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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
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Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making
Published on: March 2, 2011
Testosterone, aggression, physical, and personality dimensions in normal adolescent males
Psychosomatic Medicine
|March 1, 1980
Summary
Higher testosterone levels in 16-year-old boys are linked to increased aggression and frustration. These findings suggest a connection between testosterone and specific behavioral traits, independent of puberty stage.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Psychology
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Testosterone is a key hormone influencing male development and behavior.
- Previous research has explored links between testosterone and aggression, with mixed results.
- Adolescence is a critical period for hormonal changes and behavioral development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between plasma testosterone levels and various personality traits and behaviors in adolescent boys.
- To examine the relationship between testosterone, aggression, impulsiveness, frustration tolerance, extraversion, and anxiety.
- To determine if pubertal stage influences the relationship between testosterone and behavioral measures.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of 58 normal adolescent Swedish boys aged 16.
- Collection of two blood samples for plasma testosterone assays.
- Administration of personality inventories and rating scales for aggression, impulsiveness, frustration tolerance, extraversion, and anxiety.
- Measurement of physical variables including pubertal stage, height, weight, chest circumference, and physical strength.
Main Results:
- Significant positive association found between plasma testosterone levels and self-reported physical and verbal aggression (r = 0.44).
- Aggression primarily reflected responsiveness to provocation and threat.
- Lack of frustration tolerance was also significantly related to testosterone levels.
- Approximately 40% of testosterone variance was predictable from aggression and frustration tolerance scales.
- Pubertal stage showed a moderate correlation with testosterone (r = 0.44), but did not explain the testosterone-behavior relationships.
- Hypotheses linking testosterone to strong body build and antisocial behavior received weak or no support.
Conclusions:
- Plasma testosterone levels are significantly associated with aggression and lack of frustration tolerance in adolescent boys.
- These relationships are independent of pubertal stage.
- The findings contribute to understanding the neuroendocrine basis of specific behavioral traits during adolescence.
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