14 DAY TRIAL // A team of specialists from the University of Bonn have recently found that, besides “convincing” men to act even manlier than they typically would, high levels of testosterone also compel them to tell the truth.
Thus, experiments have shown that individuals who had increased levels of this hormone in their bodies lied less frequently when compared to individuals with lower levels.
Apparently, one possible explanation for this is that high levels of testosterone up self-confidence, which basically means that the individuals feel no need to distort the truth in order to “design” a better image of themselves.
As well as this, lying – when caught – is detrimental to one's social status, which is why people who place great emphasis on how others perceive them will agree to tell the truth most of the times.
“A potential interpretation for our findings is that testosterone administration affects a concern for self-image, or pride, i.e. enhances behavior which will make a subject feel proud and leads to the avoidance of behavior considered 'cheap' or dishonorable,” reads the study.
The findings of this researcher have been published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.