Testosterone's role in modulating human behaviors relevant to mating and parenting

Testosterone (T) is linked to human mating and parenting. Here, we comprehensively reviewed evidence on whether, in men and women, (1) basal T levels are related to mating and parenting behaviors, (2) T responds to reproduction-relevant cues, (3) acute changes in T map onto subsequent mating and parenting behaviors, and (4) single-dose exogenous T administration causally affects mating and parenting behaviors. We examined whether the available evidence supports trade-off interpretations of T's adaptive function whereby high T levels correspond to greater mating/reproductive effort and competition and low T levels to greater parenting effort and nurturance. We found mixed support for trade-off hypotheses, suggesting that T's function in modulating human mating and parenting might be more nuanced and highly dependent on context and individual trait differences. Results were largely similar for men and women, although studies with women were scarcer than those with men for most behaviors we reviewed.

Automated summary

This study comprehensively reviewed the evidence on the impact of testosterone on human mating and parenting behaviors. The findings suggest that basal testosterone levels are related to mating and parenting behaviors in both men and women. Testosterone responds to reproduction-relevant cues and acute changes in testosterone levels are associated with subsequent mating and parenting behaviors. Single-dose exogenous testosterone administration may causally affect mating and parenting behaviors. However, the support for trade-off interpretations of testosterone's adaptive function is mixed, indicating that the role of testosterone in modulating human mating and parenting is complex and context-dependent.