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Related Concept Videos

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective01:23

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Natural Selection and Mating Preferences01:06

Natural Selection and Mating Preferences

The principle of natural selection posits that organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This principle is closely intertwined with mating preferences, a key aspect of sexual selection, which evolutionary psychologists believe is driven by instincts to propagate one's genes. Such instincts significantly influence mating behaviors and preferences between genders.
Females, due to their biological roles in conception, pregnancy, and nursing, inherently...
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...
Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences01:28

Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences

Social behavior is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. This intricate interplay shapes how individuals think, feel, and act in various social contexts. Understanding these mechanisms requires insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary theory.Environmental Influences on Social BehaviorEnvironmental factors, including temperature, odors, and visual stimuli, play a crucial role in shaping...
Aggression01:47

Aggression

Humans engage in aggression when they seek to cause harm or pain to another person. Aggression takes two forms depending on one’s motives: hostile or instrumental. Hostile aggression is motivated by feelings of anger with intent to cause pain; a fight in a bar with a stranger is an example of hostile aggression. In contrast, instrumental aggression is motivated by achieving a goal and does not necessarily involve intent to cause pain (Berkowitz, 1993); a contract killer who murders for hire...
Natural Selection and Adaptation01:15

Natural Selection and Adaptation

Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

The Resident-intruder Paradigm: A Standardized Test for Aggression, Violence and Social Stress
09:12

The Resident-intruder Paradigm: A Standardized Test for Aggression, Violence and Social Stress

Published on: July 4, 2013

Neural sensitivity to sex steroids predicts individual differences in aggression: implications for behavioural

K A Rosvall1, C M Bergeon Burns, J Barske

  • 1Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. krosvall@indiana.edu

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|June 8, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Aggressiveness in dark-eyed juncos is linked to neural sensitivity to steroids, not just testosterone levels. Gene expression for steroid-processing molecules predicted aggression in both males and females.

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Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making
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Published on: March 2, 2011

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Last Updated: May 21, 2026

The Resident-intruder Paradigm: A Standardized Test for Aggression, Violence and Social Stress
09:12

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Published on: July 4, 2013

Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making
11:51

Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making

Published on: March 2, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral endocrinology
  • Neuroscience
  • Evolutionary biology

Background:

  • Testosterone (T) influences traits like aggression, but individual differences in behavior don't always correlate with circulating T levels.
  • This suggests neural sensitivity to steroids may play a key role in behavioral variation, an unresolved issue.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relative importance of circulating testosterone and neural steroid sensitivity in predicting aggressive behavior.
  • To examine sex differences in the relationship between behavior and endocrine parameters in wild dark-eyed juncos.

Main Methods:

  • Measured aggressiveness in male and female dark-eyed juncos during staged intrusions.
  • Assessed plasma T levels and quantified mRNA abundance for androgen receptor (AR), aromatase (AROM), and oestrogen receptor alpha (ORα) in brain regions.
  • Analyzed covariation between behavior and endocrine/neural parameters, comparing sexes.

Main Results:

  • Circulating testosterone levels correlated with aggressiveness only in males.
  • Gene expression of ORα, AR, and AROM in specific brain areas covaried with individual differences in aggressiveness in both sexes.
  • Neural gene expression patterns predicted aggressiveness across sexes, independent of circulating T levels.

Conclusions:

  • Individual variation in aggressiveness is associated with neural gene expression for steroid-processing molecules in both male and female juncos.
  • These findings highlight the role of neural sensitivity to steroids in shaping aggressive behavior, with implications for understanding its evolution.