Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Testosterone can damage family life

2 September 2009

A MAN’S spit may indicate what kind of father and husband he is. In tests on men in a polygamous society, those with high levels of testosterone in their saliva were more likely to have several wives and give their children less attention, compared with those with less of the hormone.

, an anthropologist at the University of Montpellier, France, and colleagues measured testosterone levels in polygynous and monogamous fathers as well unmarried men without children, all living in Senegalese villages. She also asked the men’s wives how much time and money their husband devoted to his family.

On…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with Âé¶¹´«Ã½ events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, today with our introductory offers

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop