How Much Does Testosterone Control Men’s Behavior?

While Testosterone is undeniably critical to male physiology, it's essential to understand the wide range of effects that Testosterone has on men. Testosterone impacts the way that men act and think in a variety of ways.

It's correlated with increased assertiveness, confidence, and aggression. There's no doubt that Testosterone has some effect on male behavior. Still, it's also possible that Testosterone is somewhat of a red herring when it comes to many factors that differentiate men and women psychologically. Testosterone, unlike most hormones, has a very particular mystical aura surrounding its effects.

Along with confidence and assertiveness, the quintessentially male hormone is also associated with increased promiscuity, athletic prowess, and willingness to take risks.

Testosterone and the Endocrine System

Testosterone is one of a number of Steroid Hormones, along with progesterone, Estrogen, and others. Cholesterol is the foundation of Testosterone. While Testosterone is dominant in men, it's also produced in much smaller amounts by women.

Testosterone is just one actor in the endocrine system, and the human body functions at its peak when all of these hormones are in proper alignment. Just like women need some Testosterone, men require some estrogen level for health and fertility.

These Hormones do more than just promote sexual function, however. They also support liver function, cardiovascular health, and bone structure, just to name a few key influences.

Testosterone and Psychology

While Testosterone is linked with several traits associated with toxic masculinity, the hormone may get a bad rap. Early research in the late 19th and early 20th centuries correlated Testosterone with animal aggression. As we've learned more about how Testosterone works over the last century, it's clear that our actions and circumstances influence Testosterone Production.

There are feedback mechanisms at play. While Testosterone increases the tendency toward aggression, our free will undoubtedly plays a role as well.

Numerous recent studies have begun to explore the link between Cortisol and Testosterone. Cortisol is the body's primary stress hormone built from the same parts as Testosterone.

It's theorized by many that Testosterone is produced in anticipation of aggression and competition, just as Cortisol is released in response to stress. Testosterone also appears to act as a sorting mechanism for dominance.

Studies have shown that success in competition leads to temporarily increased Testosterone, while defeat is correlated with a drop in Testosterone. This is true not only for competitors but for fans!

This is one area that is very different for men and women. Among men, success and competition have the potential to create a feedback loop that induces ongoing aggression. In women, this is not the case.

Self-Control and Testosterone

So it's clear that Testosterone induces aggression, but can nurture mitigate the harmful risks associated with Testosterone? One study shows that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy during adolescence can help boys and men control how their bodies and brains respond to confrontation.

Therapy reduced aggression during adulthood and also produced less Testosterone during provocation. Men release Testosterone in response to situations that suggest the need for aggression, but cognitive processes can keep the mind in control of the emotions. Interestingly, studies show that women and men have a similar capacity for anger.

The differences lie in the way that anger is expressed.

Men are far more likely to respond with physical aggression than women. It's believed that Testosterone makes men more likely to convert anger into force and action than women. Ultimately, it's essential to understand that Testosterone is not in the driver's seat of male psychology.

Men ultimately have control over their actions, and our choices and willpower can keep the potential negative consequences of Testosterone in check. Testosterone is just a tool, and men must wield that tool thoughtfully.

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