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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
The Effect of Prenatal Sex Hormones on the Development of Verbal Aggression
Article first published online: 25 AUG 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-2466.2012.01665.x
© 2012 International Communication Association
Additional Information
How to Cite
Shaw, A. Z., Kotowski, M. R., Boster, F. J. and Levine, T. R. (2012), The Effect of Prenatal Sex Hormones on the Development of Verbal Aggression. Journal of Communication, 62: 778–793. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-2466.2012.01665.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 5 OCT 2012
- Article first published online: 25 AUG 2012
- Manuscript Accepted: 3 JAN 2012
- Manuscript Revised: 2 JAN 2012
- Manuscript Received: 15 MAR 2011
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
This article considers the neuroendocrine factors leading to systematic differences in trait verbal aggression (VA). Verbally aggressive people produce messages that attack the self-concept of another (D. A. Infante & C. J. Wigley, 1986). A neuroendocrine factor, prenatal androgen exposure (PNAE), was proposed as a possible predictor of VA. To explore this possibility, the relationship between the ratio between the length of the second digit and fourth digit (2D:4D), an indicator of PNAE, and VA was examined across 2 studies. Specifically, it was predicted that variance in PNAE would be correlated with variance in trait VA. Results from the 2 studies indicated that 2D:4D is correlated with VA as predicted, even with the influence of sex removed.