IS “FEMALE” HORMONE A KEY FACTOR IN MALE AGGRESSION?
Research into the effects of hormones on male aggression typically focuses on testosterone and other “male” hormones, but a new study indicates that one form of estrogen-estradiol-also plays an important role. While estradiol is thought of as a “female” hormone, it is also produced by males. To investigate estradiol’s effects on male behavior, C. J. Peter Eriksson and colleagues recruited 40 men with a history of alcohol-related aggression, and 44 men without such a history. Participants filled out questionnaires detailing how often they handled conflict with a spouse or other partner by resorting to non-violent emotional negotiation (e.g., “showed respect for my partner’s feelings about an issue”), non-violent cognitive negotiation (e.g., “suggested a compromise to a disagreement”), minor or severe psychological aggression, minor or severe physical assault, or minor or severe injury- causing aggression. The researchers measured each subject’s hormone levels using morning plasma sample
