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New evidence on testosterone and cooperation

Author

Listed:
  • Jack van Honk

    (Utrecht University, 3584CS Utrecht, Netherlands
    University of Cape Town, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa)

  • Estrella R. Montoya

    (Utrecht University, 3584CS Utrecht, Netherlands)

  • Peter A. Bos

    (Utrecht University, 3584CS Utrecht, Netherlands
    University of Cape Town, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa)

  • Mark van Vugt

    (VU University, 1081 BT Amsterdam, Netherlands)

  • David Terburg

    (Utrecht University, 3584CS Utrecht, Netherlands
    University of Cape Town, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa)

Abstract

arising from C. Eisenegger, M. Naef, R. Snozzi, M. Heinrichs & E. Fehr Nature 463, 356–359 (2010)10.1038/nature08711 ; Eisenegger et al. reply In February 2010, Eisenegger et al. reported increased fair bargaining behaviour after administration of testosterone in an ultimatum game1. However, unfair offers in the ultimatum game typically are rejected; thus, not only the motives for social cooperation but also the threat of financial punishment may have accounted for these effects. Here, using the public goods game (PGG), we unambiguously show increased social cooperation after testosterone administration, but only among subjects with low levels of prenatal testosterone (measured by the right hand’s second-to-fourth-digit ratio (2D:4D)). This finding establishes positive effects of testosterone on social cooperation, with prenatal hormonal priming providing for important individual variability.

Suggested Citation

  • Jack van Honk & Estrella R. Montoya & Peter A. Bos & Mark van Vugt & David Terburg, 2012. "New evidence on testosterone and cooperation," Nature, Nature, vol. 485(7399), pages 4-5, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:485:y:2012:i:7399:d:10.1038_nature11136
    DOI: 10.1038/nature11136
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Zunxin Zheng & Donghui Li & Tingyong Zhong & Tian Wang & Ling He, 2023. "CEO facial structure and stock price crash risk," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(S1), pages 873-905, April.
    2. Eva Ranehill & Niklas Zethraeus & Liselott Blomberg & Bo von Schoultz & Angelica Lindén Hirschberg & Magnus Johannesson & Anna Dreber, 2018. "Hormonal Contraceptives Do Not Impact Economic Preferences: Evidence from a Randomized Trial," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 64(10), pages 4515-4532, October.
    3. Marcelo Arbex & Justin M. Carre & Shawn N. Geniole & Enlinson Mattos, 2018. "Testosterone, personality traits and tax evasion," Working Papers 1801, University of Windsor, Department of Economics.
    4. Brañas-Garza, Pablo & Chowdhury, Subhasish M. & Espín, Antonio M. & Nieboer, Jeroen, 2023. "‘Born this Way’? Prenatal exposure to testosterone may determine behavior in competition and conflict," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    5. Brañas-Garza, Pablo & Espín, Antonio M. & Garcia, Teresa & Kovářík, Jaromír, 2018. "Digit ratio (2D:4D) predicts pro-social behavior in economic games only for unsatisfied individuals," MPRA Paper 86166, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Matthias Wibral & Thomas Dohmen & Dietrich Klingmüller & Bernd Weber & Armin Falk, 2012. "Testosterone Administration Reduces Lying in Men," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(10), pages 1-5, October.
    7. Lou Safra & Nicolas Baumard & Valentin Wyart & Coralie Chevallier, 2020. "Social motivation is associated with increased weight granted to cooperation-related impressions in face evaluation tasks," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, April.
    8. Werner Bönte & Vivien D. Procher & Diemo Urbig, 2016. "Biology and Selection into Entrepreneurship—The Relevance of Prenatal Testosterone Exposure," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 40(5), pages 1121-1148, September.
    9. Yansong Li & Elise Météreau & Ignacio Obeso & Luigi Butera & Marie Claire Villeval & Jean-Claude Dreher, 2020. "Endogenous testosterone is associated with increased striatal response to audience effects during prosocial choices," Post-Print hal-02990573, HAL.
    10. Bonnefon, Jean-François & De Neys, Wim & Hopfensitz, Astrid, 2013. "Low second-to-fourth digit ratio predicts indiscriminate social suspicion, not improved trustworthiness detection," TSE Working Papers 13-385, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    11. Neyse, Levent & Johannesson, Magnus & Dreber, Anna, 2021. "2D:4D does not predict economic preferences: Evidence from a large, representative sample," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 185, pages 390-401.
    12. Pablo Brañas-Garza & Jaromír Kovářík & Levent Neyse, 2013. "Second-to-Fourth Digit Ratio Has a Non-Monotonic Impact on Altruism," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(4), pages 1-10, April.
    13. Tim Hahn & Nils R Winter & Christine Anderl & Karolien Notebaert & Alina Marie Wuttke & Celina Chantal Clément & Sabine Windmann, 2017. "Facial width-to-height ratio differs by social rank across organizations, countries, and value systems," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(11), pages 1-14, November.

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