The males on the board today are part of a new study by the University of Texas - Austin:
Testosterone and Human Thoughts, Feelings, and Behavior
Of the myriad substances that are required for humans to sustain life, perhaps none is more maligned and misunderstood than testosterone. Testosterone is essential for proper growth and functioning, including development of the brain, emergence of primary and secondary sexual characteristics, and muscular growth and development. Not only does an insufficient amount of testosterone hinder development, but low levels of testosterone are linked to listlessness, depression, impotence, and even suicide. In spite of its critical role in development and normal functioning, testosterone has earned a reputation as an undesirable substance. Men who behave in an especially obnoxious manner are said to suffer from "testosterone poisoning." Is there any truth to the bad press associated with testosterone?
Research conducted by Robert Josephs and James Pennebaker and their students has focused on understanding the psychological effects of circulating testosterone. Testosterone's relationship to human behavior is quite powerful, but it is also much more complex than previously thought. Indeed, the claim that testosterone is a bad thing may be anything but true. We are discovering that under a variety of conditions, higher testosterone levels can lead to better intellectual performance, greater task persistence, and higher levels of cooperation. Another very promising and brand new line of research is investigating the relationship between fluctuations in testosterone as they relate language and language use.
