Testosterone Inhibits Trust but Promotes Reciprocity

Author:

Boksem Maarten A. S.12,Mehta Pranjal H.123,Van den Bergh Bram1,van Son Veerle2,Trautmann Stefan T.4,Roelofs Karin25,Smidts Ale1,Sanfey Alan G.25

Affiliation:

1. Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University

2. Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen

3. Department of Psychology, University of Oregon

4. Department of Economics, Tilburg University

5. Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen

Abstract

The steroid hormone testosterone has been associated with behavior intended to obtain or maintain high social status. Although such behavior is typically characterized as aggressive and competitive, it is clear that high social status is achieved and maintained not only through antisocial behavior but also through prosocial behavior. In the present experiment, we investigated the impact of testosterone administration on trust and reciprocity using a double-blind randomized control design. We found that a single dose of 0.5 mg of testosterone decreased trust but increased generosity when repaying trust. These findings suggest that testosterone may mediate different types of status-seeking behavior. It may increase competitive, potentially aggressive, and antisocial behavior when social challenges and threats (i.e., abuse of trust and betrayal) need to be considered; however, it may promote prosocial behavior in the absence of these threats, when high status and good reputation may be best served by prosocial behavior.

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

General Psychology

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