Stress, Hormones and Hierarchies.pdf

Stress, Hormones and Hierarchies 11 January 2024 09:46 Main Ideas Notes Hierarchy is pervasive Observed in many social species rank-ordering of individuals or groups along a valued social dimension (Magee & Galinsky, 2008) Functional theory of hierarchy: A clear hierarchy is theorized to increase so...

Stress, Hormones and Hierarchies 11 January 2024 09:46 Main Ideas Notes Hierarchy is pervasive Observed in many social species rank-ordering of individuals or groups along a valued social dimension (Magee & Galinsky, 2008) Functional theory of hierarchy: A clear hierarchy is theorized to increase social order, reduce conflict, and improve coordin ation in groups (Ronay et al., 2012). The desire for status may be a fundamental motive (Anderson et al., 2015). A higher status position in the hierarchy comes with benefits, such as increased access to limited resources Notes ○ Higher status -> less stress or less stress -> higher status? ○ Involvement of testosterone ▪ Testosterone is theorised to influence the motivation to attain higher status (Mazur & Booth, 1998) HPG and HPA axes Notes Hierarchy Instability Hypothesis Hierarchies are not always static High status may buffer cortisol response to stress only in a stable hierarchy High status may boost cortisol response to stress in an unstable hierarchy (Sapolsky, 1992; 2004) ○ Methods - video recorded - observation study ○ Results ▪ Leaders had lower cortisol levels compared to non-leaders ▪ Leaders had lower trait anxiety compared to non-leaders ▪ Anxiety and cortisol were unrelated The dual hormone hypothesis (Mehta & Josephs, 2010) The dual hormone hypothesis proposes that testosterone and cortisol should interact to predict status More specifically, testosterone should be positively related to status only when cortisol is low but not when cortisol is hig h That is, the combination of high testosterone (high motivation for status) and low cortisol (low stress) should be related to higher social status Dominance in leaders (Mehta & Josephs, 2010 Sherman et al. (2012) - Study 2 ○ Results ▪ Replicated first study results ▪ Leadership level linked to sense of control (positive cor), cortisol (negative cor) and anxiety (negative cor) ▪ Sense of control linked to cortisol (negative cor) and anxiety (negative cor) Results ○ Testosterone positively related to dominance in leaders only when cortisol is low ○ Same dual-hormone pattern in research with female athletes (Edwards & Casto, 2013; Casto et al., 2019) Same-dual hormone pattern when examining popularity in social network analysis with rugby players Same dual-hormone pattern in another paper by Sherman et al. (2015) Explanations These studies, particularly the laboratory study with behavioural observation in students, ○ suggest that hormones associated with high status-seeking motivation and low stress (high testosterone and low cortisol) may cause high status (leadership emergence). ○ However, pharmacology studies are required to test the causal impact of these hormones on leadership behaviour. it is still possible that being a leader also causes a buffered stress response. Need an experimental study to test this hypo thesis. The effect of leadership on stress responses may depend on the stability of the social hierarchy Summary PSYC0010 Social Psychology Page 1 ○ ○ Status and health Markers of higher status are positively related to health outcomes across human societies (Adler et al., 1994; Adler et al., 2000) A buffered stress response (HPA axis) may be a mechanism for the health benefits of higher status High status in a stable hierarchy related to lower cortisol levels in non -human primates (Sapolsky, 1990; 2004) Leadership and Stress Sherman et al. (2012) - Study 1 Key ○ Results ○ Unstable condition ▪ High status had on average higher cortisol levels compared to low status ▪ Testosterone levels higher for higher status ▪ Interview Performance: Low status boosts performance, equivalent to performance of high status individuals ○ Stable condition ▪ High status had on average lower cortisol levels compared to low status ▪ Testosterone similar between different statuses ▪ High status in a stable hierarchy – Improves interview performance ○ The effect of status on creativity also depends on the stability of the hierarchy Discussion and Future Directions The results suggest that hierarchy is self-reinforcing (Magee & Galinsky, 2008) and points to mechanisms that may explain the selfreinforcing nature of hierarchy. Psychological interventions focused on hierarchy instability may help break the cycle of hierarchy self -reinforcement. Health implications – The stability of the hierarchy generally ignored – Immune function Follow up on the testosterone reactivity mediation result. Distinction between baseline testosterone and testosterone reactiv ity to a statusrelevant stressor. Performance in tasks involving creativity Notes findings and Implications Dual hormone hypothesis: Baseline testosterone and baseline cortisol interact to predict status. Future experimental studies (e.g. pharmacology) are needed to test causality directly. Hierarchy Instability Hypothesis: Higher status buffers stress responses and improves performance in socially -evaluative situations, but only if the hierarchy is stable. If the hierarchy is unstable, higher status exacerbates stress responses. Th is pattern of results suggests that hierarchies are self -reinforcing, but instability can disrupt this cycle of self -reinforcement. Bidirectional pathways linking hormones to social hierarchy – It seems that hormones may influence who attains higher status in a hierarchy (dual hormone hypothesis). – And once a hierarchy has been established, one’s position in the hierarchy impacts how individuals respond to stressors (hierarchy instability hypothesis). Findings have implications for: – Who attains and maintains higher status in social hierarchies – Performance in hierarchyrelevant settings – Health PSYC0010 Social Psychology Page 2 Notes Notes PSYC0010 Social Psychology Page 3 Notes Notes PSYC0010 Social Psychology Page 4 PSYC0010 Social Psychology Page 5