Narcissism in men is positively associated with high testosterone levels.
- Testosterone is the hormone that contributes to sexual arousal in men.
- When high, it tends to stimulate narcissism.
- “In addition, we have proven that those with greater narcissism rate their testosterone levels at higher levels than others,” explains study director Marcin Zajenkowski.
A new study published in Psychological Science revealed that narcissism in men is positively associated with high levels of testosterone in the body.
Blood samples to measure testosterone
This trial involved 283 young Polish men with an average age of 22.
The researchers took blood samples from them to assess their testosterone levels. Participants reported to the laboratory between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. They were required to refrain from drinking alcohol for at least 24 hours before the blood test, from consuming caffeinated drinks, foods or medications, from physical exercise and from smoking.
At the same time, participants also completed questionnaires specifically designed to measure their level of narcissism. Individuals also self-rated their testosterone levels, indicating how they compared to other men on a scale of 1 (very low) to 25 (very high).
A multidimensional construct of narcissism
Summary: “We found that pronounced narcissism in men is associated with high testosterone levels. Furthermore, we proved that those with greater narcissism rate their testosterone levels at higher levels than others,” explains the director of the study Marcin Zajenkowski. “I have studied narcissism for several years. Recent findings have indicated that narcissism may be a multidimensional construct,” he adds.
“Future studies could examine whether estradiol (the female reproductive hormone) is also associated with narcissism.he concludes.
What is testosterone?
Mainly produced in the testicles, testosterone is the hormone that contributes to male sexual arousal, erection and ejaculation.
In men, a dosage may be prescribed to check for testicular or pituitary dysfunction.