The violent hormone?

by **Nichola Winney** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 3:11 pm

I'm doing some research for a book, and looking to 'invent' a trigger for violence in mankind.

As I am not a medic could anyone tell me, is that more likely to based upon a hormone, or would it sit better as a generic trait?

Please forgive my ignorance if this doesn't make any sense! :?:

by **Nichola Winney** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 3:19 pm

Of course I mean - genetic trait!!

by **MrMistery** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 6:49 pm

Testosterone is the hormon that makes us agressive. That is why men are more agressive than women. A hipersecretion of testosterone in a woman(YES, women do have it) leads to a more agressive behaviour among other things...
The genetic ground that it stands on are the genes on the Y chromosome. As you may or may not know, there is only one set of genes that is active on the Y chromosome. The rest are all heterochromatised. they think it might be a single gene. What it does is stimulate the development of testicles as to nature's default ovaries, where the named it from TDF.
Or something like that.... :lol:

Regards,

by **Nichola Winney** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 7:10 pm

Thank you Mr Mistery. I think the hormone route offers lots of opportunities to manufacture a 'switch' because the subject matter is so complex.

However, if I am looking to develop/control a psychological propensity for violence rather than a physical one, would this still be realistic?

by **MrMistery** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 7:28 pm

A switch, as you say, would have grave side effects since testosteron affects the body in many other ways that this one.
A pshychological approach? Why not? I am a biologist, not a pshychiatrist, but as I know they have methods of therapy that have proved and reproved their efficiency.
Regards,

by **Nichola Winney** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 9:48 pm

ooohhh, this gets more interesting by the minute.

What might some of the side affects include? Any psychological ones??

by **MrMistery** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 6:27 pm

No, none that i know of, except the overall decrease in agresivity. But think of it like this. This hormone is linked with masculinity. So as a decrease in it, you will act more like a girl

See this site for details about testosterone defficiency
http://www.urologychannel.com/testoster ... ndex.shtml

by **Nichola Winney** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 9:37 pm

Mmmmm, thank you for that, the web site was really clear.

The problem is I'm trying to target just aggression - in all its forms - power, control, killing, territorial behaviour, abuse, rape etc etc.

Men are normally (but not always) the perputrators of these behaviours, but is it soley down to testosterone levels?

I know I am probably grasping at straws here, but this 'trigger' or 'switch' is fictional so I could make it almost anything. I just want it to sound plausible

Thank you for all your input - you've given me lots of ideas to ponder.

by **mith** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 9:50 pm

I think aggression could also mean motivation, I mean isn't male aggression simply a way to win the girl? So I think it would be hard to simply turn it off.

by **Chris4** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 10:28 pm

Serotonin levels may also contribute. You might want to do some research into it. Heres just a couple of articles on low serotonin and violence.
http://www.hfg.org/hfg_review/3/wallman.htm
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/science/8122/8122sci1page1.html

by **Nichola Winney** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 8:35 pm

mithrilhack wrote:I think aggression could also mean motivation, I mean isn't male aggression simply a way to win the girl? So I think it would be hard to simply turn it off.

Well yes, I think you are right. For instance there is some interesting research being done at the moment regarding the connection of a series of shootings (1997 - 2000) in schools and the perps experience with girls - rejection, ridicule etc.

I see this as an important element, but still just one aspect of male violence - there are so many.

And it is the actual execution of the voilent act that I am interested in, not necessarily the reasons for it. What is it that makes more men than women actually commit violence, many think about it, but it takes something else to put it into action.

by **Nichola Winney** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 8:36 pm

Chris4 wrote:Serotonin levels may also contribute. You might want to do some research into it. Heres just a couple of articles on low serotonin and violence.
http://www.hfg.org/hfg_review/3/wallman.htm
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/science/8122/8122sci1page1.html

thank you very much for that, it is not an area that I have looked at in the past. I'll give you an update.