Hormonal background of physiological aggressiveness in psychologically healthy women

Brambilla, Frăncesca; Speca, Azzurra; Pacchiarotti, Isabella; Biondi, Massimo

doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2009.12.012

Cited by 11 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…Gender-specific differences in social behavior are mediated by the action of sex hormones and the degree of dimorphic brain structure and function associated with expression of X chromosome-linked genes [31]. For example, estrogen levels are positively correlated with aggression and resentment in women, and progesterone is negatively correlated with suspiciousness and resentment in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle [32]. Physical violence and sexual aggression are suppressed with estradiol administration [33], [34].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender-Specific Effects of Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Prosocial Behaviors

et al. 2014

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BackgroundProsocial behaviors are essential to the ability to relate to others. Women typically display greater prosocial behavior than men. The impact of depression on prosocial behaviors and how gender interacts with those effects are not fully understood. We explored the role of gender in the potential effects of depression on prosocial behavior.MethodsWe examined prosocial behaviors using a modified version of the Trust Game in a clinical population and community controls. Study participants were characterized on the severity of depression and anxiety, presence of suicidal ideation, history of childhood trauma, recent stressful life events, and impulsivity. We correlated behavioral outcomes with gender and clinical variables using analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis.ResultsThe 89 participants comprised four study groups: depressed women, depressed men, healthy women and healthy men (n = 16–36). Depressed men exhibited reciprocity more frequently than healthy men. Depression induced an inversion of the gender-specific pattern of self-centered behavior. Suicidal ideation was associated with increased reciprocity behavior in both genders, and enhancement of the effect of depression on gender-specific self-centered behavior.ConclusionsDepression, particularly suicidal ideation, is associated with reversal of gender-specific patterns of prosocial behavior, suggesting abnormalities in sexual hormones regulation. This explanation is supported by known abnormalities in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axes found in depression.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender-Specific Effects of Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Prosocial Behaviors

et al. 2014

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“…Moreover, a positive correlation was found between laboratory-measured aggression and plasma T when women were only tested during the follicular phase (Dougherty, Bjork, Moeller, & Swann, 1997). Estrogen values were positively correlated with 'verbal aggression' scores in the follicular phase and positively with 'resentment' in the premenstruum, while progesterone levels were negatively correlated with 'suspiciousness' and 'resentment' in the premenstrual cycle phase of the cycle (Brambilla, Speca, Pacchiarotti, & Biondi, 2010). However, to our knowledge, no studies have clarified the relationship between aggressive behavior and CAR.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Aggression predicts Cortisol Awakening Response in healthy young adults

Sariñana-González¹,

Vitoria-Estruch²,

Romero-Martínez³

et al. 2015

AN PSICOL-SPAIN

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Título: La Agresión como variable predictora de la Respuesta Matutina de Cortisol en adultos jóvenes. Resumen: Parece que el cortisol (C) se relacionaría de forma inversa con el comportamiento agresivo, pero esta relación ha sido más claramente establecida con el cortisol vespertino. Sin embargo, la relación con la respuesta matutina de cortisol (CAR) y la influencia del género y la fase del ciclo no estaría tan clara. Este estudio analiza dicha relación en 83 mujeres (38 en fase lútea y 45 en fase folicular del ciclo menstrual) y 20 hombres. La CAR se obtuvo a partir de muestras de saliva recogidas inmediatamente y después del despertar (a los 30, 45 y 60 minutos después). Además, los participantes cumplimentaron un autoinforme de agresión. Los hombres presentan niveles más bajos de CAR que las mujeres en fase lútea y una mayor agresión fí-sica que las mujeres, independientemente de la fase del ciclo en la que se encuentren. Respecto a las relaciones entre las variables, en los hombres la agresión en general y la verbal predijeron la CAR en hombres. En mujeres, la agresión verbal predijo la CAR durante la fase folicular, mientras que la ira y la agresión física durante la lútea. Nuestra investigación apoya que existiría una relación negativa entre el C y las conductas agresivas, incluso con los niveles de C matutino. Además, la relación entre ambas variables fue moderada por el género y por la fase del ciclo menstrual en el caso de las mujeres. Estos resultados podrían incrementar el conocimiento existente sobre los mecanismos envueltos en la violencia. Palabras clave: agresión; respuesta matutina de cortisol; género; ciclo menstrual; sano; joven.Abstract. It seems that aggressive behavior is negatively related to cortisol (C), but this relationship has been established considering the evening C levels. On the other hand, the relationship with the C awakening response (CAR) and the influence of gender and menstrual cycle phase are not well understood. This study analyzed this relationship in 83 women (38 in the luteal and 45 in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle) and 20 men. CAR was assessed by measuring salivary free cortisol levels in samples taken immediately following awakening and 30, 45, and 60 minutes later. Additionally, participants completed a self-report of aggression. Men presented lower CAR than women in the luteal phase. Moreover, they also had higher levels of physical aggression than women, independently of their menstrual phase. Regarding the relationships between variables, in men general aggression and verbal aggression predicted the CAR. In women, verbal aggression predicted the CAR during the follicular phase, whereas anger and physical aggression were predictors during the luteal phase. Our data support the view that there is a negative relationship between C and aggressive behavior, even during the morning, this relationship being moderated by gender and menstrual cycle phase in the women. These findings may help improve our understanding of the biological mechanisms involved i...

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“…Moreover, the variations in the levels of prolactin, which is a peptide hormone that has synergic effects with the estrogens, in women with fertility problems were not linked to variations in feelings of anger nor with its the expression (Barry et al, 2014). However, positive correlations have been found between the concentration of estrogens and the verbal aggressiveness in the follicular stage and with the resentment in the luteal stage (Brambilla, Speca, Pacchiarotti and Biondi, 2010).…”

Section: Biological Correlatesmentioning

confidence: 93%

Mujeres violentas y/o delincuentes: una visión desde la perspectiva biopsicosocial

Soldino

Romero‐Martínez²,

Moya-Albiol³

2015

AN PSICOL-SPAIN

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Título: Mujeres violentas y/o delincuentes: una visión desde la perspectiva biopsicosocial. Resumen: La violencia y/o delincuencia en mujeres ha estado enmascarada en cierta medida por la sociedad. Por ello, el objetivo fundamental de este trabajo es analizar en profundidad los trabajos publicados al respecto, con el fin de comprender dicho fenómeno desde una perspectiva neurobiológico. En primer lugar, se analizará la teoría del ciclo de la violencia como mecanismo facilitador de la violencia en mujeres, con especial énfasis en los correlatos neuroanatómicos. Posteriormente, se expondrá la relación existente entre el consumo de drogas y la violencia en mujeres. Por último, se expondrán de forma exhaustiva los principales correlatos biológicos conocidos como mecanismos facilitadores de la violencia en mujeres. Los principales factores de riesgo para la facilitación de la violencia y/o delincuencia en mujeres son las experiencias de maltrato durante la infancia y el consumo de drogas. Además, niveles altos de cortisol y testosterona y bajos de serotonina y oxitocina, serían correlatos de dicha violencia. Por otra parte, se ha descrito dos tipos de agresoras en función de la respuesta del Sistema Nervioso Autónomo, las premeditadas que presentan una baja reactividad y las impulsivas que presentan una hiperreactividad psicofisiológica. Al tratarse de un problema complejo y poco estudiado se hace necesario aumentar el cuerpo de conocimientos en dicha temática, con el objetivo de desarrollar programas de tratamiento y/o prevención efectivos. Palabras clave: Delincuencia; Marcadores psicobiológicos; Mujeres; Sustancias de abuso; Violencia.Abstract: Violence and/or delinquency in women have been masked to some extent by society. Thus, the main goal of this work is to deeply analyse the published works on these matters, in order to understand this phenomenon from a neurobiological perspective. Firstly, the theory of the cycle of violence as a facilitating mechanism of violence in women will be analysed, with a special emphasis on neuroanatomical correlates. Subsequently, the relation between drug consumption and violence in women will be explained. Finally, the main biological correlates known as facilitating mechanisms of violence in women will be exhaustively described. The main risk factors for the facilitation of violence and/or delinquency in women are mistreatment experiences during childhood and drug consumption. Furthermore, high levels of cortisol and testosterone and low levels of serotonin and oxytocin would be correlates of that violence. On the other hand, two types of aggressors have been described according to the response of the Autonomic Nervous System: the premeditated ones, who present a low reactivity, and the impulsive ones, who present a psychophysiological hyper-reactivity. As it is a complex and insufficiently studied issue, increasing the corpus of knowledge in this topic is necessary with the objective of developing effective programmes of treatment and/or prevention.

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Hormonal background of physiological aggressiveness in psychologically healthy women

Cited by 11 publications

References 50 publications

Gender-Specific Effects of Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Prosocial Behaviors

Gender-Specific Effects of Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Prosocial Behaviors

Aggression predicts Cortisol Awakening Response in healthy young adults

Mujeres violentas y/o delincuentes: una visión desde la perspectiva biopsicosocial

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