Amanda Dahlstrom, Alex Demenno, & Tionna Dentman

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0ceYcuo7mI&feature=player_embedded*

Burnham, T. C., Chapman, J. F., Gray, P. B., McIntyre, M. H., Lipson, S. F., & Ellison, P. T. (2003). Men in committed, romantic relationships have lower testosterone. Hormones and Behavior, (44) 199-

122.

• Field of research in its infancy

• Testosterone most present during mating wars

• Hypothesis – Single males would have highest levels of

testosterone

Introduction

Burnham, T. C., Chapman, J. F., Gray, P. B., McIntyre, M. H., Lipson, S. F., & Ellison, P. T. (2003). Men in committed, romantic relationships have lower testosterone. Hormones

and Behavior, (44) 199-122.

Material

• 122 male participants from Harvard Business School (ages 23-24)

• 4 groups– “Un-paired” (41)– “Paired” (28)– Married w/o children (34)– Married w/ children (9)

Burnham, T. C., Chapman, J. F., Gray, P. B., McIntyre, M. H., Lipson, S. F., & Ellison, P. T. (2003). Men in committed, romantic relationships have lower testosterone. Hormones and

Behavior, (44) 199-122.

Methods

• Saliva sample, collected over 9 days

• Students had same class schedule in the morning

• Filled out a survey about relationship background/demographic– received $10 compensation

Burnham, T. C., Chapman, J. F., Gray, P. B., McIntyre, M. H., Lipson, S. F., & Ellison, P. T. (2003). Men in committed, romantic relationships have lower testosterone. Hormones and

Behavior, (44) 199-122.

Results

• Committed relationships & lower testosterone

• No significant difference between married and “paired”

• Men with kids have lowest testosterone levels, yet statistics lack power

Burnham, T. C., Chapman, J. F., Gray, P. B., McIntyre, M. H., Lipson, S. F., & Ellison, P. T. (2003). Men in committed, romantic relationships have lower testosterone. Hormones and

Behavior, (44) 199-122.

Discussion• Marriage not a special case• In line with challenge hypothesis• Correlation, not causation • Sexual activity• Could be reasoning for the term “settled down”• Testosterone manipulation• Alternate explanations for testosterone level (as

oppose pairing status)– Time of day– T measurement– Age of participants

Burnham, T. C., Chapman, J. F., Gray, P. B., McIntyre, M. H., Lipson, S. F., & Ellison, P. T. (2003). Men in committed, romantic relationships have lower testosterone. Hormones and

Behavior, (44) 199-122.

Interpretation

• Weak sample for generalizations• Does socio-cultural status have an

effect? Business majors?• Need more expansive testing of fathers• K-selected and R-selected• Do testosterone levels vary throughout the

day?• No observer/participant bias

Burnham, T. C., Chapman, J. F., Gray, P. B., McIntyre, M. H., Lipson, S. F., & Ellison, P. T. (2003). Men in committed, romantic relationships have lower testosterone. Hormones and

Behavior, (44) 199-122.