Anger Reinforces People with High Testosterone

A new study from the University of Michigan found that individuals with high levels of testosterone receive pleasure from provoking anger in other people.

"It's kind of striking that an angry facial expression is consciously valued as a very negative signal by almost everyone, yet at a non-conscious level can be like a tasty morsel that some people will vigorously work for," said Oliver Schultheiss, co-author of the study and a U-M associate professor of psychology.

The findings may explain why some people like to tease each other so much, he added.

"Perhaps teasers are reinforced by that fleeting 'annoyed look' on someone else's face and therefore will continue to heckle that person to get that look again and again," he said. "As long as it does not stay there for long, it's not perceived as a threat, but as a reward."

This article confirms the explanatory value of the Selfish Gene theory. Even an action which to most of us would seem to have no "selfish" value - provoking anger in others - can be attributed to the expression of a gene (in this case, genes causing a high level of testosterone).

Let's attempt experimenting with lowered testosterone levels to promote behavior which appears altruistic.