Testosterone and Human Evolution, more, new support

Testosterone found to be part of selection mechanism, again.  I invite you to
read the following abstract, just out, and others which support "Androgens in
Human Evolution" at www.anthropogeny.com/evolution.html .




Evolution and Human Behavior 2003; 24: 365-375

Behavioral and hormonal responses of men to brief interactions with women

This study tested for behavioral and hormonal reactions of young men to brief
social encounters with potential mating partners. Male college students were
randomly assigned to engage in a short conversation with either a young man
(male condition) or a young woman (female condition). Participants provided
saliva samples before and after the conversation, completed a battery of
psychological measures after the interaction, and had their behavior rated by
their conversation partners. Salivary testosterone (T) increased significantly
over baseline levels in the female condition only, though differences between
conditions were not significant. In addition, change in T was significantly
correlated with the degree to which the female confederates thought the male
participants were trying to impress them. These behavioral ratings, in turn,
were correlated with the participants' ratings of the female confederates as
potential romantic partners. Results were generally consistent with the
hypothesis that human males may exhibit a behavioral and endocrine courtship
response that is similar to that observed in males of many nonhuman vertebrate
species. 


James Michael Howard
www.anthropogeny.com