ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Biology

Testosterone’s Surprising Trait: Honesty?

trendingsidewaysbytrendingsideways
October 17, 2012
in Biology, Psychology, Science
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit
Image by Steve A Johnson

Testosterone is usually associated with dominance, sexual aggression, and…hairiness, but a recent study suggests a surprising trait: honesty.

Researchers at the University of Bonn asked 91 men to be treated with a testosterone gel. Forty-six of them would had actual testosterone gel applied to their skin, while the other 45 would receive a completely benign gel. To avoid any subconscious biases, none of the researchers who worked directly with the patients knew which of them had received actual testosterone.

Hormone specialists were brought in to test the subjects’ blood, verifying that their testosterone levels had been raised.

The participants were then asked to play a game. They went into a booth where the researchers couldn’t see what they were doing, and were asked to roll dice. After entering their scores into a computer, they would be paid based on how high their rolls were.

“Statistically, the probability for all numbers on the dice to occur is identical,” Dr Matthias Wibral, the lead author, explained. While it wouldn’t be possible for them to identify any individual as cheating, they would be able to tell how much the groups were cheating, on average.

The results were clear and statistically significant. The group with the higher testosterone count was more honest than the group with the lower testosterone count.

While testosterone is present in both men and women, its higher presence in men accounts for many of their physical and behavioral differences. Many previous studies suggest that it promotes aggression, risk taking, and posturing. Honesty doesn’t seem to fit in well with that group, demonstrating that things are rarely as one-dimensional as we would expect.

RelatedPosts

Archaeologists Just Found a Stunning Teotihuacan Altar Hidden in a Maya City. Its Murals Tell a Shocking Story
Understanding the Colorful Sexual Skin of Primates
[Update] Huge 8.2 earthquake strikes off the coast of Alaska — Tsunami warning canceled
Life-saving treatment for children worth $4.25 million is world’s most expensive drug

The researchers are careful to point out that it wasn’t necessarily honesty itself that was promoted by the testosterone. Instead, testosterone likely boosts pride and the need for a positive self-image. Cheating on a petty game for a few euros would have threatened this sense of pride.

The results of the study were published in PLoS ONE.

via PsychCentral

ShareTweetShare
trendingsideways

trendingsideways

Science has been a passion of mine for as long as I remember. To me, the fact that we can learn from the universe simply by observing it and experimenting with it is one of the most miraculous things about existence. If you're interested, you can see more of my writing at TrendingSideways. I currently live in Idaho with my wife and daughter, where I am pursuing degrees in physics and statistics. I want to thank ZMEScience for letting me contribute to their awesome blog.

Related Posts

Future

China Resurrected an Abandoned Soviet ‘Sea Monster’ That’s Part Airplane, Part Hovercraft

byTibi Puiu
7 hours ago
great white shark
Animals

This Shark Expert Has Spent Decades Studying Attacks and Says We’ve Been Afraid for the Wrong Reasons

byJordan Strickler
10 hours ago
Agriculture

A Rocket Carried Cannabis Seeds and 166 Human Remains into Space But Their Capsule Never Made It Back

byTudor Tarita
10 hours ago
News

Ancient ‘Zombie’ Fungus Trapped in Amber Shows Mind Control Began in the Age of the Dinosaurs

byMihai Andrei
11 hours ago

Recent news

China Resurrected an Abandoned Soviet ‘Sea Monster’ That’s Part Airplane, Part Hovercraft

June 30, 2025
great white shark

This Shark Expert Has Spent Decades Studying Attacks and Says We’ve Been Afraid for the Wrong Reasons

June 30, 2025

A Rocket Carried Cannabis Seeds and 166 Human Remains into Space But Their Capsule Never Made It Back

June 30, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.