
We inherit mechanisms for survival from our primeval past; none so obviously as those involved in reproduction. The hormone testosterone underlies the organization of activation of masculinity: it changes the body and brain to make a male. It is involved not only in sexuality but in driving aggression, competitiveness, risk-taking - all elements that were needed for successful survival and reproduction in the past. But these ancient systems are carried forward into a modern world. The ancient world shaped the human brain, but the modern world is shaped by that brain. How does this world, with all its cultural, political, and social variations, deal with and control the primeval role of testosterone, which continues to be essential for the survival of the species? Sex, aggression, winning, losing, gangs, war: the powerful effects of testosterone are entwined with them all. These are the ingredients of human history, so testosterone has played a central role in our story. In Testosterone, Joe Herbert explains the nature of this potent hormone, how it operates in mammals in general and in humans in particular, what we know about its role in influencing various aspects of behaviour in men, and what we are beginning to understand of its role in women. From rape to gang warfare among youths, understanding the workings of testosterone is critical to enable us to manage its continuing powerful effects in modern society.
How does the ancient biological mechanism of testosterone influence human behavior and social structures in the context of the modern world? Joe Herbert, a neuroscientist, examines the physiological and psychological functions of testosterone across mammalian species with a specific focus on human development. He argues that while the hormone evolved to facilitate survival and reproduction through aggression and competitiveness, these primeval drives now interact with complex modern cultural and political environments. The text synthesizes endocrinology and behavioral science to explain how this hormone shapes individual actions and collective history.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Readers frequently note the accessible yet scientifically rigorous nature of the prose, which balances technical biological data with broader behavioral observations. Experts highlight this as a useful synthesis for understanding the intersection of evolutionary biology and contemporary social issues.
Page Count:
239
Publication Date:
2015-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191038059
ISBN-13:
9780191038051
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