Testosterone has been associated with a willingness to take risks, engage in aggression, and over estimate one's chances of success. Sustaining high level of testosterone has health costs, and is one of the reasons why men live shorter lives than women everywhere. Male testosterone suffers two big drops over the life course, once after marriage and once after children start arriving. Apply the logic of natural selection to explain these drops.
a) Why might it be adaptive for testosterone to drop after each of these events?
b)How will this change males behavior in an adaptive way?
After marriage and children, a man has responsibilities. He and his progeny can't afford for him to be unduly aggressive and take risks.
Your premises are folk-lore. I challenge you to present research to back your premises.
The drop in testosterone is noticable in men in the aging process, a great drop after castration or prostrate surgery, and during bouts of stress. If you equate marriage and children to stress, which it can be, then it will appear. But work stress or personal stress is much more common, and documented.
Now it is again some speculation why aging, or stress might have a "reproductive" or survival advantage for the reproductive unit (ie family). I know of no data on that. And I take issue with the idea that after marriage and children there is an evolutionary advantage for men to calm down, in evolution, survival of the family and pregnant partner may depend on the aggressive (defensive) responses of the male. But who knows.
I thought psychologists quit speculating 100 years ago, and sociologists took up that method. (Read Grin).
Sounds like an interesting object for a paper.
To understand why testosterone drops after marriage and the arrival of children, we can apply the logic of natural selection.
a) Why might it be adaptive for testosterone to drop after each of these events?
In the context of natural selection, adaptive behaviors are those that increase an individual's chances of survival and reproductive success. Testosterone is a hormone associated with competitive behavior, aggression, and risk-taking. After marriage, it becomes evolutionarily beneficial for men to focus on providing resources, supporting their partner, and investing more time and energy into the relationship and potential offspring. This shift in priorities is likely to require lower levels of aggression and risk-taking associated with high testosterone. Lower testosterone may allow men to be more attentive to their partner's needs, stay committed, and create stable family environments.
Similarly, after children start arriving, there is a need for increased caregiving and parental investment. This involves being more nurturing, protective, and involved in raising the children. High levels of testosterone may interfere with these caring behaviors. Therefore, a drop in testosterone can promote parental involvement, bonding with children, and nurturing behavior.
b) How will this change male behavior in an adaptive way?
The decrease in testosterone levels after marriage and the arrival of children can influence male behavior in several adaptive ways:
1. Increased bonding and commitment: Lower testosterone levels can promote emotional bonding, commitment, and cooperation within the marital relationship. This can lead to greater relationship satisfaction, stability, and increased chances of successful long-term partnerships.
2. Nurturing and caregiving: Lower testosterone levels can facilitate nurturing behaviors, including being more attentive, patient, and responsive to the needs of children. This promotes positive attachments, healthy child development, and increased chances of survival for offspring.
3. Reduced aggression and risk-taking: Lower testosterone levels can help reduce aggressive behaviors, conflicts, and risk-taking, fostering a safer environment for both the family and the individual. This can contribute to the overall well-being and security of the family unit.
Overall, the adaptive changes brought about by the drop in testosterone levels after marriage and the arrival of children help optimize reproductive success by enhancing relationship stability, parental investment, and creating a secure environment for the offspring.