Abstract:

Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group. With the rise of neuroendocrinology of social cognition, there is now substantial research interest on the role of testosterone in human social behavior. Previous research evidenced the important role of testosterone in a variety of human social behaviors, including aggression, dominance, bonding, and decision making. A large body of studies showed that, on the one hand, testosterone increased aggression, dominance, mating motivation, risk tolerance, and preference for fairness; on the other hand, it decreased cognitive empathy and interpersonal trust. Future research could be extended to neuroimaging and genetics studies, and focus on the clinical implication.

Key words: testosterone, human social behavior, aggression, social cognition, intimacy