Blame it on Testosterone, Again

There is evidence to suggest that a great deal of the sensitivity that exists within men and women has a physiological basis. In many cases, women have an enhanced physical alarm response to danger or threat. Their autonomic and sympathetic systems have a lower threshold of arousal and greater reactivity than men. In both men and women, higher levels of testosterone directly affect the aggressive response and behaviour centres of the brain. Increasing estrogen and progesterone in men has a ‘feminising’ effect.

There is evidence to suggest that a great deal of the sensitivity that exists within men and women has a physiological basis. In many cases, women have an enhanced physical alarm response to danger or threat. Their autonomic and sympathetic systems have a lower threshold of arousal and greater reactivity than men. In both men and women, higher levels of testosterone directly affect the aggressive response and behaviour centres of the brain. Increasing estrogen and progesterone in men has a ‘feminising’ effect. Sexually aggressive males become less focussed on sexual aggressive behaviour and content when they are given female hormones. On the other hand, changing estrogen and progesterone levels in women during menstrual cycles can produce a ‘flood’ of memories as well as strong emotions. Increasing or high levels of testosterone can produce emotional insensitivity, empathic failure and increased indifference to the distress of others.

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arindam