The interaction of testosterone and cortisol is associated with attained status in male executives.

Are hormone levels associated with the attainment of social status?Although endogenous testosterone predicts status-seeking social behaviors, research suggests that the stress hormone cortisol may inhibit testosterone's effects.Thus, individuals with both high testosterone and low cortisol may be especially likely to occupy high-status positions in social hierarchies while individuals with high testosterone and low cortisol may not.We tested this hypothesis by recruiting a sample of real executives and examining testosterone, cortisol, and a concrete indicator of attained status: the number of subordinates over which the executive has authority.Despite the myriad non-hormonal factors that determine organizational promotion, the executives' endogenous testosterone and cortisol interacted to significantly predict hierarchical position: Testosterone positively predicted executives' number of subordinates, but only among low-cortisol executives.The results imply that reducing cortisol level via stress reduction should be a critical goal not only because doing so will improve health but also because doing so may enhance leadership potential.