Open Peer Commentary Mazur & Booth: Testosterone and dominance
The nurture of nature: Social, developmental, and environmental controls of aggression
Charles T. Snowdon a1 a1 Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706-1696
snowdon@macc.wisc.edu
Abstract
Evidence from many species suggests that social,
developmental, and cognitive variables are important influences
on aggression. Few direct activational or organizational effects of
hormones on aggression and dominance are found in nonhuman
primates. Female aggression and dominance are relatively frequent
and occur with low testosterone levels. Social, cultural, and
developmental mechanisms have more important influences on
dominance and aggression than hormones.
