Fetal androgens in the early treated adrenogenital syndrome of 46 XX hermaphroditism: Influence on assertive and aggressive types of behavior

Fifteen hermaphroditic females with the adrenogenital syndrome received corrective, androgen-suppressing therapy with cortisone from birth onward. They were studied psychologically in late adolescence and adulthood, with particular attention to a possible long-term effect of fetal androgenization on aggressive manifestations. No such effect was evident. The girls were tomboyish in the manner previously reported for the adrenogenital syndrome.     

Aggression,defense, and coping in humans

One way of identifying emotional behaviors across species, language, and cultures is to describe the “instrumental” effects of each particular behavior. Since aggression and defense may be instrumental they also represent coping behavior. The term coping is being used partly to indicate whether or not the behavior is successful and partly to describe how a situation is being handled (coping strategies). This review deals with how these behaviors are observed and quantified in humans and how they are linked to physiological changes. The internal state of the individual is decided by the expectancy of the outcome of a given situation, but each behavior strategy may have specific links to particular brain mechanisms and particular physiological effectors. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.