Hormones and Aggressive Behavior

This volume is an overview of research examining the relationship between hormones and aggressive behavior.The last 15 years have witnessed a tremen­ dous growth of knowledge in this area, yet reviews written by specialists are virtually nonexistent.This work is an attempt to provide a comprehensive and cohesive synthesis of this literature.Chapters 1-7 provide an analysis of hor­ monal influences on the major forms of aggressive behavior, including intermale, interfemale, shock-induced, maternal, territorial, and predatory aggression.The focus of Chapters 8-12 is an examination of the mechanisms through which hormones might act to produce changes in agonistic responding.Genetic, de­ velopmental, neural, and biochemical influences are considered.It is well known that environment, social context, and experience modulate the effects of hor­ mones on behavior.Thus, Chapters 13-15 are designed to review the literature concerning hormone-pheromone interactions, hormonal responses to compe­ tition, and the influence of social context on the endocrine system and aggressive behavior.Frequently, the principles advanced by behavioral endocrinologists are based on research in one species, the rodent.To provide a more comparative perspective and to examine specifically the generality of those principles gen­ erated for rodents, Chapters 16-22 examine hormone-aggression relationships in a variety of species, including fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, infrahuman primates, humans, ungulates, and insects.This volume should be useful to both beginning and advanced researchers in animal behavior, behavioral endocri­ nology, physiological psychology, neuroendocrinology, zoology, physiology, and psychiatry.