18 Questions
How are cortisol levels affected by high status in a stable hierarchy?
Lower cortisol levels
What is the relationship between high status and testosterone levels in an unstable condition?
Higher testosterone levels
How does hierarchy stability impact interview performance of low status individuals?
Boosts performance
According to Sherman et al. (2012), how does high status in a stable hierarchy affect cortisol levels compared to low status?
Lower cortisol levels
What do the results suggest about the self-reinforcing nature of hierarchy?
Hierarchy is self-reinforcing
How can psychological interventions focused on hierarchy instability potentially impact the cycle of hierarchy self-reinforcement?
Break the cycle
What is the Dual Hormone Hypothesis?
Baseline testosterone and baseline cortisol interact to predict status.
How does hierarchy instability affect stress responses?
Higher status exacerbates stress responses if the hierarchy is unstable.
What implications do the findings have on performance in socially-evaluative situations?
Higher status improves performance in socially-evaluative situations if the hierarchy is stable.
How do hormones influence social hierarchy?
Hormones may influence who attains higher status in a hierarchy.
What is the relationship between baseline testosterone and testosterone reactivity to a stressor?
They are distinct measures.
What kind of studies are needed to test the causality between hormones and social status directly?
Future experimental studies (e.g. pharmacology).
What is the functional theory of hierarchy?
A clear hierarchy is theorized to increase social order, reduce conflict, and improve coordination in groups.
How does hierarchy instability affect cortisol levels in individuals with high status?
High status may buffer cortisol response to stress in a stable hierarchy, but may boost cortisol response in an unstable hierarchy.
According to the dual hormone hypothesis, when is testosterone positively related to status?
Testosterone should be positively related to status only when cortisol is low, but not when cortisol is high.
What did the observation study find about leaders' cortisol levels and trait anxiety?
Leaders had lower cortisol levels and lower trait anxiety compared to non-leaders.
How does the desire for status relate to motivation according to the text?
The desire for status is theorized to influence the motivation to attain higher status.
What are some benefits associated with a higher status position in the hierarchy?
Increased access to limited resources is a benefit of higher status in the hierarchy.
Study Notes
Hierarchy and Hormones
- In a stable hierarchy, high-status individuals tend to have lower cortisol levels compared to low-status individuals.
- In unstable conditions, high-status individuals tend to have higher testosterone levels compared to low-status individuals.
Hierarchy Stability and Performance
- In a stable hierarchy, low-status individuals tend to perform poorly in interviews due to stress and anxiety.
- Hierarchy stability impacts interview performance, with unstable hierarchies leading to increased stress and decreased performance.
Self-Reinforcing Nature of Hierarchy
- High status in a stable hierarchy is associated with lower cortisol levels, suggesting a self-reinforcing nature of hierarchy.
- This self-reinforcement can be broken through psychological interventions focused on hierarchy instability.
Hormones and Hierarchy
- The Dual Hormone Hypothesis suggests that testosterone and cortisol interact to shape social behavior and status.
- Testosterone is positively related to status when cortisol levels are low, and negatively related to status when cortisol levels are high.
- Baseline testosterone is negatively correlated with testosterone reactivity to stressors.
Implications and Theories
- The functional theory of hierarchy suggests that hormones influence social hierarchy, with testosterone and cortisol playing key roles.
- Hierarchy instability affects cortisol levels in high-status individuals, leading to increased stress and anxiety.
- The desire for status is a key motivator, and higher status positions are associated with benefits such as increased power and resources.
- Observational studies have found that leaders tend to have lower cortisol levels and trait anxiety compared to non-leaders.
This quiz explores how leadership can impact stress responses, particularly in relation to the stability of social hierarchies. It covers the correlation between status and health outcomes, as well as the role of the HPA axis in buffering stress. References to studies on human and non-human primates are included.
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