I've been fascinated by the stuff ever since I went on testosterone replacement therapy to correct my own HIV-related testosterone plummet. I wrote a long essay, The He Hormone, which was included in that year's anthology of Best American Science Writing. And one of the things you learn about it is not just its strength but its nuance. Clearly, our evolution made testosterone both necessary and dangerous. And so it's not a big surprise that evolution gave an advantage to those who had high testosterone when getting laid or beating back male rivals and low testosterone when taking care of kids. Men are not intrinsically philandering goats (though we can sometimes give that impression). In fact, testosterone interacts with the body and mind just as the body and mind can react back to testosterone. It's a very complicated, subtle and dynamic feedback loop. From a new study:
The study, experts say, suggests that men’s bodies evolved hormonal systems that helped them commit to their families once children were born. It also suggests that men’s behavior can affect hormonal signals their bodies send, not just that hormones influence behavior. And, experts say, it underscores that mothers were meant to have child care help.
“This is part of the guy being invested in the marriage,” said Carol Worthman, an anthropologist at Emory University who also was not involved in the study. Lower testosterone, she said, is the father’s way of saying, “ ‘I’m here, I’m not looking around, I’m really toning things down so I can have good relationships.’ What’s great about this study is it lays it on the table that more is not always better. Faster, bigger, stronger — no, not always.”
This just in: changing diapers does not make you horny. Marriage with kids, whatever else it's about, is not primarily about sex. A little more candor about that might help deal with delusional expectations.
The Dish 