Boys and Testosterone, continued

[lalicopa]

So, I've been doing research on this testosterone theory, because this is not the first I heard of it. Turns out that there's really only ONE guy who touts this theory, and he's a psychologist. His name is Steve Biddulf. I can't seem to find *any* scientific data or medical information about this surge in preschool boys. I'm pretty good at finding stuff online. Anyone have any other information, other than an Amazon review of this guy's books? I would love to be able to explain his behavior with hormones, god knows I've done it for myself many times over the years!

Comments

[allyphoe.livejournal.com]

Try Biddulph, but I didn't have any luck, either. AFAICT, he made up his theory out of whole cloth, and got people to cite him.

[cvantien.livejournal.com]

Steve Biddulph is one of those pop-psychologists who managed to find a hook that people liked and has based his whole career on it. There possibly is something to his theory but given that you can't find anything else to agree with it then maybe there isn't. Regardless, my mum gave me one of his books and the back flap says that between him and his wife they have multiple qualifications in science, psychology, social work and nursing (without being specific about what science and who has which degrees). The book I have doesn't talk specifically about boys so there's nothing in there about the testosterone theory.

[galagwyn.livejournal.com]

When dealing with behaviors that are making me doubt everything and every parenting decision I've ever made, I usually turn to The Gessell Institute of Human Development - they put out the _Your 1/2/3/4 Year Old_ series of books. Their key words for 4 year olds (male and female) are "out of bounds". In all ways - (paraphrasing here) motorwise; hitting, kicking, throwing things, emotionally: loud silly laughter alternating with fits of rage - language is almost guaranteed to shock, defiance (especially with parents), swaggering, swearing, boasting and lying, etc. yippee.

[mollyf.livejournal.com]

Well, that's good because I was looking at Sasha this afternoon thinking, "She's got the rage too. How can that be?"

[allyphoe.livejournal.com]

*fingers in ears* lalalalala I can't hear you...

[galagwyn.livejournal.com]

hee - go ahead, keep your fingers there.

They get really, really loud. Have I mentioned Atti's new siren-imitating habit?

[custard-kisses.livejournal.com]

I first was informed of it around 15 years ago by a lecturer in a Child development class so I presume the theory has been around for some time and must be based on something. I'm fairly sure it was Erikson we were studying at the time so you could perhaps google him. Also try searching for serum Testosterone levels and see what you get. I know from my CBE training there are very high testosterone levels following birth the they drop off considerably (which is why infants up to two are fairly genderless except for the obvious physical differences) and start to pick up again in early childhood but not in significant levels until about age 9.
It could be this 'start' of testosterone pick up Bidulph has capitalised on for his books.

Here I found one
Chart, even though it doesn't start until age 6 you can clearly see the Testosterone has previously been on a high level and is on the drop.

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

I've got Biddulph's Raising Boys where he talks about it, but I've also come across the theory in books by Matt Ridley (http://www.mattridley.co.uk/) (originally a zoologist!) and Simon Baron-Cohen (http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/arc/staff_member.asp?id=33). Follow the link on 'Testosterone and Autism' on his page there for an indication of his line of enquiry.

I give the theory credence, since there have been rumblings about a link long before Biddulph; Baron-Cohen's very well respected here.

[lalicopa.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links. I don't see anything in Baron-Cohen's research other than prenatal exposure to hormones. And the other guy seems to just focus on genetics and chromosomes and all that stuff. :-)

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

The Baron-Cohen stuff's in his books - The Essential Difference IIRC - but the webpage focuses on his "does testosterone do odd things to your brain?" idea, one focused aspect of the wider theory. He's very into 'male brain' (i.e. 'excess' testosterone) as an explanation for autism and its behavioural issues.