title: Testosterone dynamics during encounter: role of emotional factors.
abstract: This study attempts to develop a new theory to explain the varying dynamics of testosterone levels in dominant (winners) and subordinate (losers) males, both pre- and post-encounter. The crux of our new theory consists of the following four theses: (1) the strengthening of testosterone synthesis is a result of not only the existence of challenges, but also of a positive mood before an encounter that is associated with the anticipation of a victory; (2) in situations where the anticipation of victory is present but the positive mood is absent, no rise in testosterone levels will occur; (3) testosterone acts as a "pleasure" hormone and usually releases in situations where the individual achieves or anticipates possible satisfaction; (4) an increased release of testosterone to the blood not only decreases anxiety but also elevates the mood, which increases animal's/human's assertiveness and consequently aggressiveness.
authors.affiliation: I. Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine, (former I. Beritashvili Institute of Physiology), Gotua str. 14, Tbilisi, Georgia. k.chichinadze@lifescience.org.ge
authors.forename: Konstantin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chichinadze
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazarashvili
authors.forename: Nodar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chichinadze
authors.forename: Ledi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gachechiladze
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000374:Aggression; D000818:Animals; D059031:Anticipation, Psychological; D001242:Assertiveness; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D004291:Dominance-Subordination; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012930:Social Dominance; D012931:Social Environment; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D013739:Testosterone