Hormones, Status, and the Relationship between Social Behaviors and Intellectual Performance

睾酮和皮质醇是研究最深入的生物物质之一，但我们对它们对人类行为影响的了解却出人意料地有限。在许多物种中，激素水平的变化是各种行为的有力预测因素，人类也不应例外。这项拟议的研究旨在测试荷尔蒙和行为背后的一个至关重要的观点--睾丸激素水平高的人有保持高地位的需求或愿望。这项提议的核心是检验这样一种假设，即不同的睾丸素水平，无论是慢性的还是短暂变化的结果，都与寻求地位的行为存在功能关系。在本申请中提出的最初实验命题很简单。在竞争性互动之后，个人要么失去地位，要么获得地位。然后，他们可以选择试图找回失去的地位或捍卫自己的高地位。与这项实验相关的初步预测是，睾丸激素的个体差异将预测一个人追求进一步竞争的意图。皮质醇水平的变化是压力反应的可靠指标，据预测，皮质醇水平的变化也会影响行为意图，但仅限于睾丸激素水平较高的人，这些人可能具有强烈的地位追求动机。图片故事练习是对无意识状态寻求和力量的一种隐含测量，也将被用作验证荷尔蒙测量的一种手段。这些措施的进一步确认和验证将通过修改Stroop颜色命名程序对身份需求的认知激活进行评估。这项研究也有可能通过创新地综合这些领域来推动实验社会心理学和社会行为生物学基础的研究。此外，这项工作将为未来的研究提供理论基础，以解决长期存在的代表不足群体中可能存在地位问题的人才的代表性、留住和成就问题。这种加深的理解可以成为增加妇女和少数群体参与科学、工程和数学的战略的依据。

Testosterone and cortisol are some of the most intensively studied biological substances, yet our understanding of their behavioral effects in human beings is surprisingly limited. In many species, variations in hormone levels are powerful predictors of a wide variety of behaviors, and human beings should be no exception. The proposed research is designed to test a critically important idea underlying hormones and behavior -- that individuals high in testosterone possess a need or desire to maintain high status. The core of this proposal seeks to test the hypothesis that differential testosterone levels, whether chronic or the result of transient changes, bear a functional relationship to status-seeking behavior. The initial experimental proposition put forth in this application is straightforward. After a competitive interaction, individuals either lose status or gain status. Then, they are given the option to attempt to regain their lost status or defend their high status. The primary prediction associated with this experiment is that individual differences in testosterone will predict a person's intention to pursue further competition. Change in cortisol level, a reliable measure of the stress response, is predicted to influence behavioral intention as well, but only among individuals with high levels of testosterone, who presumably possess strong status-seeking motives. An implicit measure of unconscious status seeking and power, the Picture Story Exercise will also be administered as a means of validating the hormonal measures. Further confirmation and validation of these measures will be assessed through cognitive activation of status needs using a modification of the Stroop color-naming procedure.This research also has the potential to move experimental social psychology and the study of biological basis of social behavior forward through the innovative synthesis of these areas. Furthermore, this work will provide the theoretical foundation for future research that addresses the chronic problem of representation, retention, and achievement of talented individuals from underrepresented groups who may have status concerns. This enhanced understanding could inform strategies to increase the participation of women and minorities in science, engineering, and math.