Adar B. Eisenbruch is an assistant professor of psychology at the State University of New York at Purchase. James R. Roney is a professor of psychological and brain sciences at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
The resurgence of masculinity as a cultural value, combined with the various struggles of modern males, has contributed to a new obsession among some men: a desire for higher testosterone. But this trend misunderstands what the hormone actually does.
Everyone — male or female — has testosterone. The hormone is important for physiological functions like hemoglobin production and maintaining muscle mass and bone density. For men, it has a special significance. Testosterone is the main factor that turns some fetuses into boys and then turns boys into men at puberty.
But testosterone levels do not reveal a man’s overall health, masculinity or social worth, as some have suggested. And no matter how much Cabinet secretaries boast about the president’s testosterone levels, or how many men use medically questionable testosterone replacement therapy or attend Silicon Valley testosterone parties, higher testosterone is not an unambiguous good. In fact, the most traditionally manly men — husbands, dads, hard workers, soldiers — often have low testosterone.
This paradox can be explained by the hormone’s overarching biological function in men. Variance in testosterone — the differences that occur between individuals and within an individual over time — regulates mating effort. Testosterone directs the body to invest energy in the traits and behaviors that have reliably led to mating opportunities over evolutionary history.
Testosterone effectively acts as a conductor of the orchestra that is a man’s body and mind. Because the body’s energy is finite, calories spent on muscle growth and seeking social status can’t be spent on other physiological systems and behaviors. When a man is ready to pursue a partner, testosterone limits the energy the body directs to other functions such as the immune system and instead focuses on mating. Afterward, it can recalibrate the mind and body to other priorities.
This process is remarkably effective. When a heterosexual man flirts with a woman, he usually experiences a spike in testosterone. The more intense the flirting is, the higher the increase. Unsurprisingly, research has shown that single men with higher testosterone are more likely to become partnered over the next few years.
But after a man finds a partner, his testosterone declines. In a recent study, we measured testosterone levels in a group of male college students every day for a month. Both single and partnered men showed wide day-to-day variations, but partnered men almost never had very high testosterone. Because these men already had a partner, they no longer needed elevated testosterone, and for good reason. Studies have shown that men with higher levels of the hormone have less satisfying relationships and are more likely to cheat or get divorced.
Lower testosterone does not necessarily mean a man has become weaker or unhealthy. When a man becomes a father, his testosterone declines even further, and the magnitude of the decrease correlates to how much time he spends taking care of his child. You might think this would be a problem in traditional societies dependent on physically difficult tasks such as hunting, gathering and farming. But a 2015 study of Polish farmers found that married men with children worked more and were physically stronger than single men despite lower testosterone levels. The dads weren’t less masculine; they simply prioritized investment in their children over finding a mate.
If farmers aren’t manly enough, how about Navy SEALs? Research has found that intense combat training sharply reduces testosterone levels. Just three days of Special Operations training can lower a man’s testosterone by 43 percent. Eight weeks reduces it by more than 80 percent. This is likely caused by sleep deprivation, a calorie deficit and extreme psychological stress — all good signs that the time is wrong to pursue a mate.
There are certainly instances where low testosterone can be an issue. Hypogonadism (a condition in which the testes don’t produce enough testosterone) is relatively rare, but increases with age and can produce sexual dysfunction and depressed mood. Globally, testosterone levels have declined for decades, probably due to lifestyle issues like sedentism and poor diet. Insofar as testosterone deficiency can indicate deeper health problems or harmful environmental effects, it’s worth paying attention to.
But thinking that testosterone itself should be maximized misses the point. This hormone is mostly an evolved means to an end (securing a mate), and part of the reason it works so well is that it fluctuates. Bragging about high testosterone is a bit like bragging that your watch says 12 o’clock. A bigger number isn’t necessarily better, and it’s only a matter of time before it changes.
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