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New study finds higher testosterone levels in men and women correlates with willingness to take minority positions

EviLore

Expansive Ellipses
Staff Member


"
Basal Testosterone Renders Individuals More Receptive to Minority Positions

Abstract

Social influence is an inevitable part of human social interaction. Although past research has demonstrated that testosterone has a key role in social interaction, no study has examined its role in social influence so far. Building on previous research showing that minority positions are perceived as risky options and that testosterone is positively associated with status seeking and risk-taking, we hypothesized that basal testosterone renders individuals more receptive to minority positions. In two studies, participants (total N = 250) read messages that were supported by either a numerical majority or minority. As hypothesized, individuals’ levels of basal testosterone were positively related to susceptibility to minority influence. In contrast, susceptibility to majority influence was unaffected by basal testosterone. Given the importance of minorities for innovation and change within societies, our results suggest that individuals with high levels of testosterone may play an important role as catalysts of social change.

EfMgM42XgAMXfmV

"


Fascinating, and follows logically. You don't change the world with tiny cohones.
 
lr5kdzqr0ve31.jpg


[Pictured: social equity warrior of 2032]

I don't know enough about how testosterone affects cognition, but this is an interesting study. High T leaders actually keep the hierarchy from becoming too bureaucratic / rule by mob? Yeah, this sounds about right. Wonder if testosterone overrules certain defense mechanisms (like social anxiety, for instance) to help the individual see a clearer path forward, which would predispose them to consider all viewpoints, not just the viewpoints that are most popular. Popular opinion means nothing if you die anyway.
 

joe_zazen

Member
High T is definitely associated with risk taking. It is interesting to think about ‘consideration if minority positions’ as being risky. I never made that connection, but it is the case today.

it is strange to be in a world where supporting free speech, love for country, and believing in sexual dimorphism is the risky minority position, but here we are.
 

GeorgPrime

Banned


"
Basal Testosterone Renders Individuals More Receptive to Minority Positions

Abstract

Social influence is an inevitable part of human social interaction. Although past research has demonstrated that testosterone has a key role in social interaction, no study has examined its role in social influence so far. Building on previous research showing that minority positions are perceived as risky options and that testosterone is positively associated with status seeking and risk-taking, we hypothesized that basal testosterone renders individuals more receptive to minority positions. In two studies, participants (total N = 250) read messages that were supported by either a numerical majority or minority. As hypothesized, individuals’ levels of basal testosterone were positively related to susceptibility to minority influence. In contrast, susceptibility to majority influence was unaffected by basal testosterone. Given the importance of minorities for innovation and change within societies, our results suggest that individuals with high levels of testosterone may play an important role as catalysts of social change.

EfMgM42XgAMXfmV

"


Fascinating, and follows logically. You don't change the world with tiny cohones.

Just give them estrogen.

Problem solved
 
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Reactions: Gp1
There has to be some kind of feedback loop tucked away somewhere in the folds of the brain, leading to this outcome. Higher T correlates to openness toward minority positions, and taking a successful risk on a minority position rewards you with more confidence and testosterone, reinforcing the behavior. Our hormone levels are not static by any means. Estrogen is one of the hormones that helps regulate endorphins and pain/stress response.

*incoming spitball* Take a person who is prone to social pressure / anxiety (perhaps due to chemical / cultural factors?) and put them in an environment where they are rewarded for following the group and punished for going against the group (i.e. pretty much every social interaction, to some degree). Over time their brain will be conditioned to reward you for going along with the group. The negative hormones that precede a high-risk action will be amplified to help keep you on this safe track. Repeated behaviors that earn you positive hormones become habitual and unconscious, in many cases. Jordan Peterson has helped popularized the notion of the effect "agreeability" has on social / career / academic outcomes. I would say these types of people probably rate very high in "agreeability".

Whereas if you're pumped with testosterone, your mind is operating in a "fight or flight" mode, evaluating the situation from a more practical/survival perspective instead of paying mind to social cues and endorphin rewards. The high T person may still make the wrong choice, but their frame of mind may be more suited for evaluating the group's options compared to a person who operates in pursuit of high empathy / emotional reward earned by participating in group dynamics. The high T may cause them to ignore the majority in favor of the minority to their own peril, like getting into silicone implants or steroids because a minority are willing to do it. Just spitballing, not declaring anything definitively .
 
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GAMETA

Banned
Ok but what minority are we talking about? The self-proclaimed minority that is now the majority or the minority majority from past majority minority?

And also, how many minorities are there? How much minority are we talking? Are soy infused minorities included? Are albino included as testorone freaks? What about people with only 2 friends on facebook? You don't see that many.

This is confusing.
 

nush

Gold Member
There has to be some kind of feedback loop tucked away somewhere in the folds of the brain, leading to this outcome. Higher T correlates to openness toward minority positions, and taking a successful risk on a minority position rewards you with more confidence and testosterone, reinforcing the behavior.

Not saying it's T related but managing up is a skill. It takes confidence in your abilities and position to go into the trenches and get your hands dirty as opposed to standing above the trenches telling them what to do. Whereas people in the trenches have something to prove and are working to get out the trenches or just satisfied to coast in there.
 

Kamina

Golden Boy
Sounds like nonsense. Plenty of rednecks have enought testosterone and dont give a shit about minorities.

Edit: or is this about taking opinions of lesser popularity? Then it makes sense.
 
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lr5kdzqr0ve31.jpg


[Pictured: social equity warrior of 2032]

I don't know enough about how testosterone affects cognition, but this is an interesting study. High T leaders actually keep the hierarchy from becoming too bureaucratic / rule by mob? Yeah, this sounds about right. Wonder if testosterone overrules certain defense mechanisms (like social anxiety, for instance) to help the individual see a clearer path forward, which would predispose them to consider all viewpoints, not just the viewpoints that are most popular. Popular opinion means nothing if you die anyway.
Fuck, Crimson Chin manifest itself into luminous glory of the ultimate warrior!
 

EviLore

Expansive Ellipses
Staff Member
absolute nonsense. Correlation has little to do with causation. This is the same type of rhetoric that anti-vaxxer latch on to, that vaccine has correlation with autism.
Injecting someone with extra testosterone will not lead to that subject taking more risk or a more important position.

Except it will.

Testosterone is positively associated with risk taking in the Iowa Gambling Task
"
Abstract
The association between testosterone and economic risk is not well-understood and is understudied. The present study aimed to further characterize what if any relationship testosterone has with risky economic decisions. To do so, 154 participants (78 men) completed the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) (Bechara et al., 1994) and also provided saliva samples, which were assayed for endogenous testosterone levels using radioimmunoassay. High-levels of endogenous testosterone were associated with choosing less frequently from advantageous IGT decks of cards, indicating greater risk taking. The data showed that the effects of testosterone on IGT performance were similar for men and women. High-testosterone women and high testosterone men made riskier choices than their low-testosterone counterparts of the same sex, and this effect was pronounced in women. Thus, high levels of testosterone are associated with willingness to incur greater risk in both sexes.

Introduction
There is a growing interest in the biological correlates of risk taking, and in particular, testosterone has had both a folk and empirical history of being associated with risk taking (Price, 2005). Generally, testosterone has been positively associated with risk taking in a number of domains and across species. In humans, for example, taking anabolic steroids has been associated with a number of high risk health behaviors including drug use, aggressive violence, and high risk sexual behavior (Middleman and DuRant, 1996). Social dominance and aggression, which can jeopardize interpersonal relationships and physical well-being, are also generally associated with testosterone in men (Mazur and Booth, 1998; Stanton and Schultheiss, 2009). Some have also argued that testosterone partially mediates increased risk taking associated with adolescent development (Steinberg, 2008). Notably, while there is a large body of research on testosterone and risk taking, the focus of the bulk of past research has been on risk taking in social domains. Few studies have closely examined the influence of testosterone in other behavioral domains involving risk.
"
 

Weiji

Banned
Except it will.

Testosterone is positively associated with risk taking in the Iowa Gambling Task
"
Abstract
The association between testosterone and economic risk is not well-understood and is understudied. The present study aimed to further characterize what if any relationship testosterone has with risky economic decisions. To do so, 154 participants (78 men) completed the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) (Bechara et al., 1994) and also provided saliva samples, which were assayed for endogenous testosterone levels using radioimmunoassay. High-levels of endogenous testosterone were associated with choosing less frequently from advantageous IGT decks of cards, indicating greater risk taking. The data showed that the effects of testosterone on IGT performance were similar for men and women. High-testosterone women and high testosterone men made riskier choices than their low-testosterone counterparts of the same sex, and this effect was pronounced in women. Thus, high levels of testosterone are associated with willingness to incur greater risk in both sexes.

Introduction
There is a growing interest in the biological correlates of risk taking, and in particular, testosterone has had both a folk and empirical history of being associated with risk taking (Price, 2005). Generally, testosterone has been positively associated with risk taking in a number of domains and across species. In humans, for example, taking anabolic steroids has been associated with a number of high risk health behaviors including drug use, aggressive violence, and high risk sexual behavior (Middleman and DuRant, 1996). Social dominance and aggression, which can jeopardize interpersonal relationships and physical well-being, are also generally associated with testosterone in men (Mazur and Booth, 1998; Stanton and Schultheiss, 2009). Some have also argued that testosterone partially mediates increased risk taking associated with adolescent development (Steinberg, 2008). Notably, while there is a large body of research on testosterone and risk taking, the focus of the bulk of past research has been on risk taking in social domains. Few studies have closely examined the influence of testosterone in other behavioral domains involving risk.
"

This still just proves that they correlate. It might be some other variable that correlates to both testosterone and risk taking for example.

You would have to do a more direct test, such as increasing testosterone levels and watching for an increase in risk taking, probably double blind. And even then it would be ideal to do it several times, adjusting the method of testosterone change to see if all correlate equally with changes in behavioral pattern.

*Edit: I need to read up on the bolded study.
 
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HoodWinked

Member
The abstract is so badly worded and comes to a retarded conclusion. It should simply be higher levels of testosterone increases the likelihood that someone will take "a" position. It's not minority or majority it's that they take a position at all. Some beta would simply not take a position or go along with whatever is easiest.
 

luffie

Member
Except it will.

Testosterone is positively associated with risk taking in the Iowa Gambling Task
"
Abstract
The association between testosterone and economic risk is not well-understood and is understudied. The present study aimed to further characterize what if any relationship testosterone has with risky economic decisions. To do so, 154 participants (78 men) completed the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) (Bechara et al., 1994) and also provided saliva samples, which were assayed for endogenous testosterone levels using radioimmunoassay. High-levels of endogenous testosterone were associated with choosing less frequently from advantageous IGT decks of cards, indicating greater risk taking. The data showed that the effects of testosterone on IGT performance were similar for men and women. High-testosterone women and high testosterone men made riskier choices than their low-testosterone counterparts of the same sex, and this effect was pronounced in women. Thus, high levels of testosterone are associated with willingness to incur greater risk in both sexes.

Introduction
There is a growing interest in the biological correlates of risk taking, and in particular, testosterone has had both a folk and empirical history of being associated with risk taking (Price, 2005). Generally, testosterone has been positively associated with risk taking in a number of domains and across species. In humans, for example, taking anabolic steroids has been associated with a number of high risk health behaviors including drug use, aggressive violence, and high risk sexual behavior (Middleman and DuRant, 1996). Social dominance and aggression, which can jeopardize interpersonal relationships and physical well-being, are also generally associated with testosterone in men (Mazur and Booth, 1998; Stanton and Schultheiss, 2009). Some have also argued that testosterone partially mediates increased risk taking associated with adolescent development (Steinberg, 2008). Notably, while there is a large body of research on testosterone and risk taking, the focus of the bulk of past research has been on risk taking in social domains. Few studies have closely examined the influence of testosterone in other behavioral domains involving risk.
"
It's still correlation without direct evidence of causation. Technically, woman will have less testosterone than any normal man, but plenty of them are more ambitious and are in higher/riskier position than men. One might argue that they have more testosterone than their fellow female friends, but one cannot argue that they have higher testosterone than their lowest level male employees.
In this case it proves that testosterone is not the factor for their success nor ambition.
Correlation? Yes. But it's very2 minor and unrelated, the article makes it very misleading.
 

Loki

Count of Concision


"
Basal Testosterone Renders Individuals More Receptive to Minority Positions

Abstract

Social influence is an inevitable part of human social interaction. Although past research has demonstrated that testosterone has a key role in social interaction, no study has examined its role in social influence so far. Building on previous research showing that minority positions are perceived as risky options and that testosterone is positively associated with status seeking and risk-taking, we hypothesized that basal testosterone renders individuals more receptive to minority positions. In two studies, participants (total N = 250) read messages that were supported by either a numerical majority or minority. As hypothesized, individuals’ levels of basal testosterone were positively related to susceptibility to minority influence. In contrast, susceptibility to majority influence was unaffected by basal testosterone. Given the importance of minorities for innovation and change within societies, our results suggest that individuals with high levels of testosterone may play an important role as catalysts of social change.

EfMgM42XgAMXfmV

"


Fascinating, and follows logically. You don't change the world with tiny cohones.

Interesting too when you consider that global average testosterone levels have been steadily declining for decades - even more so for first world nations. Coupling that with the study’s hypothesis, one could wonder if our current sociopolitical “moment” - where so many are being swept up in divisive rhetoric that, while not ACTUALLY being the “majority” opinion, nevertheless exerts a similar force due to social media and socially-mediated disapprobation - is being fueled by a lack of non-conformity; indeed, a FEAR of non-conformity.

Basically, those with lower testosterone are more likely to be followers and not leaders (this has been known for decades; this current study can be seen as simply a refinement of earlier work), and thus more likely to get swept up in “movements” and be unwilling or unable to step back and question the movement’s underlying assumptions, its aims, or its methods.
 

decisions

Member
People are conflating “minority position” with political connotations. It just means literally, argumentatively.

So the study says that high test levels indicate a willingness to go against the norm and speak an unpopular opinion.
 

EviLore

Expansive Ellipses
Staff Member
Interesting too when you consider that global average testosterone levels have been steadily declining for decades - even more so for first world nations. Coupling that with the study’s hypothesis, one could wonder if our current sociopolitical “moment” - where so many are being swept up in divisive rhetoric that, while not ACTUALLY being the “majority” opinion, nevertheless exerts a similar force due to social media and socially-mediated disapprobation - is being fueled by a lack of non-conformity; indeed, a FEAR of non-conformity.

Basically, those with lower testosterone are more likely to be followers and not leaders (this has been known for decades; this current study can be seen as simply a refinement of earlier work), and thus more likely to get swept up in “movements” and be unwilling or unable to step back and question the movement’s underlying assumptions, its aims, or its methods.

Exactly. And amplify these dynamics further through social media, which exerts enormous conformity pressure and trivializes blocking (or cancelling) anyone who prompts discomfort in you from contrary or challenging views. It doesn't bode well for our cultural trajectory when conforming to groupthink is reinforced at an unprecedented scale and our hormonal resistances are waning over time.

Barbell squats and deadlifts will have to save us.
 

MaestroMike

Gold Member
I think there are benefits in alternating between high and low T states. Working out building muscle going into battle u need higher t and it's good to train and learn how to go super Saiyan when you need to but that's still very exhausting on the body, can't do it all the time and it prevents the body/mind from focusing on and doing other things. Can't enjoy animal crossing in a high t state and that hurts Nintendo's bottom line which we must not let happen. Soy for all !!
 

Tesseract

Banned
I think there are benefits in alternating between high and low T states. Working out building muscle going into battle u need higher t and it's good to train and learn how to go super Saiyan when you need to but that's still very exhausting on the body, can't do it all the time and it prevents the body/mind from focusing on and doing other things. Can't enjoy animal crossing in a high t state and that hurts Nintendo's bottom line which we must not let happen. Soy for all !!
push ups and pull ups every time you catch a sea bass
 
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