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Testosterone; The Steroid of Competition?

Introduction
The main purpose of this experiment is to observe the changes in
testosterone in both male and female subjects when in a team based
competition over recourses, to see whether males do have higher
testosterone levels, and whether winning also raises these testosterone
levels. Testosterone itself is steroid hormone that is used for male sexual
characteristics, both primary and secondary; it is developed in the testes,
but may also be found in the ovaries. This hormone can be secreted into the
saliva, which is why spit samples testing for testosterone easier. Hormone
levels can differ throughout the day and from human to human (Mazur). It is
known that fluctuations can occur based on activities such as sports, where
winners are thought to have a spike in testosterone levels, whereas losers
have a decrease. However it is believed that this affect may be replicated in
non-athletic scenarios (Mazur).
Methods and materials
Subjects were divided into teams of 4 to 5 individuals and told to give
spit samples at the beginning of the lab, samples were labled by gender,
group, and a specific number that was designated among team members
before samples were taken. Spit samples were taken in small plastic tubes
that held over the 5ml of spit needed. The students then had to complete a
series of simple math problems in their head in a small amount of time. Once

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the math was finished, the groups worked together to win a competitive
bored game against their peers, specifically operation, with the two winning
teams getting a perk of bonus points if they won. After the winning teams
were chosen, the teams did another sheet of simple math problems. And at
the end, another spit sample was taken from each of the participants and
labeled with gender team and sample 2.
Results

(Figure 1)
shows the
levels of
testosterone
based on
gender and
sample
number

As seen in figure 1 the male students did have a higher testosterone

samples than their female classmates. When looking at differences in
testosterone between losers and winners, neither men nor women had a
difference in testosterone levels, when separated or joined with other data

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sets. However the differences in pre and post-game samples showed

significant differences for both genders. Men had a significantly positive
relationship between the first and second salivary testosterone samples, as
did females. Male participants had an increase in testosterone throughout
the experiment, whereas females had a decrease in testosterone overall.
Discussion
When compared to the hypothesis the results agree with half. Higher
testosterone levels are found in males from before the competition to after,
however winners of the competition did not show a raised testosterone level,
however the competition itself did raise testosterone in male competitors.
Other studies such as Streiners poker test showed an increase in
testosterone from just before the competition to just after, but found no
difference between winners and losers (Steiner 48). Streiner later discusses
how testosterone could be linked with risk taking behavior, and considering
risky behavior doesnt always result in winning it could be reasoned that
some of the losers may have been in favor to high risk situations (Streiner
50). In another experiment the tendancy towards risky behavior in men was
measured using gambling tests and with punishment, in which testosterone
levels accurately predicted risk behavior in subjects (Ronay 476). A similar
situation in a video game competition held by Mazur showed similar results
to the results above. In the competition a game of pong, which much like the
game played in this experiment, is more skill based, and not nearly as risk

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based (Mazur 319). Participants in the competition found similar results, in

that men had more testosterone than women, but found no difference
between winners or losers (Mazur 322).
In future experiments testing whether having subjects test differently
under cooperatives circumstances and individual would cause a variation in
testosterone levels. As well, testing whether individuals within the team
make a difference, for instance, does a man in a group with only other men
test differently than a man who is in a mixed group, or a group that is
predominantly made of women. On another note, in Ronays experiment risk
was tied with testosterone so a punishment was added to tests to see if the
individuals who risked more would have higher testosterone levels (Ronay
474). Another important factor to consider is whether activity level plays
more of a role, perhaps by sending subjects through both a physical and
mental competition would show different testosterone levels. Subjects in
Ziliolis experiment were tested multiple times, so perhaps measuring
testosterone levels over multiple competitions would create a more accurate
score(Zilioli 3).

Literature cited

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Mazur, A., A. Booth, & J. M. Dabbs, jr. 1992. Testosterone and Chess Competition.
Social Psychology Quarterly 55:70-77.
Mazur, A., E. J. Susman, S. Edelbrock, (1997) Sex difference in testosterone response
to a video game contest. Evolution and human behavior, 18(5), 317-326.
Ronay, R., Von Hippel. W. Power, testosterone, risk-taking. (2009). Journal of
Behavioral Decision Making, 23(5), 473-482
Steiner, E. T., Barchard, K. A. Meana, M. Hadi, F. Gray, P. B. (2010). The Deal on
Testosterone Responses
to Poker Competition. Current Psychology, 29(1), 45-51.
Zilioli, S., Watson, N. V.(2014) Testosterone across successive competitions:
Evidence for a winner effect in humans?. Psychroneuroendocrinology, 47, 19.