new evidence on testosterone and cooperation reply

• DOI: 10.5167/uzh-64717
• Publication Date: 2012-01-01
• Authors: Michael Naef; Michael Naef; Ernst Fehr; Markus Heinrichs; Romana Snozzi; Christoph Eisenegger
• Keywords: 1000 Multidisciplinary; 10007 Department of Economics; 330 Economics

van Honk and colleagues have taken our findings on the role of testosterone in ultimatum gamebargaining1 a step forward by showing that the hormone has important prosocial effects beyondthe ultimatum game by increasing cooperation in the public goods game (PGG)2. In contrast to theultimatum game, participants in the PGG decide simultaneously about their cooperation levels andare not confronted with a rejection threat from other participants, suggesting a much moreuniversal effect of testosterone on prosociality than revealed by our study1. As the PGG captures alarge class of evolutionarily and contemporaneously important situations, their findings are ofgreat interest, and considerably extend our knowledge about the causal effect of testosterone onsocial behaviour. In addition, their results raise intriguing questions regarding the motivationaland biological mechanisms through which testosterone increased cooperation levels, suggestingthat the study will trigger further important experiments.