No abstract

Researchers have argued that the regulation of female sexuality is a major catalyst for women’s intrasexual aggression. The present research examined whether women behave more aggressively toward a sexualized woman and whether this is explained by lower ratings of the target’s humanness. Results showed that women rated another woman lower on uniquely human personality traits when she was dressed in a sexualized (vs. conventional) manner. Lower humanness ratings subsequently predicted increased aggression toward her in a behavioral measure of aggression. This effect was moderated by trait intrasexual competitiveness; lower humanness ratings translated into more aggression, but only for women scoring relatively high on intrasexual competition. Follow-up studies revealed that the effect of sexualized appearance on perceived humanness was not due to the atypicality of the clothing in a university setting. The current project reveals a novel psychological mechanism through which interacting with a sexualized woman promotes aggressive behavior toward her.

One of the most widely studied biological correlates of aggressive behavior is the steroid hormone testosterone. Although traditional wisdom might suggest that individuals with more testosterone are more likely to be aggressive, research over the past several decades has identified important contextual, individual difference, and methodological variables that are key moderators of any such effect. In this chapter, we review literature examining how aggression is linked with baseline levels of testosterone, how testosterone fluctuates rapidly within the context of human competitive behavior, and how such competition‐induced hormonal fluctuations serve to potentiate ongoing and/or future aggressive behavior. The neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying such complex social behavior are discussed from research conducted within humans as well as nonhuman species, providing comparative clues as to the adaptive nature of such intricate systems.