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Implicit power motivation moderates men’s testosterone responses to imagined and real dominance success. (1999)

“Individuals high only in p Power had elevated testosterone after imagining a success in a subsequent dominance contest. They continued to have high testosterone levels after actually winning, but not after losing.

 

Oliver C. Schultheiss, Department of Psychology, Harvard University,
Kenneth L. Campbell, Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts at Boston,
David C. McClelland, Department of Psychology, Boston University

Hormones and Behavior 36, 234–241 (1999), Article ID hbeh.1999.1542,

This study tested the hypothesis that implicit power motivation moderates individuals’ testosterone responses to a dominance contest.

Salivary testosterone levels were assessed in male students at the beginning of the study, after they had imagined a success in an ensuing power contest, and immediately after the contest had taken place.

Participants’ power motive was assessed, in which an assertive, personalized (p Power) component was distinguished from an altruistic, socialized (s Power) component.

Individuals high only in p Power had elevated testosterone after imagining a success in a subsequent dominance contest. They continued to have high testosterone levels after actually winning, but not after losing.

Quick link: access a PDF of the paper here: Implicit power motivation moderates men’s testosterone responses

 

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