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Updated: Jun 28, 2025
11:51
Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making
Published on: March 2, 2011
15.1K
Testosterone, gender identity and gender-stereotyped personality attributes
Kathleen V Casto1, Dale J Cohen2, Modupe Akinola3
1Kent State University, Department of Psychological Sciences, United States of America.
Hormones and Behavior
|April 23, 2024
Summary
This study found no strong link between adult testosterone levels and gender-stereotyped personality traits in university students. Testosterone does not appear to explain sex differences in personality or gender identity relationships.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Endocrinology
- Sociology
Background:
- Sex/gender differences in personality are debated, with testosterone exposure often cited as a mediator.
- Research explores links between adult basal testosterone and
- masculine
- personality traits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between testosterone levels, gender identity, and gender-stereotyped personality attributes.
- To examine if basal testosterone explains sex/gender differences in personality.
Main Methods:
- Assessed basal testosterone via saliva samples in over 400 university students.
- Measured self-perceived masculinity/femininity (continuous gender identity) and agentic/communal personality attributes.
Main Results:
- No compelling evidence found that basal testosterone correlates with gender-stereotyped personality attributes.
- Continuous gender identity measure predicted personality variance beyond binary sex, with weak testosterone links.
- Findings question the activational testosterone-masculinity hypothesis for sex differences in personality.
Conclusions:
- Basal testosterone does not appear to be a primary mediator of sex/gender differences in personality traits.
- A continuous measure of gender identity offers a more nuanced understanding of personality variation than binary sex.
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