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I have a (lefty) colleague who sincerely believes that testosterone does not significantly affect personality[0]. I understand that human history has been over

by csours 12y ago

I have a (lefty) colleague who sincerely believes that testosterone does not significantly affect personality[0]. I understand that human history has been overwhelmingly male dominated, and that this has undesirable consequences and side effects. I think these effects and ideas should be counteracted "with prejudice"[1] to use a policing term. I don't think counteracting the horrible facts of the past should include re-writing scientific facts we now know. 0. Perhaps it is prejudice and incorrect teaching that leads me to think that testosterone has effects on personality, if so, please correct me. 1. I mean that women and men (and others) should be considered morally, politically, socially, and economically equal (and probably some others); any argument to the contrary can be discounted immediately. I personally think that men and women (and others) are "not the same" emotionally or physically, but that these differences are A GOOD THING.

meheleventyone 12y ago
The science is much less settled on the link between testosterone and personality than you think. Some interesting discussion of it here: http://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/cognoculture/testosterone_and_human_aggression_or_180520 http://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/cognoculture/testosteron... It's hard to tease out what behaviour is culturally learnt and what is caused by innate biological differences. Folk wisdom about testosterone is just one example. The downside is that these "biotruths" are used as justification for discrimination.
- kristofferR 12y ago
  Sure, but there's a lot of people who basically claim that the massive hormonal and genetical differences between the genders have no impact on personality, behavior and interests.
  - meheleventyone 12y ago
    The evidence from studies into testosterone suggests that those people might actually be right or at least the hormonal differences between the sexes (and between members of the same sex who suffer hormonal imbalances for whatever reason) are not as important in defining personality, behaviour and interests as folk wisdom would hold.
    - kristofferR 12y ago
      I've mostly seen the opposite results, that testosterone makes a massive difference. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19175758 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19175758 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21338606 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21338606 I'm interested in learning more, can you link to some studies?

by csours 12y ago

meheleventyone 12y ago

The science is much less settled on the link between testosterone and personality than you think. Some interesting discussion of it here: http://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/cognoculture/testosterone_and_human_aggression_or_180520 http://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/cognoculture/testosteron... It's hard to tease out what behaviour is culturally learnt and what is caused by innate biological differences. Folk wisdom about testosterone is just one example. The downside is that these "biotruths" are used as justification for discrimination.

kristofferR 12y ago
Sure, but there's a lot of people who basically claim that the massive hormonal and genetical differences between the genders have no impact on personality, behavior and interests.
- meheleventyone 12y ago
  The evidence from studies into testosterone suggests that those people might actually be right or at least the hormonal differences between the sexes (and between members of the same sex who suffer hormonal imbalances for whatever reason) are not as important in defining personality, behaviour and interests as folk wisdom would hold.
  - kristofferR 12y ago
    I've mostly seen the opposite results, that testosterone makes a massive difference. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19175758 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19175758 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21338606 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21338606 I'm interested in learning more, can you link to some studies?