiment — the effects reflect the naturally occurring status order — so the effects of status and testosterone were not controlled
    And as for the variability, the authors do acknowledge it, and also — toward the end of the article — briefly imply the possibility that the effects occurred because of the impact of group performance on testosterone levels. Indeed, a look at the table in the article indicates that the correlation between testosterone (measured in week 6) and collective efficacy (measured in week 12)is a whopping .65. I frankly can’t tell if that was calculated at the group (n=92) or individual level (n=592), but it does raise an alternative argument: that the relationship is muddied by the effects of performance on testosterone levels (as group performance may have been pretty clear by week 6) — assuming collective efficacy is a reasonable proxy for performance.
    But also note this correlation is different than the match/mismatch effect, and it is unclear to me how it may have muddied it, or not. I also wonder if — given the strength of the effects the authors found — that if variability John mentioned can be turned on its head and viewed as strength to support the argument that DESPITE the unreliability of the measure, they still got significant effects (as unreliability usually dampens correlations) — although that strikes me as stretching things too far.
    I guess my overall reaction is that the authors were careful not to make excessive claims, there is at least a plausible argument to support their hypotheses about mismatch, and I am glad this study was published so it will motivate future researchers to test the hypothesis in more rigorous studies. But other reviewers may find the flaws you guys identified — and acknowledged by the authors to be “fatal.” The decisions made about whether or not to publish academic articles are often subjective in the end.
    That said, thanks for the comments, I think you two guys make good points.

    Reply
  17. Bob Sutton Avatar
    Bob Sutton

    Jared and John,
    You guys are likely both right in that the design is oversimplified and that testosterone are variable. In the light of those observations, it is interesting to ask why OBHDP — which has exacting peer review standards — published the paper. Certainly, it is interesting, and that counts. But the oversimplification probably was not seen as a fatal flaw because, to tease-out effects in research, this is almost always necessary. Indeed, a potential problem with this study is that it is not a controlled experiment — the effects reflect the naturally occurring status order — so the effects of status and testosterone were not controlled
    And as for the variability, the authors do acknowledge it, and also — toward the end of the article — briefly imply the possibility that the effects occurred because of the impact of group performance on testosterone levels. Indeed, a look at the table in the article indicates that the correlation between testosterone (measured in week 6) and collective efficacy (measured in week 12)is a whopping .65. I frankly can’t tell if that was calculated at the group (n=92) or individual level (n=592), but it does raise an alternative argument: that the relationship is muddied by the effects of performance on testosterone levels (as group performance may have been pretty clear by week 6) — assuming collective efficacy is a reasonable proxy for performance.
    But also note this correlation is different than the match/mismatch effect, and it is unclear to me how it may have muddied it, or not. I also wonder if — given the strength of the effects the authors found — that if variability John mentioned can be turned on its head and viewed as strength to support the argument that DESPITE the unreliability of the measure, they still got significant effects (as unreliability usually dampens correlations) — although that strikes me as stretching things too far.
    I guess my overall reaction is that the authors were careful not to make excessive claims, there is at least a plausible argument to support their hypotheses about mismatch, and I am glad this study was published so it will motivate future researchers to test the hypothesis in more rigorous studies. But other reviewers may find the flaws you guys identified — and acknowledged by the authors to be “fatal.” The decisions made about whether or not to publish academic articles are often subjective in the end.
    That said, thanks for the comments, I think you two guys make good points.

    Reply
  18. Bob Sutton Avatar
    Bob Sutton

    Jared and John,
    You guys are likely both right in that the design is oversimplified and that testosterone are variable. In the light of those observations, it is interesting to ask why OBHDP — which has exacting peer review standards — published the paper. Certainly, it is interesting, and that counts. But the oversimplification probably was not seen as a fatal flaw because, to tease-out effects in research, this is almost always necessary. Indeed, a potential problem with this study is that it is not a controlled experiment — the effects reflect the naturally occurring status order — so the effects of status and testosterone were not controlled
    And as for the variability, the authors do acknowledge it, and also — toward the end of the article — briefly imply the possibility that the effects occurred because of the impact of group performance on testosterone levels. Indeed, a look at the table in the article indicates that the correlation between testosterone (measured in week 6) and collective efficacy (measured in week 12)is a whopping .65. I frankly can’t tell if that was calculated at the group (n=92) or individual level (n=592), but it does raise an alternative argument: that the relationship is muddied by the effects of performance on testosterone levels (as group performance may have been pretty clear by week 6) — assuming collective efficacy is a reasonable proxy for performance.
    But also note this correlation is different than the match/mismatch effect, and it is unclear to me how it may have muddied it, or not. I also wonder if — given the strength of the effects the authors found — that if variability John mentioned can be turned on its head and viewed as strength to support the argument that DESPITE the unreliability of the measure, they still got significant effects (as unreliability usually dampens correlations) — although that strikes me as stretching things too far.
    I guess my overall reaction is that the authors were careful not to make excessive claims, there is at least a plausible argument to support their hypotheses about mismatch, and I am glad this study was published so it will motivate future researchers to test the hypothesis in more rigorous studies. But other reviewers may find the flaws you guys identified — and acknowledged by the authors to be “fatal.” The decisions made about whether or not to publish academic articles are often subjective in the end.
    That said, thanks for the comments, I think you two guys make good points.

    Reply
  19. Bob Sutton Avatar
    Bob Sutton

    Jared and John,
    You guys are likely both right in that the design is oversimplified and that testosterone are variable. In the light of those observations, it is interesting to ask why OBHDP — which has exacting peer review standards — published the paper. Certainly, it is interesting, and that counts. But the oversimplification probably was not seen as a fatal flaw because, to tease-out effects in research, this is almost always necessary. Indeed, a potential problem with this study is that it is not a controlled experiment — the effects reflect the naturally occurring status order — so the effects of status and testosterone were not controlled
    And as for the variability, the authors do acknowledge it, and also — toward the end of the article — briefly imply the possibility that the effects occurred because of the impact of group performance on testosterone levels. Indeed, a look at the table in the article indicates that the correlation between testosterone (measured in week 6) and collective efficacy (measured in week 12)is a whopping .65. I frankly can’t tell if that was calculated at the group (n=92) or individual level (n=592), but it does raise an alternative argument: that the relationship is muddied by the effects of performance on testosterone levels (as group performance may have been pretty clear by week 6) — assuming collective efficacy is a reasonable proxy for performance.
    But also note this correlation is different than the match/mismatch effect, and it is unclear to me how it may have muddied it, or not. I also wonder if — given the strength of the effects the authors found — that if variability John mentioned can be turned on its head and viewed as strength to support the argument that DESPITE the unreliability of the measure, they still got significant effects (as unreliability usually dampens correlations) — although that strikes me as stretching things too far.
    I guess my overall reaction is that the authors were careful not to make excessive claims, there is at least a plausible argument to support their hypotheses about mismatch, and I am glad this study was published so it will motivate future researchers to test the hypothesis in more rigorous studies. But other reviewers may find the flaws you guys identified — and acknowledged by the authors to be “fatal.” The decisions made about whether or not to publish academic articles are often subjective in the end.
    That said, thanks for the comments, I think you two guys make good points.

    Reply
  20. Bob Sutton Avatar
    Bob Sutton

    Jared and John,
    You guys are likely both right in that the design is oversimplified and that testosterone are variable. In the light of those observations, it is interesting to ask why OBHDP — which has exacting peer review standards — published the paper. Certainly, it is interesting, and that counts. But the oversimplification probably was not seen as a fatal flaw because, to tease-out effects in research, this is almost always necessary. Indeed, a potential problem with this study is that it is not a controlled experiment — the effects reflect the naturally occurring status order — so the effects of status and testosterone were not controlled
    And as for the variability, the authors do acknowledge it, and also — toward the end of the article — briefly imply the possibility that the effects occurred because of the impact of group performance on testosterone levels. Indeed, a look at the table in the article indicates that the correlation between testosterone (measured in week 6) and collective efficacy (measured in week 12)is a whopping .65. I frankly can’t tell if that was calculated at the group (n=92) or individual level (n=592), but it does raise an alternative argument: that the relationship is muddied by the effects of performance on testosterone levels (as group performance may have been pretty clear by week 6) — assuming collective efficacy is a reasonable proxy for performance.
    But also note this correlation is different than the match/mismatch effect, and it is unclear to me how it may have muddied it, or not. I also wonder if — given the strength of the effects the authors found — that if variability John mentioned can be turned on its head and viewed as strength to support the argument that DESPITE the unreliability of the measure, they still got significant effects (as unreliability usually dampens correlations) — although that strikes me as stretching things too far.
    I guess my overall reaction is that the authors were careful not to make excessive claims, there is at least a plausible argument to support their hypotheses about mismatch, and I am glad this study was published so it will motivate future researchers to test the hypothesis in more rigorous studies. But other reviewers may find the flaws you guys identified — and acknowledged by the authors to be “fatal.” The decisions made about whether or not to publish academic articles are often subjective in the end.
    That said, thanks for the comments, I think you two guys make good points.

    Reply
  21. Bob Sutton Avatar
    Bob Sutton

    Jared and John,
    You guys are likely both right in that the design is oversimplified and that testosterone are variable. In the light of those observations, it is interesting to ask why OBHDP — which has exacting peer review standards — published the paper. Certainly, it is interesting, and that counts. But the oversimplification probably was not seen as a fatal flaw because, to tease-out effects in research, this is almost always necessary. Indeed, a potential problem with this study is that it is not a controlled experiment — the effects reflect the naturally occurring status order — so the effects of status and testosterone were not controlled
    And as for the variability, the authors do acknowledge it, and also — toward the end of the article — briefly imply the possibility that the effects occurred because of the impact of group performance on testosterone levels. Indeed, a look at the table in the article indicates that the correlation between testosterone (measured in week 6) and collective efficacy (measured in week 12)is a whopping .65. I frankly can’t tell if that was calculated at the group (n=92) or individual level (n=592), but it does raise an alternative argument: that the relationship is muddied by the effects of performance on testosterone levels (as group performance may have been pretty clear by week 6) — assuming collective efficacy is a reasonable proxy for performance.
    But also note this correlation is different than the match/mismatch effect, and it is unclear to me how it may have muddied it, or not. I also wonder if — given the strength of the effects the authors found — that if variability John mentioned can be turned on its head and viewed as strength to support the argument that DESPITE the unreliability of the measure, they still got significant effects (as unreliability usually dampens correlations) — although that strikes me as stretching things too far.
    I guess my overall reaction is that the authors were careful not to make excessive claims, there is at least a plausible argument to support their hypotheses about mismatch, and I am glad this study was published so it will motivate future researchers to test the hypothesis in more rigorous studies. But other reviewers may find the flaws you guys identified — and acknowledged by the authors to be “fatal.” The decisions made about whether or not to publish academic articles are often subjective in the end.
    That said, thanks for the comments, I think you two guys make good points.

    Reply
  22. Bill Bennett Avatar
    Bill Bennett

    Let’s assume the research is sound.
    Doesn’t this imply there needs to be higher proportion of high testosterone positions for an organisation to function efficiently?

    Reply
  23. Bill Bennett Avatar
    Bill Bennett

    Let’s assume the research is sound.
    Doesn’t this imply there needs to be higher proportion of high testosterone positions for an organisation to function efficiently?

    Reply
  24. Bill Bennett Avatar
    Bill Bennett

    Let’s assume the research is sound.
    Doesn’t this imply there needs to be higher proportion of high testosterone positions for an organisation to function efficiently?

    Reply
  25. Bill Bennett Avatar
    Bill Bennett

    Let’s assume the research is sound.
    Doesn’t this imply there needs to be higher proportion of high testosterone positions for an organisation to function efficiently?

    Reply
  26. Bill Bennett Avatar
    Bill Bennett

    Let’s assume the research is sound.
    Doesn’t this imply there needs to be higher proportion of high testosterone positions for an organisation to function efficiently?

    Reply
  27. Bill Bennett Avatar
    Bill Bennett

    Let’s assume the research is sound.
    Doesn’t this imply there needs to be higher proportion of high testosterone positions for an organisation to function efficiently?

    Reply
  28. Bill Bennett Avatar
    Bill Bennett

    Let’s assume the research is sound.
    Doesn’t this imply there needs to be higher proportion of high testosterone positions for an organisation to function efficiently?

    Reply
  29. Bob sutton Avatar
    Bob sutton

    Bill,
    That is the scary part….
    Bob

    Reply
  30. Bob sutton Avatar
    Bob sutton

    Bill,
    That is the scary part….
    Bob

    Reply
  31. Bob sutton Avatar
    Bob sutton

    Bill,
    That is the scary part….
    Bob

    Reply
  32. Bob sutton Avatar
    Bob sutton

    Bill,
    That is the scary part….
    Bob

    Reply
  33. Bob sutton Avatar
    Bob sutton

    Bill,
    That is the scary part….
    Bob

    Reply
  34. Bob sutton Avatar
    Bob sutton

    Bill,
    That is the scary part….
    Bob

    Reply
  35. Bob sutton Avatar
    Bob sutton

    Bill,
    That is the scary part….
    Bob

    Reply
  36. T Sarkka Avatar
    T Sarkka

    Testosterone levels vary through time and between people. I just saw a documentary of testosterone levels and the effects on behavior of people and of animals. I think the study was wrong when it measured the levels only twice (?). The levels must be dependent on time and on the situation/status in the social group.The alpha male/female tends to have higher levels than the subordinates. There is always a competition going on, who is going to lead.
    However, maybe the study shows that if you start with a group all with high testosterone levels, you are heading for trouble: the group won’t work until the dust settles down.
    Testosterone increases your self confidence, but maybe not on others. The mortality of teenage boys increases with the level of testosterone,high levels make us to do some stupid things, take unnecessary risks etc.

    Reply
  37. T Sarkka Avatar
    T Sarkka

    Testosterone levels vary through time and between people. I just saw a documentary of testosterone levels and the effects on behavior of people and of animals. I think the study was wrong when it measured the levels only twice (?). The levels must be dependent on time and on the situation/status in the social group.The alpha male/female tends to have higher levels than the subordinates. There is always a competition going on, who is going to lead.
    However, maybe the study shows that if you start with a group all with high testosterone levels, you are heading for trouble: the group won’t work until the dust settles down.
    Testosterone increases your self confidence, but maybe not on others. The mortality of teenage boys increases with the level of testosterone,high levels make us to do some stupid things, take unnecessary risks etc.

    Reply
  38. T Sarkka Avatar
    T Sarkka

    Testosterone levels vary through time and between people. I just saw a documentary of testosterone levels and the effects on behavior of people and of animals. I think the study was wrong when it measured the levels only twice (?). The levels must be dependent on time and on the situation/status in the social group.The alpha male/female tends to have higher levels than the subordinates. There is always a competition going on, who is going to lead.
    However, maybe the study shows that if you start with a group all with high testosterone levels, you are heading for trouble: the group won’t work until the dust settles down.
    Testosterone increases your self confidence, but maybe not on others. The mortality of teenage boys increases with the level of testosterone,high levels make us to do some stupid things, take unnecessary risks etc.

    Reply
  39. T Sarkka Avatar
    T Sarkka

    Testosterone levels vary through time and between people. I just saw a documentary of testosterone levels and the effects on behavior of people and of animals. I think the study was wrong when it measured the levels only twice (?). The levels must be dependent on time and on the situation/status in the social group.The alpha male/female tends to have higher levels than the subordinates. There is always a competition going on, who is going to lead.
    However, maybe the study shows that if you start with a group all with high testosterone levels, you are heading for trouble: the group won’t work until the dust settles down.
    Testosterone increases your self confidence, but maybe not on others. The mortality of teenage boys increases with the level of testosterone,high levels make us to do some stupid things, take unnecessary risks etc.

    Reply
  40. T Sarkka Avatar
    T Sarkka

    Testosterone levels vary through time and between people. I just saw a documentary of testosterone levels and the effects on behavior of people and of animals. I think the study was wrong when it measured the levels only twice (?). The levels must be dependent on time and on the situation/status in the social group.The alpha male/female tends to have higher levels than the subordinates. There is always a competition going on, who is going to lead.
    However, maybe the study shows that if you start with a group all with high testosterone levels, you are heading for trouble: the group won’t work until the dust settles down.
    Testosterone increases your self confidence, but maybe not on others. The mortality of teenage boys increases with the level of testosterone,high levels make us to do some stupid things, take unnecessary risks etc.

    Reply
  41. T Sarkka Avatar
    T Sarkka

    Testosterone levels vary through time and between people. I just saw a documentary of testosterone levels and the effects on behavior of people and of animals. I think the study was wrong when it measured the levels only twice (?). The levels must be dependent on time and on the situation/status in the social group.The alpha male/female tends to have higher levels than the subordinates. There is always a competition going on, who is going to lead.
    However, maybe the study shows that if you start with a group all with high testosterone levels, you are heading for trouble: the group won’t work until the dust settles down.
    Testosterone increases your self confidence, but maybe not on others. The mortality of teenage boys increases with the level of testosterone,high levels make us to do some stupid things, take unnecessary risks etc.

    Reply
  42. T Sarkka Avatar
    T Sarkka

    Testosterone levels vary through time and between people. I just saw a documentary of testosterone levels and the effects on behavior of people and of animals. I think the study was wrong when it measured the levels only twice (?). The levels must be dependent on time and on the situation/status in the social group.The alpha male/female tends to have higher levels than the subordinates. There is always a competition going on, who is going to lead.
    However, maybe the study shows that if you start with a group all with high testosterone levels, you are heading for trouble: the group won’t work until the dust settles down.
    Testosterone increases your self confidence, but maybe not on others. The mortality of teenage boys increases with the level of testosterone,high levels make us to do some stupid things, take unnecessary risks etc.

    Reply
  43. David Bourbon Avatar
    David Bourbon

    Jared, in the first case you get the US House of Representatives. In the second case you get the Marines. Now decide which group accomplishes more.

    Reply
  44. David Bourbon Avatar
    David Bourbon

    Jared, in the first case you get the US House of Representatives. In the second case you get the Marines. Now decide which group accomplishes more.

    Reply
  45. David Bourbon Avatar
    David Bourbon

    Jared, in the first case you get the US House of Representatives. In the second case you get the Marines. Now decide which group accomplishes more.

    Reply
  46. David Bourbon Avatar
    David Bourbon

    Jared, in the first case you get the US House of Representatives. In the second case you get the Marines. Now decide which group accomplishes more.

    Reply
  47. David Bourbon Avatar
    David Bourbon

    Jared, in the first case you get the US House of Representatives. In the second case you get the Marines. Now decide which group accomplishes more.

    Reply
  48. David Bourbon Avatar
    David Bourbon

    Jared, in the first case you get the US House of Representatives. In the second case you get the Marines. Now decide which group accomplishes more.

    Reply
  49. David Bourbon Avatar
    David Bourbon

    Jared, in the first case you get the US House of Representatives. In the second case you get the Marines. Now decide which group accomplishes more.

    Reply
  50. Personaldestroy Avatar
    Personaldestroy

    Whereas Drive,bill prevent inside itself strategy award OK So this is SPAM but it is weirdly poetic.
    play reaction winner computer benefit job holiday corner importance construction football building meanwhile those help stage hate director class correct release observe wing size background situation strike depend local round before visit brother sure output mass reference land those black earth hit standard life science device sport finance green day driver feel subject procedure bag reform public key screen sum court green energy will undertake present value commission sky meeting painting die girl spread prepare prevent shake throw

    Reply
  51. Personaldestroy Avatar
    Personaldestroy

    Whereas Drive,bill prevent inside itself strategy award OK So this is SPAM but it is weirdly poetic.
    play reaction winner computer benefit job holiday corner importance construction football building meanwhile those help stage hate director class correct release observe wing size background situation strike depend local round before visit brother sure output mass reference land those black earth hit standard life science device sport finance green day driver feel subject procedure bag reform public key screen sum court green energy will undertake present value commission sky meeting painting die girl spread prepare prevent shake throw

    Reply
  52. Personaldestroy Avatar
    Personaldestroy

    Whereas Drive,bill prevent inside itself strategy award OK So this is SPAM but it is weirdly poetic.
    play reaction winner computer benefit job holiday corner importance construction football building meanwhile those help stage hate director class correct release observe wing size background situation strike depend local round before visit brother sure output mass reference land those black earth hit standard life science device sport finance green day driver feel subject procedure bag reform public key screen sum court green energy will undertake present value commission sky meeting painting die girl spread prepare prevent shake throw

    Reply
  53. Personaldestroy Avatar
    Personaldestroy

    Whereas Drive,bill prevent inside itself strategy award OK So this is SPAM but it is weirdly poetic.
    play reaction winner computer benefit job holiday corner importance construction football building meanwhile those help stage hate director class correct release observe wing size background situation strike depend local round before visit brother sure output mass reference land those black earth hit standard life science device sport finance green day driver feel subject procedure bag reform public key screen sum court green energy will undertake present value commission sky meeting painting die girl spread prepare prevent shake throw

    Reply
  54. Personaldestroy Avatar
    Personaldestroy

    Whereas Drive,bill prevent inside itself strategy award OK So this is SPAM but it is weirdly poetic.
    play reaction winner computer benefit job holiday corner importance construction football building meanwhile those help stage hate director class correct release observe wing size background situation strike depend local round before visit brother sure output mass reference land those black earth hit standard life science device sport finance green day driver feel subject procedure bag reform public key screen sum court green energy will undertake present value commission sky meeting painting die girl spread prepare prevent shake throw

    Reply
  55. Personaldestroy Avatar
    Personaldestroy

    Whereas Drive,bill prevent inside itself strategy award OK So this is SPAM but it is weirdly poetic.
    play reaction winner computer benefit job holiday corner importance construction football building meanwhile those help stage hate director class correct release observe wing size background situation strike depend local round before visit brother sure output mass reference land those black earth hit standard life science device sport finance green day driver feel subject procedure bag reform public key screen sum court green energy will undertake present value commission sky meeting painting die girl spread prepare prevent shake throw

    Reply
  56. Personaldestroy Avatar
    Personaldestroy

    Whereas Drive,bill prevent inside itself strategy award OK So this is SPAM but it is weirdly poetic.
    play reaction winner computer benefit job holiday corner importance construction football building meanwhile those help stage hate director class correct release observe wing size background situation strike depend local round before visit brother sure output mass reference land those black earth hit standard life science device sport finance green day driver feel subject procedure bag reform public key screen sum court green energy will undertake present value commission sky meeting painting die girl spread prepare prevent shake throw

    Reply

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