By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
    Chewing Matters More Than You Think: Why Proper Chewing Supports Better Health
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Obamacare vs. Romneycare
    October 11, 2012
    HIMSS recap
    HIMSS Privacy and Security Forum: Managing Social Media While Protecting Privacy and Security
    September 12, 2014
    Almost Anybody Qualifies for Medicaid in Maine
    November 23, 2012
    Latest News
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Hormones and Behavior: What You Should Know About Them
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Hormones and Behavior: What You Should Know About Them
SpecialtiesWellness

Hormones and Behavior: What You Should Know About Them

John Henning
Last updated: November 28, 2018 10:56 am
John Henning
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

 

Contents
EstrogenTestosteroneOxytocin and VasopressinResearching Connections Between Behavior and Hormones

Your body produces hormones and circulates them throughout your bloodstream on a regular basis. These hormones then have an impact on other cells, regardless of how far they have to travel. Since many hormones have receptors that allow them to travel to the brain, they toy with the way it functions and affect your social behaviors. Estrogen, testosterone, vasopressin, and oxytocin are some of the most researched hormones that impact behavior.

The way hormones affect behavior is particularly interesting when trying to understand how people find love, sexual stimulation, and behavioral differences between men and women. Each hormone impacts behavior in a different way, so it’s important to study each of them individually.

Estrogen

Estrogen produces a number of effects on the way your brain and body function. Many people assume that this hormone is most prevalent in women, which is true, but men produce estrogen as well. Some symptoms related to this hormone can include depression, personality changes, memory impairment, increased libido, and emotional behavior. There are several estrogen receptors in your brain, and this hormone is responsible for raising serotonin levels. Serotonin plays an important role in mental disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. These two disorders are prevalent in males and females at very different rates. Supplements of the hormone are known to be effective at calming down symptoms of depression and personality disorder. Research also suggests that this hormone can cause a spike in verbal skills or memory but decrease spatial skills.

More Read

15 Great Ways To Make Your Home Healthier This Fall
So, You Need a Chest X-Ray: Here’s What to Expect
Noted Endocrinologist Indicates Testosterone Therapy Could Minimize Bone Loss
Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 7-13
TBI In the News: Woodpeckers Could Prevent Sporting Brain Injuries

Testosterone

Testosterone is often associated with men, but as with estrogen, women produce the hormone as well. Many people believe the hormone testosterone is associated with aggressive behaviors, but this isn’t completely true. According to research, testosterone produces a need for dominance and power. Although these behaviors may lead to aggression, it doesn’t necessarily come as a direct result of the hormone. Additional studies suggest that testosterone will increase libido and help with organizational and spatial skills. Low testosterone symptoms often include a decreased sex drive, issues developing an erection, and less muscle strength and bone mass. As this hormone decreases, fertility in men declines.

Oxytocin and Vasopressin

Oxytocin is a hormone released directly after sexual activity or other positive experiences that promote a sense of bonding. Oxytocin often promotes a positive feeling toward other people. Vasopressin houses several receptors within the brain and levels tend to spike with species that have monogamous relationships between males and females and provide care for the young. Both oxytocin and vasopressin spike when people fall in love. The hormones also cause changes in the bonding between two people and their parenting styles. Both of these hormones are related to human attachments. Psychologists often relate oxytocin to effective mothering.

Researching Connections Between Behavior and Hormones

Many different research methods are conducted when testing the connections between behavior and hormone levels. These methods include animal studies, human studies that test the different hormone levels by altering them slightly, immunoassay, and even approaches that will test natural variations that occur on a regular basis within the human body. In each process, scientists will take a deep look at how hormone levels are impacting the behavior of the subjects, whether they are animals or humans. Tests on animals are often conducted because many behavioral differences between sexes that are seen in humans also translate to other species. Although some brain functions cannot be analyzed, this method provides very effective results when testing behavioral differences.

Most often, it’s helpful to conduct a variety of different research studies in order to come up with a concrete conclusion about a thesis. Ideally, a psychologist would test their theories using a combination of these research techniques and a variety of different subjects of different genders, ages, developmental stages, etc.

Hormone behavior and its effects are definitely not a one-way street. While hormone levels certainly do affect your behavior, certain behaviors can have an impact on your hormone levels. It’s important to pay attention to hormonal changes and how they impact your behavior on a regular basis. Particularly if your hormonal behavior is problematic, it’s helpful to understand what hormones are causing it and how it can be remedied. Be sure to consult with a professional psychologist if you have concerns about your hormone levels and how they are impacting your behavior.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By John Henning
John Henning is a nutritionist, freelance writer, and food blogger that provides accessible nutrition info to help people live a healthier life. His unique approach to nutrition emphasizes nutrient-dense, whole foods and healthy habits rather than restrictive diets.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy
How TMS Therapy Helps with Treatment-Resistant Mental Illness
Mental Health Therapies
June 13, 2025
Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
June 11, 2025
magnesium supplements
The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
Health
June 11, 2025
preparing for next pendamic
Preparing for the Next Pandemic: How Technology is Changing the Game
Technology
June 6, 2025

You Might also Like

dental x-rays
Dental healthSpecialties

Understanding The Role Of Dental X-Rays In Early Diagnosis

October 14, 2024
Hospital AdministrationMedical EthicsPolicy & LawWellness

How Healthcare Professionals Can Keep on Top of Stress at Work

September 24, 2018
ICD-10 billing
BusinesseHealthFinanceHealth ReformHospital AdministrationOrthopaedicsPolicy & Law

Orthopedic Billing: Creating a Seamless Transition to ICD-10

April 12, 2013
Image
Specialties

How Good is Screening Colonoscopy for Average-risk Adults?

March 18, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?