The Middle-Aged "Master of the Universe"
A middle-aged, high-testosterone man tends to alienate other people, and is often less happy. Carrying on like a know-it-all, such a high-testosterone man acts as though they could rule the world from their living room. They may even lash out, swear, throw, hit, or kick things.
The higher a man's testosterone level, the less pleased he is with life, and the less he looks forward to the future. A study of over 1,700 men 40-70 years old* suggests that the aggressive, middle-aged Master of the Universe, brimming with testosterone, may eventually feel sad and lonely. Then again, a man with a lower (but normal) level of male hormone tends to have more emotional support from the lady in his from friends and family. All this may sound rather squishy to the middle-aged master.
Men with a high level of testosterone have nearly double the divorce rate of men with lower testosterone. And they usually don't have many friends.
A high level of cortisol, a key hormone released under stress, is linked to lower quality of life. Surprisingly, the more cortisol in a man's blood, the more financially secure he tends to be. But he has less social support and is in poorer health.
When a man becomes a father, they often have lower testosterone weighed against an unattached man. A man with elevated testosterone tends to pay less attention to his family.
The behavior of a man affects the hormonal system and lessens it. A man who is sometimes in charge of a child has lower testosterone. As a result, they are less prone to disregard the child or track other women. And, their temper may diminish.
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Hormones and Behavior, DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2009.07.013. Anthropologist Alexandra Alvergne, University of Montpellier, France.
Marriage, Divorce and Male Testosterone. Journal of Health and Social Behavior
