Endocrine and aggressive responses to competition are moderated by contest outcome, gender, individual versus team competition, and implicit motives.

ABSTRACT: This study examined hormonal responses to competition in relation to gender, social context, and implicit motives. Participants (N = 326) were randomly assigned to win or lose in a 10-round, virtual face-to-face competition, in same-sex individual- and team-competition contexts. Saliva samples, taken before and twice after the competition, were assayed for testosterone (T), estradiol (E), progesterone (P), and cortisol (C). Implicit needs for power (nPower) and affiliation (nAffiliation) were assessed with a picture-story exercise before the competition. Aggression was measured via the volume at which participants set noise blasts for their opponents. Men competing individually and women competing as teams showed similar T increases after winning. C was differentially associated with outco

SUBMITTER: Oxford JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5531467 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature