Courtney L. Crosby, Patrick K. Durkee, Anna G. B. Sedlacek, David M. Buss
{"title":"Mate Availability and Sexual Disgust","authors":"Courtney L. Crosby, Patrick K. Durkee, Anna G. B. Sedlacek, David M. Buss","doi":"10.1007/s40750-021-00168-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40750-021-00168-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>One of the factors that sexual disgust should be calibrated to is the size of the mating pool. This study tested this hypothesis by examining whether perceptions of mate availability explain variance in levels of sexual disgust towards potential mates.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Participants (<i>N</i> = 853; 373 women) rated how sexually disgusting they found 60 potential mates that have previously been rated on attractiveness by a separate group of raters. We also measured participants’ perceptions of mate availability in their local environment, self-perceived attractiveness and mate value, and relevant control variables.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Multilevel models revealed a negative association between sexual disgust towards potential mates and perceived mate availability—the opposite of what we predicted. We found support for our prediction that women had higher levels of sexual disgust than men, but only after addressing the confounding sex difference in target attractiveness. We also found the predicted negative association between target attractiveness and sexual disgust. Finally, as predicted, sexual disgust levels were more strongly related to potential mates’ attractiveness in individuals who perceived there to be many available mates in their local environment.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>These findings generally bolster functional accounts of sexual disgust while highlighting the need for more evidence to ascertain the role of mate availability in the calibration of sexual disgust. Specifically, future research should examine the extent to which disgust levels may truncate mental representations of the mating pool instead of being calibrated by them.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7178,"journal":{"name":"Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology","volume":"7 3","pages":"261 - 280"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s40750-021-00168-2","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38993612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Allison N. Shields, Cassandra M. Brandes, Kathleen W. Reardon, Raul A. España, Jennifer L. Tackett
{"title":"Do Testosterone and Cortisol Jointly Relate to Adolescent Dominance? A Pre-registered Multi-method Interrogation of the Dual-Hormone Hypothesis","authors":"Allison N. Shields, Cassandra M. Brandes, Kathleen W. Reardon, Raul A. España, Jennifer L. Tackett","doi":"10.1007/s40750-021-00167-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40750-021-00167-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>The goal of the present study was to extend the findings of the dual-hormone hypothesis (DHH) literature by assessing whether the interaction between testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) is associated with dominance in an adolescent sample via multiple methods of measuring T, C, and dominance, and with pre-registration of hypotheses and analyses.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>In a sample of 337 adolescents (<i>M</i><sub><i>age</i></sub> = 14.98, <i>SD</i> = 1.51; 191 girls) and their caregivers, hormonal assays were obtained from hair and saliva, and dominance behavior was assessed across four operationalizations (behavioral ratings in a leadership task, self- and caregiver reported dominance motivations, and self-reported social potency).</p><h3>Results</h3><p>T and C main effects were generally null across hormone and dominance operationalizations, except that observer-rated dominance was negatively associated with salivary T, and social potency was positively associated with salivary T and negatively associated with salivary C. Support for the DHH was weak. Point estimates reflected a small negative T × C interaction for behavioral ratings of dominance, consistent with the DHH, whereas interaction effects for report-based dominance measures were close to zero or positive.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The results contribute to a growing evidence base suggesting T × C interaction effects are variable across measures and methods used to assess hormones and dominance and highlight the need for comprehensive, multi-method examinations employing best practices in scientific openness and transparency to reduce uncertainty in estimates. Measurement of hormones and dominance outcomes vary across labs and studies, and the largely null results should be considered in that context.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7178,"journal":{"name":"Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology","volume":"7 2","pages":"183 - 208"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s40750-021-00167-3","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48470190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Differences between Behavior and Maturation: Developmental Effects of Father Absence","authors":"Jessica A. Hehman, Catherine A. Salmon","doi":"10.1007/s40750-021-00166-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40750-021-00166-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>A substantial body of research has investigated the effects of early family environments on sexual maturity and behavior, focusing mostly on effects on females. The purpose of the current study was to test the assumption that physiological maturation and casual sexual behavior are similarly influenced by early environmental stressors such as father absence (FA). Specifically, the current study investigated whether FA affects males’ and females’ casual sexual behavior and pubertal timing in the same way.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Young adults (89 females, 46 males) were asked to report the ages at which they lived with their biological father, their casual sexual behavior, and the age at which they experienced a major pubertal marker (menarche for females, first nocturnal emission for males).</p><h3>Results</h3><p>FA by itself did not predict casual sexual behavior, although it did predict pubertal timing such that FA was associated with earlier pubertal timing. Interaction effects, however, indicate the effect of FA on behavior and maturation was sex-specific. For females, FA was associated with more casual sexual behavior; whereas, for males, FA was associated with less casual sexual behavior. With regard to maturation, FA was associated with earlier pubertal timing for males but did not have much an effect on females’ pubertal timing.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Findings from the current study suggest the effects of FA on pubertal timing and casual sexual behavior are not specific to females. Furthermore, these findings suggest that sexual maturation and behavior may not be influenced in the same way by early environmental stressors.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7178,"journal":{"name":"Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology","volume":"7 2","pages":"166 - 182"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s40750-021-00166-4","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41916260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Does Verbal Street Harassment Signal Perpetrator Dominance to Male and Female Observers?","authors":"Faye T. Nitschke, Michael Lam","doi":"10.1007/s40750-021-00161-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40750-021-00161-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>It is difficult to explain why verbal street harassment, where typically a male harasser yells sexually harassing statements at a female victim, has survived as a behaviour. We propose that verbal street harassment may signal a harasser’s dominance and aimed to test this in our registered report.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Participants (<i>N</i> = 443) read one of two vignettes describing either a street harassment incident (in which a male perpetrator harasses a female victim) or a street incident without harassment. Participants were asked to evaluate whether the male target possessed a range of traits (including dominance) and to evaluate any harm the female target suffered from the incident.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Results suggested that the male target who verbally harassed a female victim on the street was perceived by participants as more dominant and as having a darker personality than a male target who did not engage in street harassment. Participants also perceived the female target as more harmed when she was harassed. However, results did not support the predicted interaction of participant sex and incident type on participants’ perceptions of the male and female targets.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>These results suggest that verbal street harassment may signal a harasser’s dominance which may be why the behaviour has been maintained. To establish whether verbal street meets the conditions to be classed as a costly signal, these findings should be replicated and extended. Understanding why street harassment persists as a behaviour is critical to designing effective intervention to prevent street harassment and protect harassment victims.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7178,"journal":{"name":"Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology","volume":"7 3","pages":"281 - 306"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s40750-021-00161-9","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48807970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Erin E. Wood, Ray Garza, Shelia M. Kennison, Jennifer Byrd-Craven
{"title":"Parenting, Cortisol, and Risky Behaviors in Emerging Adulthood: Diverging Patterns for Males and Females","authors":"Erin E. Wood, Ray Garza, Shelia M. Kennison, Jennifer Byrd-Craven","doi":"10.1007/s40750-021-00164-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40750-021-00164-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>Parenting behaviors in early development are associated with risk-taking behaviors in emerging adulthood. Risky behaviors are also shown to be associated with cortisol response to stressors. This study examined the moderating effect of neuroendocrine response to stressors on the link between parenting behaviors in early development and risky behaviors in emerging adulthood.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Participants were 78 healthy college students (38 males). Following a habituation session, participants completed a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Task prior to completing measures of risky behavior. Salivary cortisol was measured before the stressor, 20, and 40 min post-stressor.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Parenting behaviors and cortisol response to stressor were seen to be linked risky behavior. For males, the link between harsh father behaviors and risky behavior was significantly moderated by cortisol response to stressor such that higher cortisol response was related to decreased risky behaviors. For females, risk-taking was associated with harsh and warm parenting behaviors, but the link between parenting and risky behaviors was not related to or moderated by cortisol response.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>These results provide evidence that parents might have separate effect on predicting risky behaviors and provides support for literature that chronic stressors can influence sensitivity to acute stressors and subsequent risk-taking behaviors.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7178,"journal":{"name":"Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology","volume":"7 2","pages":"114 - 132"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s40750-021-00164-6","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46003298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Oliver C. Schultheiss, Olivia S. Schwemmer, Ksenia Khalaidovski
{"title":"Motives and Laterality: Exploring the Links","authors":"Oliver C. Schultheiss, Olivia S. Schwemmer, Ksenia Khalaidovski","doi":"10.1007/s40750-021-00165-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40750-021-00165-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><p>We explored associations between the needs for power, achievement, and affiliation and functional cerebral asymmetries (FCAs), guided by three established hypotheses about the nature of these associations.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>One-hundred-and-seven participants completed picture-story measures of dispositional motives and activity inhibition (AI), a frequent moderator of motive-behavior associations, tasks measuring FCAs (line bisection, chimeric emotional face judgments, turning bias, perceptual and response asymmetries on the Poffenberger task), self-reported laterality preferences (handedness, footedness, ear and eye preference), and interhemispheric interaction (crossed-uncrossed difference). They also completed an experiment manipulating hand contractions (left, right, both, neither) while they worked on a second picture-story motive measure.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Dispositional power motivation was associated with stronger rightward asymmetry and less interhemispheric transfer in high-AI and stronger leftward asymmetry and more interhemispheric transfer in low-AI individuals. For the affiliation motive, findings were fewer and in the opposite direction of those for the power motive. These findings emerged for men, but not for women. Left- or right-hand contractions led to increases in power and achievement motivation, but not affiliation motivation. Only left-hand contractions led to decreased AI.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>We discuss these findings in the context of sex-dimorphic organizing and activating effects of steroids on motives and laterality.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7178,"journal":{"name":"Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology","volume":"7 2","pages":"133 - 165"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s40750-021-00165-5","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49622089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sarah A. H. Alharbi, Iris J. Holzleitner, S. Adil Saribay, Benedict C. Jones, Anthony J. Lee
{"title":"Does Self-rated Attractiveness Predict Women’s Preferences for Facial Masculinity? Data From an Arab Sample","authors":"Sarah A. H. Alharbi, Iris J. Holzleitner, S. Adil Saribay, Benedict C. Jones, Anthony J. Lee","doi":"10.1007/s40750-021-00163-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40750-021-00163-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><p>Because more attractive women may be better able to attract and/or retain masculine mates, many researchers have proposed that women who consider themselves to be more physically attractive will show stronger preferences for men displaying masculine facial characteristics. Empirical evidence for this putative association between women’s self-rated attractiveness and preference for facial masculinity has come almost entirely from studies of Western women. Thus, we investigated whether this pattern of results also occurs in a sample of non-Western women.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>We investigated the relationship between self-rated attractiveness and facial-masculinity preferences in a sample of Arab women (N = 281). Facial-masculinity preferences were assessed from attractiveness judgments of masculinized versus feminized versions of face images.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>By contrast with previous findings for Western women’s self-rated attractiveness, we observed no compelling evidence that Arab women who considered themselves to be more attractive showed stronger preferences for masculine men.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Our results suggest that previously reported associations between self-rated attractiveness and masculinity preferences might be somewhat culture specific, potentially reflecting cultural differences in typical mating strategies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7178,"journal":{"name":"Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology","volume":"7 2","pages":"105 - 113"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s40750-021-00163-7","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49563666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Diurnal Within-Person Coupling Between Testosterone and Cortisol in Healthy Men: Evidence of Positive and Bidirectional Time-Lagged Associations Using a Continuous-Time Model","authors":"Blair T Crewther, Martin Hecht, Christian J Cook","doi":"10.1007/s40750-021-00162-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40750-021-00162-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) and -adrenal (HPA) axes are traditional viewed as mutually inhibitory systems. However, several diurnal studies have reported positive within-person testosterone and cortisol relationships, as evidence of facilitative processes, but with some constraints (e.g., low-frequency sampling, use of static longitudinal models). Continuous-time (CT) models can help illuminate testosterone-cortisol “coupling” by testing for bidirectional, cross-lagged effects.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>This study investigated diurnal testosterone and cortisol coupling in healthy males (<i>n</i> = 30) using high-frequency sampling protocols. Participants self-collected saliva at work or home using one of three sampling formats; every 10 mins for 9 h, 15 mins for 8 h, and 30 mins for 10 h. After detrending, daily within-person fluctuations in testosterone and cortisol concentration were modeled in a CT framework.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Autoregressive effects for each hormone indicated moderate stability over a shorter period (~6 mins), as a mean-reverting process, and higher stability over longer time periods. Cross-lagged effects were also demonstrated, with testosterone showing a positive relationship to cortisol (.12 within-person standardized effect) and cortisol to testosterone (.08). Both linkages followed a non-linear trajectory, rising in strength from a zero-time lag to peak with a lag of ~8 mins before dissipation beyond this period.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>We verified reports of positive within-person coupling between testosterone and cortisol across the day in healthy men. Added novelty comes from bidirectional and time-lagged associations on hormonal pulses, although the effect sizes were small. Hence, we offer a more nuanced understanding of HPG and HPA crosstalk within a CT framework.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7178,"journal":{"name":"Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology","volume":"7 2","pages":"89 - 104"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s40750-021-00162-8","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48171186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zachary W. Sundin, William J. Chopik, Keith M. Welker, Esra Ascigil, Cassandra M. Brandes, Kristi Chin, Sarah Ketay, Erik L. Knight, Tobias L. Kordsmeyer, Amber R. McLarney-Vesotski, Smrithi Prasad, Zachary A. Reese, Ashlin R. K. Roy, Lester Sim, Julia Stern, Justin M. Carré, Robin S. Edelstein, Pranjal H. Mehta, Lars Penke, Richard B. Slatcher, Jennifer L. Tackett
{"title":"Estimating the Associations between Big Five Personality Traits, Testosterone, and Cortisol","authors":"Zachary W. Sundin, William J. Chopik, Keith M. Welker, Esra Ascigil, Cassandra M. Brandes, Kristi Chin, Sarah Ketay, Erik L. Knight, Tobias L. Kordsmeyer, Amber R. McLarney-Vesotski, Smrithi Prasad, Zachary A. Reese, Ashlin R. K. Roy, Lester Sim, Julia Stern, Justin M. Carré, Robin S. Edelstein, Pranjal H. Mehta, Lars Penke, Richard B. Slatcher, Jennifer L. Tackett","doi":"10.1007/s40750-020-00159-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40750-020-00159-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>Hormones are often conceptualized as biological markers of individual differences and have been associated with a variety of behavioral indicators and characteristics, such as mating behavior or acquiring and maintaining dominance. However, before researchers create strong theoretical models for how hormones modulate individual and social behavior, information on how hormones are associated with dominant models of personality is needed. Although there have been some studies attempting to quantify the associations between personality traits, testosterone, and cortisol, there are many inconsistencies across these studies.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>In this registered report, we examined associations between testosterone, cortisol, and Big Five personality traits. We aggregated 25 separate samples to yield a single sample of 3964 (50.3% women; 27.7% of women were on hormonal contraceptives). Participants completed measures of personality and provided saliva samples for testosterone and cortisol assays.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The results from multi-level models and meta-analyses revealed mostly weak, non-significant associations between testosterone or cortisol and personality traits. The few significant effects were still very small in magnitude (e.g., testosterone and conscientiousness: <i>r</i> = −0.05). A series of moderation tests revealed that hormone-personality associations were mostly similar in men and women, those using hormonal contraceptives or not, and regardless of the interaction between testosterone and cortisol (i.e., a variant of the dual-hormone hypothesis).</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Altogether, we did not detect many robust associations between Big Five personality traits and testosterone or cortisol. The findings are discussed in the context of biological models of personality and the utility of examining heterogeneity in hormone-personality associations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7178,"journal":{"name":"Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology","volume":"7 3","pages":"307 - 340"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s40750-020-00159-9","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48613992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Javier I. Borráz-León, Markus J. Rantala, Severi Luoto, Indrikis Krams, Jorge Contreras-Garduño, Ana Lilia Cerda-Molina, Tatjana Krama
{"title":"Toxoplasma gondii and Psychopathology: Latent Infection Is Associated with Interpersonal Sensitivity, Psychoticism, and Higher Testosterone Levels in Men, but Not in Women","authors":"Javier I. Borráz-León, Markus J. Rantala, Severi Luoto, Indrikis Krams, Jorge Contreras-Garduño, Ana Lilia Cerda-Molina, Tatjana Krama","doi":"10.1007/s40750-020-00160-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40750-020-00160-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>The ability of parasites to hijack the nervous system, manipulating the host’s physiology and behavior in ways that enhance the parasite’s fitness while damaging host fitness, is a topic of ongoing research interest in evolutionary biology, but is largely overlooked in mental health research. Nevertheless, recent evidence has shown that <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> infection can change host testosterone levels and influence the development of some psychiatric disorders. Here, we tested this hypothesis in a mixed sample of 213 non-clinical subjects.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Participants (<i>n</i><sub><i>males</i></sub> = 108, <i>n</i><sub><i>females</i></sub> = 105) provided 5 ml of blood to quantify testosterone levels and <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> antibodies. The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised was used to assess psychopathological symptoms.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The results showed that <i>Toxoplasma</i>-infected men had higher testosterone levels and scored higher in Interpersonal Sensitivity and Psychoticism symptoms than non-infected men. <i>Toxoplasma</i>-infected women did not differ from control women.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Framed in an evolutionary framework, the findings suggest that the elevated testosterone levels and the expression of psychopathological symptoms can be seen as the result of the manipulation exerted by <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> either to reach its definitive host or to increase its spread. Future research can benefit from integrating insights from evolutionary biology and parasite-host interactions with physiology, immunology, and mental health to develop a better understanding of mental health etiology.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7178,"journal":{"name":"Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology","volume":"7 1","pages":"28 - 42"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s40750-020-00160-2","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50458786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}