Testosterone and the pursuit of possessions: The interaction between baseline testosterone and intrasexual competition on materialism in males

Abstract

While materialism has been extensively examined from sociocultural, psychological, and individual difference perspectives, little research has explored its physiological basis. This study investigates the association between baseline testosterone, a hormone related to status-seeking motives, and materialism in males. Baseline testosterone levels were measured using salivary samples, and participants were randomly assigned to either an intrasexual competition condition or a control condition. Materialism was assessed using a standardized scale. A positive association was found between baseline testosterone levels and materialism, but only among participants in the intrasexual competition condition. In contrast, in the control condition, baseline testosterone was negatively associated with materialism. These findings suggest that, within intrasexually competitive contexts, baseline testosterone levels might promote men's pursuit of material possessions to not only enhance status and but also view possessions as more integral to one's life and a source of personal fulfillment. Our research contributes to understanding the physiological underpinnings of materialistic values and highlights the role of hormones and situational contexts in shaping materialistic values.