Calvete Esther, Cortazar Nerea, Orue Izaskun
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain.
PLoS One. 2025 Feb 25;20(2):e0319426. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319426. eCollection 2025.
The role of testosterone, particularly in combination with cortisol, in aggression remains debated. According to the general aggression model, hormones interact with other variables, such individuals' knowledge structures, to predict aggression. This model may help explain inconsistent findings of previous research. Furthermore, the model posits that the influence of hormones on aggressive behavior is mediated by the individual's internal state. Accordingly, the objectives of this study are to assess whether (1) testosterone and cortisol, alone and in interaction with aggression-related knowledge structures, predict aggression in a standardized laboratory paradigm and whether (2) this association is mediated by hostile attribution, anger, and arousal. By identifying key moderators and mediators, this study seeks to make a very novel contribution to the understanding of the role of testosterone in aggressive behavior. These objectives will also be assessed separately for males and females.
The Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm will be used to assess aggression. The sample will include 110 youths aged 17-19 (50% male). Participants will provide saliva samples before and after completing the paradigm, along with measures of three aggression-related knowledge structures (justification of violence, hostility, and narcissism) collected before the paradigm. Measures of two mediators (hostile attribution, anger) will be obtained after completing the paradigm. Arousal levels (heart rate and skin conductance) will be recorded before, after, and while completing the paradigm. The hypotheses will be tested using path analysis models, examining both the testosterone/cortisol ratio and the interaction between testosterone and cortisol as well as both baseline hormone levels and changes in hormone levels.
Although it may be limited by the use of saliva for measuring hormones, this study will enhance the current understanding of the role of testosterone and cortisol in aggressive behavior among youths by investigating novel hypotheses related to psychological moderating and mediating factors.
睾酮，尤其是与皮质醇联合作用时，在攻击行为中的作用仍存在争议。根据一般攻击模型，激素与其他变量（如个体的知识结构）相互作用以预测攻击行为。该模型可能有助于解释先前研究中不一致的结果。此外，该模型假定激素对攻击行为的影响是由个体的内部状态介导的。因此，本研究的目的是评估：（1）睾酮和皮质醇单独以及与攻击相关知识结构相互作用时，是否能在标准化实验室范式中预测攻击行为；以及（2）这种关联是否由敌意归因、愤怒和唤醒介导。通过识别关键的调节因素和中介因素，本研究旨在为理解睾酮在攻击行为中的作用做出非常新颖的贡献。这些目标也将分别针对男性和女性进行评估。
将使用点减法攻击范式来评估攻击行为。样本将包括110名17 - 19岁的青少年（50%为男性）。参与者将在完成范式前后提供唾液样本，以及在范式之前收集的三种攻击相关知识结构（暴力正当性、敌意和自恋）的测量数据。在完成范式后将获得两种中介因素（敌意归因、愤怒）的测量数据。在完成范式之前、之后以及过程中记录唤醒水平（心率和皮肤电导率）。将使用路径分析模型检验假设，同时考察睾酮/皮质醇比率以及睾酮与皮质醇之间的相互作用，以及基线激素水平和激素水平的变化。
尽管本研究可能因使用唾液测量激素而受到限制，但通过研究与心理调节和中介因素相关的新假设，将增进当前对睾酮和皮质醇在青少年攻击行为中作用的理解。
