Faculty Collaboration Database

Preliminary evidence that androgen signaling is correlated with men's everyday language. Am J Hum Biol 2018 Jul;30(4):e23136

Date

05/13/2018

Pubmed ID

29752749

Pubmed Central ID

PMC6105430

DOI

10.1002/ajhb.23136

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85051283939 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   5 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Testosterone (T) has an integral, albeit complex, relationship with social behavior, especially in the domains of aggression and competition. However, examining this relationship in humans is challenging given the often covert and subtle nature of human aggression and status-seeking. The present study aimed to investigate whether T levels and genetic polymorphisms in the AR gene are associated with social behavior assessed via natural language use.

METHODS: We used unobtrusive, behavioral, real-world ambulatory assessments of men in partnered heterosexual relationships to examine the relationship between plasma T levels, variation in the androgen receptor (AR) gene, and spontaneous, everyday language in three interpersonal contexts: with romantic partners, with co-workers, and with their children.

RESULTS: Men's T levels were positively correlated with their use of achievement words with their children, and the number of AR CAG trinucleotide repeats was inversely correlated with their use of anger and reward words with their children. T levels were positively correlated with sexual language and with use of swear words in the presence of their partner, but not in the presence of co-workers or children.

CONCLUSIONS: Together, these results suggest that T may influence social behavior by increasing the frequency of words related to aggression, sexuality, and status, and that it may alter the quality of interactions with an intimate partner by amplifying emotions via swearing.

Author List

Mascaro JS, Rentscher KE, Hackett PD, Lori A, Darcher A, Rilling JK, Mehl MR

Author

Kelly E. Rentscher PhD Assistant Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aggression
Georgia
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Nuclear Family
Polymorphism, Genetic
Receptors, Androgen
Sexual Partners
Testosterone
Verbal Behavior
Workplace
Young Adult