From
ScienceDaily.com
Testosterone
is considered THE male hormone, standing for aggression and posturing.
Researchers
working with Dr. Armin Falk, an economist from the University of Bonn, have now
demonstrated that this sex hormone surprisingly also fosters social behavior.
In play situations, subjects who had received testosterone clearly lied less
frequently than individuals who had only received a placebo.
The
results have just been published in the Public Library of Science's
international online journal PLoS ONE.
The
hormone testosterone stands for typically male attributes -- it fosters the
forming of the sexual characteristics, increases libido and muscle building.
Women also have this sex hormone, but to a much lesser extent.
"Testosterone has always been said to promote aggressive and risky
behavior and posturing," reports Prof. Dr. Bernd Weber, a neuro-scientist
from the Center for Economics and Neuroscience (CENS) at the University of
Bonn. More recent studies indicate, however, that this sex hormone also fosters
social behavior.
Cause-and-effect issues remains unresolved
"The
disadvantage of many studies is, however, that they only correlate their
subjects' testosterone level with their behavior," explains lead author
Dr. Matthias Wibral, adding that this approach only reflects statistical links
while not providing any insights into the causes for the behavior.
"For
testosterone does not only influence behavior; behavior, in turn, also
influences hormone levels." Consequently, the CENS scientists were looking
for an experimental approach that would also allow deducing cause and effect.
Bonn researchers using new approach
The
scientists recruited a total of 91 healthy men for a behavioral experiment. Out
of this group of subjects, 46 were treated with testosterone by applying it to
the skin in gel form. On the following day, endocrinologists from the Bonn
University Hospitals checked whether the blood testosterone levels were indeed
higher in these subjects than in the placebo group. The other 45 test subjects
only received a placebo gel.
"Neither the subjects themselves nor the
scientists performing the study knew who had received testosterone and who
hadn't," reports Dr. Wibral. This was done to prevent behaviors from
potentially being affected.
Games of dice with cheating option
This
was followed by the behavioral experiments. The test subjects played a simple
game of dice in separate booths. The higher their scores, the higher the
amounts of money they received as a reward. "These experiments were
designed such that the test subjects were able to lie," reports Prof.
Weber.
"Due to the separate booths, nobody knew whether they were entering
their real scores into the computer, or higher ones in order to get more
money." However, the scientists were able to determine later whether the
various test subjects had cheated or not.
"Statistically, the probability
for all numbers on the dice to occur is identical," explains the
neuroscientist. "So, if there are outliers in the higher numbers, this is
a clear indication that subjects have been cheating."
Test subjects with higher testosterone levels lied less
The
researchers compared the results from the testosterone group to those from the
control group. "This showed that the test subjects with the higher
testosterone levels had clearly lied less frequently than untreated test
subjects," reports the economist Prof. Dr. Armin Falk, who is one of the
CENS co-directors with Prof. Weber.
"This result clearly contradicts the
one-dimensional approach that testosterone results in anti-social
behavior." He added that it is likely that the hormone increases pride and
the need to develop a positive self-image. "Against this background, a few
euros are obviously not a sufficient incentive to jeopardize one's feeling of
self-worth," Prof. Falk reckons.
Lies are widespread in personal life and business
Great
taboos are attached to the phenomenon of lying. The Christian 8th Commandment,
e.g., forbids "bearing false witness." Prof. Falk says,
"However, lies play a great part both in the business world as well as in
personal life."
He adds that people frequently do not just lie to their
own advantage, but also in order to protect or benefit others. This type of
behavior and its economic effects had been studied often. "However, there
are very few studies on the biological causes of lying," the Bonn
economist explains. "In this regard, this study has allowed us to make a
big step forward."
Story Source:
The
above story is reprinted from materials provided byUniversity of Bonn, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further
information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
1. Wibral M, Dohmen T, Klingmüller D, Weber B, Falk
A.Testosterone Administration Reduces Lying in Men.PLoS ONE, 2012
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046774