Abstract
Research on human endocrine function and social status has persisted separately for several decades. But recent work in the field of social endocrinology points to a fundamental role for hormones in human status hierarchies. In this chapter, we review evidence of the reciprocal relationship between hormones and hierarchical status, focusing on human endocrine systems that influence and respond to social behavior in pursuit of status. We introduce basic anatomy and physiology pertinent to understanding each hormone’s role in human status, relying on animal research as needed to inform our discussion. We selectively review research on testosterone and its relationship to dominant behavior as well as the relationship between cortisol, stress, and status. We then turn to recent evidence on the interaction between testosterone and cortisol in status hierarchies. Estradiol and oxytocin are examined next in relation to female and intergroup status hierarchies, respectively. We conclude with future directions for research on the interplay between hormones and hierarchies.
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Knight, E., Mehta, P. (2014). Hormones and Hierarchies. In: Cheng, J., Tracy, J., Anderson, C. (eds) The Psychology of Social Status. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0867-7_13
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