Testosterone, Alcohol, and Civil and Rough Conflict Resolution Strategies in Lesbian Couples
Department
Psychology
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-2002
Abstract
The present study investigated the relations among testosterone level, acute alcohol consumption, and the use of violent (Rough) or non-violent (Civil) conflict resolution strategies in lesbian couples. The participants were 54 lesbian campers at a women's campground or spectators at a gay pride celebration who each provided a saliva sample for testosterone assay and completed a questionnaire. On the questionnaire, participants indicated whether they used Civil or Rough tactics to deal with domestic discord, and whether or not their use of these tactics varied with their use of alcohol. High testosterone women used Rough tactics equally when drinking as when not drinking, while low testosterone women used Rough tactics far more often when drinking than when not drinking. Alcohol appears to release violent tendencies in low testosterone women, who are characteristically restrained under sober conditions, but has little effect on high testosterone women.
Journal Title
Journal of Homosexuality
Journal ISSN
1540-3602
Volume
42
Issue
4
First Page
77
Last Page
88
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1300/J082v42n04_05