Editing Aggression (section)

====General associations with behavior====
Scientists have for a long time been interested in the relationship between testosterone and aggressive behavior. In most species, males are more aggressive than females. [[Castration]] of males usually has a pacifying effect on aggressive behavior in males. In humans, males engage in crime and especially violent crime more than females. The involvement in crime usually rises in the early teens to mid teens which happen at the same time as testosterone levels rise. Research on the relationship between testosterone and aggression is difficult since the only reliable measurement of brain testosterone is by a [[lumbar puncture]] which is not done for research purposes. Studies therefore have often instead used more unreliable measurements from blood or saliva.<ref name=Ellis2009>''Handbook of Crime Correlates''; Lee Ellis, [[Kevin M. Beaver]], [[John Paul Wright|John Wright]]; 2009; Academic Press</ref>

''The Handbook of Crime Correlates'', a review of crime studies, states most studies support a link between adult criminality and testosterone although the relationship is modest if examined separately for each sex. However, nearly all studies of juvenile delinquency and testosterone are not significant. Most studies have also found testosterone to be associated with behaviors or personality traits linked with criminality such as [[Antisocial personality disorder|antisocial behavior]] and [[alcoholism]]. Many studies have also been done on the relationship between more general aggressive behavior/feelings and testosterone. About half the studies have found a relationship and about half no relationship.<ref name=Ellis2009/>

Studies of testosterone levels of male athletes before and after a competition revealed that testosterone levels rise shortly before their matches, as if in anticipation of the competition, and are dependent on the outcome of the event: testosterone levels of winners are high relative to those of losers. No specific response of testosterone levels to competition was observed in female athletes, although a mood difference was noted.<ref name="PMID 10097017">{{cite journal |doi=10.1017/s0140525x98001228 |title=Testosterone and dominance in men |journal=[[Behavioral and Brain Sciences]] |volume=21 |issue=3 |year=1998 |last1=Mazur |first1=Allan |last2=Booth |first2=Alan |pmid=10097017 |pages=353–63; discussion 363–97|citeseerx=10.1.1.421.3005 |s2cid=9462611 }}</ref> In addition, some experiments have failed to find a relationship between testosterone levels and aggression in humans.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S0149-7634(05)80117-4 |pmid=8309650 |title=Aggression in humans: What is its biological foundation? |journal=Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=405–25 |year=1993 |last1=Albert |first1=D.J. |last2=Walsh |first2=M.L. |last3=Jonik |first3=R.H. |s2cid=28557481 }}</ref><ref name=":5">{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.jpsychires.2006.04.009 |pmid=16765987 |title=CSF testosterone: Relationship to aggression, impulsivity, and venturesomeness in adult males with personality disorder |journal=[[Journal of Psychiatric Research]] |volume=41 |issue=6 |pages=488–92 |year=2007 |last1=Coccaro |first1=Emil F. |last2=Beresford |first2=Brendan |last3=Minar |first3=Philip |last4=Kaskow |first4=Jon |last5=Geracioti |first5=Thomas }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1097/00004583-199311000-00015 |pmid=8282667 |title=Testosterone and Aggression in Children |journal=Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry |volume=32 |issue=6  |pages=1217–22 |year=1993 |last1=Constantino |first1=John N. |last2=Grosz |first2=Daniel |last3=Saenger |first3=Paul |last4=Chandler |first4=Donald W. |last5=Nandi |first5=Reena |last6=Earls |first6=Felton J. }}</ref>

The possible correlation between testosterone and aggression could explain the "roid rage" that can result from [[anabolic steroid]] use,<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1097/01.wnr.0000234752.03808.b2 |pmid=16957604 |title=Neurosteroids regulate mouse aggression induced by anabolic androgenic steroids |journal=[[NeuroReport]] |volume=17 |issue=14 |pages=1537–41 |year=2006 |last1=Pibiri |first1=Fabio |last2=Nelson |first2=Marianela |last3=Carboni |first3=Giovanni |last4=Pinna |first4=Graziano |s2cid=42991833 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/hup.470050407 |title=High-dose anabolic steroids in strength athletes: Effects upon hostility and aggression |journal=Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental |volume=5 |issue=4 |pages=349–56 |year=1990 |last1=Choi |first1=P. Y. L. |last2=Parrott |first2=A. C. |last3=Cowan |first3=D. |s2cid=37157824 }}</ref> although an effect of abnormally high levels of steroids does not prove an effect at physiological levels.