Most effective teams have high testosterone and low cortisol

Discussion in 'Human Science' started by Plazma Inferno!, Aug 22, 2016.

  1. Plazma Inferno! Ding Ding Ding Ding Administrator

    Messages:
    4,610
    Working collaboratively in small groups is one of the primary ways that modern humans accomplish anything. But what explains whether a group succeeds? Previous research on group dynamics has considered things like the demographic and psychological characteristics of individual group members. But a recent study published in PNAS indicates that their biology matters, too. Groups with collectively high testosterone and low cortisol (a stress hormone) show the highest performance in group tasks.
    To examine the effects of hormones on group performance, the researchers collected saliva samples from 370 MBA students, then assigned them into groups of three to six members. The groups were then given a group decision-making task, and their performance was evaluated in light of the testosterone and cortisol levels in their saliva samples.
    The researchers found that each group’s mean testosterone levels and cortisol levels (as measured in their saliva samples) significantly predicted their performance on this computerized lab management task. All measures of group performance showed a trend in which performance was highest when testosterone was high and cortisol was low.

    http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/08/most-effective-teams-have-high-testosterone-and-low-cortisol/
     

Share This Page