The relationship between testosterone and aggression: a meta-analysis

In non-human animals, the relationship between testosterone and aggression is well established. In humans, the relationship is more controversial. To clarify the relationship, Archer conducted three meta-analyses and found a weak, positive relationship between testosterone and aggression. Unfortunat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Aggression and violent behavior 2001-11, Vol.6 (6), p.579-599
Main Authors: Book, Angela S., Starzyk, Katherine B., Quinsey, Vernon L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Aggression
Biological and medical sciences
Medical sciences
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Social behavior disorders. Criminal behavior. Delinquency
Testosterone
Violence
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Summary:In non-human animals, the relationship between testosterone and aggression is well established. In humans, the relationship is more controversial. To clarify the relationship, Archer conducted three meta-analyses and found a weak, positive relationship between testosterone and aggression. Unfortunately, each of the analyses included only five to six studies. The aim of the present study was to re-examine the relationship between testosterone and aggression with a larger sample of studies. The present analyses are based on 45 independent studies ( N=9760) with 54 independent effect sizes. Only studies that reported a p-value or effect size were included in the analyses and the sample may underestimate the proportion of non-significant findings in the population. Correlations ranged from −0.28 to 0.71. The mean weighted correlation ( r=0.14) corroborates Archer's finding of a weak positive relationship.
ISSN:1359-1789
1873-6335
DOI:10.1016/S1359-1789(00)00032-X