Does Testosterone Modulate Aggression and Mating Behavior in Humans? A Narrative Review of Two Decades of single-dose Testosterone Administration Research

Abstract

Objective

Decades of research suggest a small, but significant positive association between testosterone (T) and measures of aggression and mating psychology/behavior. More recently, researchers have developed single-dose pharmacological challenge paradigms to test the causal role of T in modulating such processes.

Methods

We summarize and synthesize research from single-dose T administration studies. We first summarize the literature showing effects of T on neural and physiological functioning. Next, we investigate T’s effects on aggressive behavior and mating psychology in humans.

Results

Evidence indicates that a single dose of T can have relatively rapid effects on aggression and mating psychology/behavior. However, such effects are often complex and moderated by personality, genetics, and social-contextual factors.

Conclusion

Popular media discourse suggests that T is straightforwardly intertwined with aggression and sexual behavior. Our review indicates that there is a kernel of truth to T’s links to these complex phenotypic outcomes. However, more work will be necessary to establish the role that psychological, genetic, and social-contextual factors play in moderating associations of T with aggression and sexual behavior.