Effects of exogenous testosterone and mating context on men's preferences for female facial femininity

Abstract

Correlational research suggests that men show greater attraction to feminine female faces when their testosterone (T) levels are high. Men's preferences for feminine faces also seem to vary as a function of relationship context (short versus long-term).However, the relationship between T and preferences for female facial femininity has yet to be tested experimentally. This thesis examined the causal role of T in modulating preferences for facial femininity across both short and long-term mating contexts, using two separate experiments. Results of Experiment 1 (within-subject design, n = 24)showed that participants significantly preferred feminized versus masculinized versions of women's faces. Further, participants showed a stronger preference for feminine female faces in the short-versus the long-term context after they received T, but not after they received placebo. Post-hoc analyses suggest that this effect was driven by a lower preference for feminine faces in the long-term context when on T relative to placebo.Results from Experiment 2 (between-subject design, n = 93) were highly consistent with those of Experiment 1: men demonstrated a significant preference for feminized female faces in the short-versus the long-term context after T, but not after placebo administration, and this effect was driven by lower preferences for feminine faces in the long-term context when on T relative to placebo. Collectively, these findings provide the first causal evidence that T modulates men's preferences for facial femininity as a function of mating context.

Effect of exogenous testosterone on cooperation depends on personality and time pressure

“…However, previous work from our lab examining men has found that a single administration of testosterone can increase threat-related amygdala, hypothalamic, and periaqueductal gray reactivity to angry facial expressions within 90 min post administration [63], and effects of testosterone on aggressive behavior are found within 60 min post administration [27]. We also find similar behavioral effects from exogenous testosterone administration on men's preferences for feminine faces when tested at 2 and 3 h post administration [64], as well as effects on selfperceived dominance tested at 2 and 4 h post administration [65]. That effects in the present study are found within 60 min suggests the possibility of a non-genomic mechanism, similar to findings in animal models with rapid effects of testosterone on brain function and behavior (reviewed in [66]).…”

Testosterone reduces the threat premium in competitive resource division

“…Furthermore, although we positioned some of these other tasks before the threat premium, we previously found similar testosterone effects on face-processing and decision-making tasks regardless of whether the tasks occurred earlier or later in the testing protocol and the number and types of other, preceding tasks (e.g. [22,23]), suggesting the hormone acted over and above potential fatigue and carry-over effects. 4 Note that these analyses do not include the seven participants for whom we excluded data from the second testing day (see Participants section).…”

The Causal Effect of Testosterone on Men’s Competitive Behavior is Moderated by Basal Cortisol and Cues to an Opponent’s Status: Evidence for a Context-Dependent Dual Hormone Hypothesis

“…All samples were assayed in duplicate consistent with standard, 1 But cf. Bird et al, 2016 andCarré et al, 2017 for evidence that topical testosterone gel increases testosterone and produces measurable physiological differences within an hour postgel-administration. published procedures (Schultheiss & Stanton, 2009) using commercial enzyme immunoassay kits (DRG Inc., Germany).…”