Vanquishing strangers boosts testosterone

The discussion goes back and forth, this time it’s a suggestive title that might imply needless aggression. Which is not it; researchers at the University of Missouri in Columbia linked the testosterone levels to whether or not the gamer knows his opponent.This article at newscientist.com reports of a study of gamers in varying environments; team games and deathmatch. They can conclude that a gamer enjoys a surge of testosterone similar to results measured in warfare whenever they vanquish a foe. The height of the boost depends on wether or not the vanquished gamer is a stranger.

David Geary, who lead the study, had the following to say:

“In a serious out-group competition you can kill all your rivals and you’re better for it,”
“You can’t alienate your in-group partners, because you need them,”

Meaning that it makes sense to eliminate a group of strangers to establish dominance, allowing the testosterone to surge, but when the opponent is a relative or friend the level stays pretty much the same. In the latter case it is interesting for the gamer to establish dominance, but not to the full extent because he will need these people in his social environment.

We can directly conclude that you should play with friends instead of against them.