Type

Text

Type

Dissertation

Advisor

Bernard, Kristin | O'Leary, K. Daniel. | Anderson, Brenda | Sherman, Gary.

Date

2017-08-01

Keywords

Aggression | Clinical psychology | Cortisol | Dual Hormone Hypothesis | Intimate Partner Violence | Testosterone

Department

Department of Clinical Psychology.

Language

en_US

Source

This work is sponsored by the Stony Brook University Graduate School in compliance with the requirements for completion of degree

Identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/11401/78184

Publisher

The Graduate School, Stony Brook University: Stony Brook, NY.

Format

application/pdf

Abstract

The dual hormone hypothesis suggests that cortisol and testosterone work together to jointly regulate dominance and social aggression (Mehta & Josephs, 2010). Although this theory has recently garnered support in the literature, some of the results are inconsistent. Existing work suggests that results may vary across individual personality characteristics, methodology, and outcome variables, but these inconsistencies have yet to be reconciled. In order to gain a better understanding of the joint impact of testosterone and cortisol on behavior, the current study tested the moderation of the dual hormone hypothesis by trait aggression, using both state and trait measures of testosterone and cortisol for the prediction of intimate partner violence (IPV). Procedures include 2 days of diurnal at-home saliva samples, as well as hormone reactivity across a laboratory stressor. Results provide support for the dual hormone hypothesis, indicating that trait aggression moderates the relationship between the ratio of testosterone to cortisol (T/C) and IPV perpetration, but not the interaction of T and C. Higher ratios, or more testosterone relative to cortisol, are positively related to IPV in men low in trait aggression, while lower ratios, or less testosterone relative to cortisol, are positively related to IPV in men high in trait aggression. Analyses suggest that this pattern is similar for the ratio of basal testosterone to basal cortisol, as well as for the ratio of pre-stressor testosterone to pre-stressor cortisol, suggesting that both trait and state hormone measures have links to aggressive behavior. Clinical implications and predictive utility are discussed. | 65 pages

Download

Share

COinS