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Stryker1992
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Just so you guys know, I am working on my Ph D in psychology but am also an advocate for our lifestyle. I thought you guys would enjoy this!
Competitive athletes from both sexes commonly use Anabolic/androgenic steroids. Anabolic/androgenic steroids are the synthetic derivatives of the naturally occurring male anabolic hormone testosterone (NIDA, 2002). Steroids can be taken orally or they can be injected. Modern day concerns include the increasing widespread usage of anabolic steroids by younger and younger athletes. Steroid usage is on the rise in the United States and all categories of people are using them, it is not only the football player or weightlifter or sprinter who may be using anabolic steroids (NIDA, 2002). White and blue collar workers, females and, most alarmingly, adolescents take steroids, all linked by the desire to hopefully look, perform and feel better, regardless of the dangers. This is largely blamed on the pictures of bulking physiques and rippling muscles seen on TV, magazines, and billboards. In an ever-vigilant society the “ideal” body is always being marketed. Many individuals wonder how they can measure up if there genetics just do not predispose them to the physique they see as idealistic or desirable. Hence, resulting in anabolic steroid use.
The ever standing and resounding question is, do steroids increase aggression? Is the person who chooses to use steroids already predisposed to aggressive actions? This dichotomy of questions was addressed in a recent article written by Etienne Benson, I the APA Monitor on Psychology journal (Etienne, 2002). Animal studies have absolutely linked synthetic steroid use to aggression, in some studies more than 80 percent of steroid treated animals became extremely aggressive (Etienne, 2002). In the human population, the link is not quite so clear and has been clouded by media, the sports industry and lack of research. Many times even mentioning the term steroids sends people into frenzy, quoting more anecdotal evidence than empirical research. Only recently researchers have been able to directly link steroid usage to increased aggression (Etienne, 2002). However, this change in mood seems to be mostly linked to steroid users who have taken large doses over long periods of time (Etienne, 2002).
Anabolic steroids have been reported also to cause other behavioral effects outside of aggression, such as, euphoria, increased energy, sexual arousal, mood swings, distractibility, forgetfulness, and confusion (Etienne, 2002; NIDA, 2002). In the studies in which researchers administered high steroid doses to volunteers, a minority of the volunteers developed behavioral symptoms that were so extreme as to disrupt their ability to function in their jobs or in society (Etienne, 2002). In a few cases, the volunteers' behavior presented a threat to themselves and others (NIDA, 2002).
It has been noted that the link between normal variations in testosterone levels and aggression is weak; a strong correlation is found only when considering massive testosterone levels reached by steroid users (Etienne, 2002). Likewise, it has been additionally noted that there is a normal variation in endogenous human testosterone levels and being either higher or lower on the scale does not directly affect mood (Etienne, 2002). However, the research does purport that superhuman testosterone levels, such as the ones achieved from exogenous synthetic steroid consumption can stimulate aggression (Etienne, 2002). To date, four studies investigating the effects of steroid intake have been conducted. In three, high steroid doses did produce greater feelings of irritability and aggression than did placebo; but in one study, the drugs did not have that effect (NIDA, 2002). One possible explanation, according to researchers, is that some but not all anabolic steroids increase irritability and aggression (Etienne, 2002; NIDA, 2002).
In 2000, Harvard Medical School psychiatrist, Harrison Pope, MD published a randomized; double blind study that reported at super-physiological testosterone levels men displayed increased levels of aggression (Etienne, 2002). Pope followed his study by stating that there must be a link between steroid intake at maximum levels and biological changes that occur (Etienne, 2002). However, the question still remains, in whom exactly?
Researchers have suggested that steroid abusers may commit aggressive acts and property crimes not because of steroids' direct effects on the brain but because the abusers have been affected by extensive media attention to the link between steroids and aggression (Etienne, 2002; NIDA, 2002). As stated by this hypothesis, the abusers are using this possible link as an excuse to commit aggressive acts and property crimes (Etienne, 2002; NIDA, 2002). Furthermore researchers have hypothesized that different types of steroids can lead to higher levels of increased aggression (Etienne, 2002). However, the same type and dosage of steroid was administered during Pope’s study, which did not note increased levels in aggression from all subjects receiving the exogenous steroid dosage (Etienne, 2002).
Obviously the subject need to be further researched but a question of ethics and ethics committees can come into play when trying to propose such research at University’s. Is it ethical to conduct a study on humans with a substance than cannot only be potentially physically but also psychologically harmful? One such method to get around that maybe to recruit subjects already utilizing steroids but that can also be limiting n many ways. Your subject pool is not representative of the general population, you may be study already aggressive subjects suffering from low self esteem, the study can not be experimental and double blind, etc. There is a lot of work to be done on this particular subject in the filed of hormones and behavior.
Benson, E. (2002). More than male. Monitor on Psychology, 33, (9). 49-51.
NIDA’s SteroidAbuse.org; www.steroidabuse.org
Competitive athletes from both sexes commonly use Anabolic/androgenic steroids. Anabolic/androgenic steroids are the synthetic derivatives of the naturally occurring male anabolic hormone testosterone (NIDA, 2002). Steroids can be taken orally or they can be injected. Modern day concerns include the increasing widespread usage of anabolic steroids by younger and younger athletes. Steroid usage is on the rise in the United States and all categories of people are using them, it is not only the football player or weightlifter or sprinter who may be using anabolic steroids (NIDA, 2002). White and blue collar workers, females and, most alarmingly, adolescents take steroids, all linked by the desire to hopefully look, perform and feel better, regardless of the dangers. This is largely blamed on the pictures of bulking physiques and rippling muscles seen on TV, magazines, and billboards. In an ever-vigilant society the “ideal” body is always being marketed. Many individuals wonder how they can measure up if there genetics just do not predispose them to the physique they see as idealistic or desirable. Hence, resulting in anabolic steroid use.
The ever standing and resounding question is, do steroids increase aggression? Is the person who chooses to use steroids already predisposed to aggressive actions? This dichotomy of questions was addressed in a recent article written by Etienne Benson, I the APA Monitor on Psychology journal (Etienne, 2002). Animal studies have absolutely linked synthetic steroid use to aggression, in some studies more than 80 percent of steroid treated animals became extremely aggressive (Etienne, 2002). In the human population, the link is not quite so clear and has been clouded by media, the sports industry and lack of research. Many times even mentioning the term steroids sends people into frenzy, quoting more anecdotal evidence than empirical research. Only recently researchers have been able to directly link steroid usage to increased aggression (Etienne, 2002). However, this change in mood seems to be mostly linked to steroid users who have taken large doses over long periods of time (Etienne, 2002).
Anabolic steroids have been reported also to cause other behavioral effects outside of aggression, such as, euphoria, increased energy, sexual arousal, mood swings, distractibility, forgetfulness, and confusion (Etienne, 2002; NIDA, 2002). In the studies in which researchers administered high steroid doses to volunteers, a minority of the volunteers developed behavioral symptoms that were so extreme as to disrupt their ability to function in their jobs or in society (Etienne, 2002). In a few cases, the volunteers' behavior presented a threat to themselves and others (NIDA, 2002).
It has been noted that the link between normal variations in testosterone levels and aggression is weak; a strong correlation is found only when considering massive testosterone levels reached by steroid users (Etienne, 2002). Likewise, it has been additionally noted that there is a normal variation in endogenous human testosterone levels and being either higher or lower on the scale does not directly affect mood (Etienne, 2002). However, the research does purport that superhuman testosterone levels, such as the ones achieved from exogenous synthetic steroid consumption can stimulate aggression (Etienne, 2002). To date, four studies investigating the effects of steroid intake have been conducted. In three, high steroid doses did produce greater feelings of irritability and aggression than did placebo; but in one study, the drugs did not have that effect (NIDA, 2002). One possible explanation, according to researchers, is that some but not all anabolic steroids increase irritability and aggression (Etienne, 2002; NIDA, 2002).
In 2000, Harvard Medical School psychiatrist, Harrison Pope, MD published a randomized; double blind study that reported at super-physiological testosterone levels men displayed increased levels of aggression (Etienne, 2002). Pope followed his study by stating that there must be a link between steroid intake at maximum levels and biological changes that occur (Etienne, 2002). However, the question still remains, in whom exactly?
Researchers have suggested that steroid abusers may commit aggressive acts and property crimes not because of steroids' direct effects on the brain but because the abusers have been affected by extensive media attention to the link between steroids and aggression (Etienne, 2002; NIDA, 2002). As stated by this hypothesis, the abusers are using this possible link as an excuse to commit aggressive acts and property crimes (Etienne, 2002; NIDA, 2002). Furthermore researchers have hypothesized that different types of steroids can lead to higher levels of increased aggression (Etienne, 2002). However, the same type and dosage of steroid was administered during Pope’s study, which did not note increased levels in aggression from all subjects receiving the exogenous steroid dosage (Etienne, 2002).
Obviously the subject need to be further researched but a question of ethics and ethics committees can come into play when trying to propose such research at University’s. Is it ethical to conduct a study on humans with a substance than cannot only be potentially physically but also psychologically harmful? One such method to get around that maybe to recruit subjects already utilizing steroids but that can also be limiting n many ways. Your subject pool is not representative of the general population, you may be study already aggressive subjects suffering from low self esteem, the study can not be experimental and double blind, etc. There is a lot of work to be done on this particular subject in the filed of hormones and behavior.
Benson, E. (2002). More than male. Monitor on Psychology, 33, (9). 49-51.
NIDA’s SteroidAbuse.org; www.steroidabuse.org
