Testosterone Leads To Fatherhood, Then Drops
In a new study of Philippine males, subjects with the highest testosterone levels were most likely to become fathers. But once they became fathers, their testosterone levels dropped steeply. I have no idea how good the study was, but I find it fascinating how academics respond to the story with comments that veer from laughable political correctness to a belief in design that would make some Intelligent Design advocates blush:
“The real take-home message,” said Peter Ellison, a professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard who was not involved in the study, is that “male parental care is important. It’s important enough that it’s actually shaped the physiology of men.”...
“My hope would be that this kind of research has an impact on the American male. It would make them realize that we’re meant to be active fathers and participate in the care of our offspring.”
The study, experts say, suggests that men’s bodies evolved hormonal systems that helped them commit to their families once children were born. It also suggests that men’s behavior can affect hormonal signals their bodies send, not just that hormones influence behavior. And, experts say, it underscores that mothers were meant to have child care help.
So we're going to argue that evolution supports a childrearing system that began to be advocated by American feminists about 30 years ago? Evolution works quickly, eh?
But all this "meant' language is also curious -- men are "meant to be active fathers and participate in the care of our offspring" and mothers are "meant to have child care help."
Meant by whom?
Now, I have no difficulty believing that forming a stable relationship and having children invests you more in your immediate family and much less in looking around for another mate. It's a feature, not a bug, in my view. I just think it's funny how studies such as this are interpreted in the most politically correct manner and that scientists are allowed to deduce the intent of this design in a way that would yield to all sorts of mockery if a conservative politician did the same.
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Comments :
Dec '10
Re: Testosterone Leads To Fatherhood, Then Drops
That's interesting because I thought that the standard line is that men want to spread their genes as much as possible, so they are prone to promiscuity. Settling down just isn't in our makeup. It will be interesting to see if these results can be replicated.
Mar '11
Re: Testosterone Leads To Fatherhood, Then Drops
I think it's much simpler than that - once we have performed our function of propagating the species we go into a long, slow decline (I speak from experience). We should be grateful, I guess, that the female doesn't eat us, as do some spiders, if I recall (memory also declines with age).
Jun '10
Re: Testosterone Leads To Fatherhood, Then Drops
When groups had to contend with a couple serious famines in each generation, skill and status was also very important. You can father a lot of sons, but if they don't have good survival skills, and aren't of value to the tribe, then they may not survive to spread their seed.
May '10
Re: Testosterone Leads To Fatherhood, Then Drops
Unless you say this to the 67% of black fathers that abandon the women they've impregnated. Then you are a right-wing racist.
May '10
Re: Testosterone Leads To Fatherhood, Then Drops
Mollie, your post seems to imply a connection between sex and babies. In my exhaustive study of popular culture, I can find no supporting evidence for this surprising claim.
Dec '10
Re: Testosterone Leads To Fatherhood, Then Drops
The actual grammar of evolution is much more interesting: Male testosterone dropping after siring offspring apparently led to greater success in passing one's genes to the generation after next, by giving their offspring a greater chance of surviving to sexual maturity and successfully producing that next generation.
That implies that a male parenting strategy of abandonment of one's offspring to breed additional offspring is not an efficacious evolutionary strategy. One may have more offspring, but one can be expected to have fewer grandchildren and great-grandchildren due to the dysfunction of one's offspring in raising the next generation.
Jan '11
Re: Testosterone Leads To Fatherhood, Then Drops
How about the toll taken by years of interrupted sleep?
May '10
Re: Testosterone Leads To Fatherhood, Then Drops
I think that this is bunk as a consequent physical phenomenon.
The issue is testosterone cycle, and what causes elevated testosterone levels. It is quite plausible that after mom gets her baby, she gives off "leave me alone" vibes, which will suppress testosterone as he sublimates frustration.
I can assure you that old guys with very long marriages are still afflicted with excess testosterone. And if you are a Type II diabetes risk, if your wife actually loves you, she will try to promote testosterone production by any means necessary.
Oct '10
Re: Testosterone Leads To Fatherhood, Then Drops
Doesn't this study completely debunk the feminist fantasy of single mothers "wedded to the state" with no room for men? That's how it sounds to me, anyway. Obviously this supports the traditional family view of things.
Sep '10
Re: Testosterone Leads To Fatherhood, Then Drops
Who knew?
May '10
Re: Testosterone Leads To Fatherhood, Then Drops
Infuriating BS