Testosterone & Trust Too Much
Trust and distrust are crucial components of human society. Hormones play a role in inducing feelings of trust and distrust. Oxytocin is responsible for the feeling of trust, while testosterone suppresses trust and increases skepticism.
The article, “She Doesn’t Trust You? Blame the Testosterone“, reports on a study by researchers from Utrecht University in Holland that shows testosterone decreases interpersonal trust. Women who were given testosterone were less likely to trust a man’s face in a photograph. The effect was most prominent in women who were naturally trusting. This result indicates that the system for suppressing trust and increasing skepticism might have developed for people who are most in need of protection.
Testosterone promotes rational decision-making, social scrutiny, and cleverness, which are essential tools for success in a modern society. Evolutionary biologists suggest that heightened skepticism about a potential mate’s trustworthiness makes sense in scenarios where a father’s ongoing support is crucial for the survival of the infant.
This article by Nicholas Wade explains the influence of hormones, particularly oxytocin and testosterone, on trust and distrust. The study by Utrecht University in Holland shows that testosterone decreases interpersonal trust, especially in women who are naturally trusting. This finding might have evolved to protect those who are most in need of it. Evolutionary biologists suggest that heightened skepticism about a potential mate’s trustworthiness makes sense in scenarios where a father’s ongoing support is crucial for the survival of the infant.
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/health/08hormone.html
She Doesn’t Trust You? Blame the Testosterone, Nicholas Wade
